In Obama's Inner Circle, Debate Over Memos' Release Was Intense  —  Some Feared That a Partisan Outcry Could Obstruct Larger Agenda  —  As President Obama met with top advisers on the evening of April 15, he faced one of the sharpest policy divides of his young administration.

Voters Unimpressed By Dems' “Torture” Theme  —  A new Rasmussen survey suggests that the Democrats are barking up the wrong tree with their obsessive interest in the waterboarding of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed.  At this point, at least, common sense reigns:  —  * 58 percent of voters …

Reclaiming America's Soul  —  “Nothing will be gained by spending our time and energy laying blame for the past.”  So declared President Obama, after his commendable decision to release the legal memos that his predecessor used to justify torture.  Some people in the political and media establishments have echoed his position.

A Limited Love of Liberty  —  A former ACLU board member says that the organization has lost its way.  —  When the American Civil Liberties Union comes under attack, the salvos are often launched from the right.  The ACLU, after all, is as enthusiastic about protecting the interests of feminists …

Election 2010: Pennsylvania Republican Senate Primary  —  Pennsylvania Senate Primary: Toomey 51% Specter 30%  —  Incumbent Senator Arlen Specter trails former Congressman Pat Toomey by 21 points in an early look at Pennsylvania's 2010 Republican Primary.  Fifty-one percent (51%) …

Pakistani Taliban Pull Back to Swat Stronghold  —  Taliban extremist forces, facing threats of an army assault and a flurry of criticism from Pakistani officials, began withdrawing Friday from a district in northwest Pakistan they had occupied for the past week.

Gonzales Said to Have Intervened on Wiretap  —  WASHINGTON — The director of the Central Intelligence Agency concluded in late 2005 that a conversation picked up on a government wiretap was serious enough to require notifying Congressional leaders that Representative Jane Harman …

Chris Matthews changes book title Jon Stewart mocked  —  Could the interview Chris Matthews called “the worst he's ever had” have something to do with his decision to change the title of his most recent book before its paperback edition is released?  —  In 2007, the “Hardball” host went on …

Poll: Public thinks highly of Obama  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama's opening months in the Oval Office have fortified his standing with the American public, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, giving him political capital for battles ahead.  —  As his 100th day as president approaches next Wednesday …

Nuremberg and American Exceptionalism  —  The egregious Chris Matthews is a real “tough guy” in interviewing “guests” until they begin to compare American actions to those of various unclean regimes in recent history.  His childlike belief in the uniqueness of the United States and its status as the …

ENSIGN KEEPS PUSHING IT.... I'd hoped we were past this nonsense by now. … I'm curious, what, exactly, Ensign and his confused cohorts would have the president do.  Obama, arguably the most well-known leader on the planet, attended an international gathering with heads of state from around the hemisphere.

Republicans Threaten To Become Bigger A**holes  —  If Democrats provide cheaper and more accessible health care to Americans, Republicans have promised to publicly turn themselves into the biggest partisan a**holes of the last forty years.  —  Seriously.  That is the actual political …

To get votes, Waxman offers cap-and-trade breaks  —  In exchange for votes to pass a controversial global warming package, Democratic leaders are offering some lawmakers generous emission “allowances” to protect their districts from the economic pain of pollution restrictions.

Obama May Sweep Aside TV Schedule  —  President Obama might take an additional $9 million to $10 million out of the purse of the broadcast TV industry when he stages another of his news conferences next week to talk about his efforts to bail out the banking and automotive industries.

Clinton Counters Israeli Stance on Palestinians and Iran  —  Progress on establishing a Palestinian state must go “hand-in-hand” with efforts to stem Iranian influence in the Middle East, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said yesterday, implicitly rejecting the emerging position of the new Israeli government.

News Bulletin  —  A Corner exclusive: How many times have you read and heard in the mainstream media that terrorists were waterboarded more than 180 times?  It turns out that's not true.  What is?  According to two sources, both of them very well-informed and reliable (but preferring to remain anonymous) …

Bill Daley decides against Senate bid, being ambassador to China  —  Seeking seat would've pitted mayor's brother against Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias  —  Scoopsville . . .  Former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley is opting off a political fast track.  —  •

MADD about regulation  —  Obama chauffeurs the nanny state at NHTSA  —  President Obama's pick to head the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration raises a few red flags.  If confirmed by the Senate, Chuck Hurley, CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, will drive motorists over the cliff with regulation.

Obama DOJ Seeks to Restrict Defendant's Right to Lawyer During Questioning  —  More true colors?  —  The Justice Department is asking the Supreme Court to overrule Michigan v. Jackson, the 1986 Supreme Court decision that held that if police may not interrogate a defendant after the right …

Palin sets up defense fund  —  Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska) announced the creation of a legal defense fund Friday to help pay down legal debts stemming from a series of ethics complaints.  —  The Alaska Fund Trust will be run by longtime Palin friend and Wasilla native Kristan Cole.

Jobs, housing data undermine recovery hopes  —  Jobless claims rise while homes sales drop; recession may be slowing but recovery far off  — Apple Inc. - , eBay Inc. - , PNC Financial Services Group Inc.  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Worse-than-expected news on unemployment …

BANANA REPUBLICS.... To paraphrase Inigo Montoya, Republicans keep using this phrase, but I don't think it means what they think it means.  —  On Tuesday, Karl Rove argued on Fox News that accountability for Bush administration officials who broke the law would make United States …