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.

Gingrich vs. Gore in global warming showdown  —  It's Gingrich vs. Gore at Friday's global warming hearing.  —  The House Energy and Commerce subcommittee has added former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) to the roster of witnesses for its hearing on a climate bill Friday.

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.

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.

Palin, Fundraising Firm Part Ways  —  Campaign Solutions, a Republican consulting firm advising Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's political action committee, has parted ways with the former Republican vice presidential nominee.  —  The group had been working with the Palin operation to raise money …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Key Dem Senator Likely To Vote Against Top Obama Legal Nominee  —  Uh oh.  This could signal real trouble for a key Obama nominee under assault by the right: Office of Legal Counsel chief Dawn Johnsen, a fierce Bush critic who would be at the center of the war over whether Obama …

Ethics Panel Asked to Look Into Kennedy Leaks  —  ALBANY — The state's top ethics panel is reviewing a request from three government watchdog groups to investigate the Paterson administration's leaks of confidential information provided by Caroline Kennedy when she was seeking appointment to the United States Senate.

Liz Cheney Defends Father's Torture Legacy (VIDEO) [UPDATED]  —  As nearly every HuffPost Media Monitor (well, specifically Derrick, Clayton, Chad, “RStein,” and Teresa) pointed out today, former State Department official Liz Cheney came on MSNBC to defend her father's legacy …

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 …

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.

Yanks in Crisis  —  We're in the middle of the biggest crisis of capitalism in 70 years.  We've got a new administration in Washington active on every front.  What's all this done to the public mind?  —  A poll to be released today by The National Journal and Allstate gives a pretty good view.

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.