Security Before Politics  —  Since leaving my post as CIA director almost three years ago, I have remained largely silent on the public stage.  I am speaking out now because I feel our government has crossed the red line between properly protecting our national security and trying to gain partisan political advantage.

Obama Repeatedly Reminds House GOP Of Their Zero Stimulus Votes  —  In a meeting with House Republicans at the White House Thursday, President Obama reminded the minority that the last time he reached out to them, they reacted with zero votes — twice — for his stimulus package.  And then he reminded them again.

Barack Obama and the CIA: why does President Pantywaist hate America so badly?  —  If al-Qaeda, the Taliban and the rest of the Looney Tunes brigade want to kick America to death, they had better move in quickly and grab a piece of the action before Barack Obama finishes the job himself.

Founding Bloggers v. CNN: counternotice submitted; countdown to re-posting — or a lawsuit  —  Founding Bloggers, the conservative web site that had its video critical of CNN's reporting on a Chicago “tea party” removed by YouTube after the cable network sent a DMCA takedown notice, is not backing down.

Friends Say Judge Bybee Regrets Interrogation Memo He Signed  —  Friends Say Judge Wasn't Proud of Outcome  —  LAS VEGAS — On a Saturday night in May last year, Jay S. Bybee hosted dinner for 35 at a Las Vegas restaurant.  The young people seated around him had served as his law clerks …

Clinton, in Iraq, Blames ‘Rejectionists’ for Violence  —  BAGHDAD — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton arrived here Saturday morning for a one-day visit, delivering an American show of support for Iraq as it battles a sudden eruption of violence, in the wake of suicide bombings …

At Whitman, A Protest Over Poet's Lifestyle  —  A group of seven congregants from Topeka, Kan., set up outside Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda yesterday to protest the sexual orientation of the poet for whom the school was named.  —  The police presence — 40 officers, five horses …

CIA official: no proof harsh techniques stopped terror attacks  —  WASHINGTON — The CIA inspector general in 2004 found that there was no conclusive proof that waterboarding or other harsh interrogation techniques helped the Bush administration thwart any “specific imminent attacks,” …

Document: Military Agency Called Harsh Methods ‘Torture,’ Questioned Their Effectiveness  —  The military agency that helped to devise harsh interrogation techniques for use against terrorism suspects referred to the application of extreme duress as “torture” in a July 2002 document sent …

The GOP: divorced from reality  —  The Republican base is behaving like a guy who just got dumped by his wife.  —  If conservatives don't want to be seen as bitter people who cling to their guns and religion and anti-immigrant sentiments, they should stop being bitter and clinging to their guns, religion and anti-immigrant sentiments.

VIDEO: Obama calls for PAYGO  —  In his weekly radio address, President Barack Obama called for a return to fiscal discipline, and outlined a four-step approach to reining in spending and eliminating waste.  —  “It's time to fundamentally change the way that we do business in Washington,” said Obama.

Berkeley Economist Emmanuel Saez Wins Clark Medal  —  University of California, Berkeley, economist Emmanuel Saez has won the John Bates Clark Medal, awarded by the American Economic Association to the nation's most promising economist under 40.  —  Mr. Saez, 36 years old …