Jeffrey Rosen, TNR and the anonymous smears against Sonia Sotomayor  —  (updated below- Update II)  —  Jeffrey Rosen's New Republic smear of Sonia Sotomayor's intellect and character — based almost exclusively on anonymous, gossiping “sources” — is such a model of shoddy, irresponsible …

Just Too Cocky  —  Last week Arlen Specter's election as a Democrat in 2010 seemed more or less a given.  The big man in Pennsylvania politics (Ed Rendell) and the big man in US politics (Barack Obama) both put down their finger and said they were behind him.  —  But the certainty of that outcome now seems genuinely in doubt.

PHANTOM AIR FARCE PICTURES  —  The $328,835 snapshots of an Air Force One backup plane buzzing lower Manhattan last week will not be shown to the public, the White House said yesterday.  —  “We have no plans to release them,” an aide to President Obama told The Post, refusing to comment further.

D.C. Council Votes 12-1 to Recognize Other States' Gay Marriages  —  UPDATE 2: After further debate, a second vote was taken, with D.C. Council member Marion Barry (D-Ward 8) deciding to vote against the proposal.  The final count is 12-1 in favor of recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Bunning blames McConnell for GOP losses  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim Bunning today renewed his attacks on his fellow Kentucky Republican, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, accusing him of selfishness and being responsible for lost GOP seats in the Senate.

The Long Voyage Home  —  Republicans generally like Westerns.  They generally admire John Wayne-style heroes who are rugged, individualistic and brave.  They like leaders — from Goldwater to Reagan to Bush to Palin — who play up their Western heritage.  Republicans like the way Westerns seem …

Named and shamed: the 16 barred from UK  —  Sixteen people banned from entering the UK were “named and shamed” by the Home Office today.  —  Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she decided to make public the names of 16 people banned since October so others could better understand what sort …

Obama gets tougher with Israel on Palestinians, Iran  —  As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to Washington May 17 approaches, the United States is sending strong messages on the establishment of a Palestinian state and Israeli settlement activity.  —  Gen. James Jones …

How I Survived John's Affair  —  On May 3, former Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards acknowledged that a federal investigation had been opened into whether his campaign improperly gave money to a woman with whom Edwards had an extramarital affair.  Edwards has denied any wrongdoing by his campaign.

Murtha's Nephew Got Defense Contracts  —  Millions in Work Came Without Competition  —  The headquarters of Murtech, in a low-slung, bland building in a Glen Burnie business park, has its blinds drawn tight and few signs of life.  On several days of visits, a handful of cars sit in the parking lot …

Palin to WHCD  —  Taking a break from her present Alaska First posture, Sarah Palin will appear at the White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday night, according to — where else — US Magazine.  —  As US reports it: … post comment | … Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Poll shows Castle thumping Biden in hypothetical Senate race  —  A poll shows Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Castle topping Democrat Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden in a mythical Senate race.  —  The poll was conducted by Susquehanna Polling and Research, a Harrisburg, Pennsylvania-based …

Obama's campaign manager fears Jon Huntsman the most in 2012 … SALT LAKE CITY - (ABC 4 News) - There is one republican presidential candidate that President Barack Obama's campaign manager fears the most in 2012...and his name is Jon Huntsman Jr.  —  This week for Governor Huntsman, good things are coming in threes.

Porous Pakistani Border Could Hinder U.S.  —  PESHAWAR, Pakistan — President Obama is pouring more than 20,000 new troops into Afghanistan this year for a fighting season that the United States military has called a make-or-break test of the allied campaign in Afghanistan.

Limbaugh's living large while radio boss Clear Channel implodes  —  Even for a pancaked industry like radio broadcasting, which has become somewhat numb to years' worth of mass layoffs triggered by hyper, corporate consolidation, and more recently by an over-the-cliff advertising recession …

Schumer Offers Middle Ground on Health Care  —  WASHINGTON — In an effort to defuse the most explosive issue in the debate over comprehensive health care legislation, a top Senate Democrat has proposed that any new government-run insurance program comply with all the rules and standards that apply to private insurance.

Obama, Biden raise some Hell Burgers  —  President, vice president motorcade to local grill for lunch  —  ARLINGTON, Va. - It's like this: When you want a burger, you have to have a burger.  —  In this state of mind, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden took a short …