The Take: Pelosi's Comments Raise Interrogation Debate to New Level  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's extraordinary accusation that the Bush administration lied to Congress about the use of harsh interrogation techniques dramatically raised the stakes in the growing debate …

Health Care Leaders Say Obama Overstated Their Promise to Control Costs  —  WASHINGTON — Hospitals and insurance companies said Thursday that President Obama had substantially overstated their promise earlier this week to reduce the growth of health spending.

More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time  —  Also, fewer think abortion should be legal “under any circumstances”  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves “pro-life” on the issue of abortion and 42% “pro-choice.”

Obama's kinder, gentler military commissions  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  It now appears definitive that the Obama administration will attempt to preserve a “modified” version of George Bush's military commissions, rather than try suspected terrorists in our long-standing civilian court system …

Empire of Carbon  —  I have seen the future, and it won't work.  —  These should be hopeful times for environmentalists.  Junk science no longer rules in Washington.  President Obama has spoken forcefully about the need to take action on climate change; the people I talk to are increasingly optimistic …

Trade Wars Launched With Ruses, End Runs  —  Outrage in Canada as U.S. Firms Sever Ties To Obey Stimulus Rules  —  Is this what the first trade war of the global economic crisis looks like?  —  Ordered by Congress to “buy American” when spending money from the $787 billion stimulus package …

Powell aide says torture helped build Iraq war case  —  (CNN) — Finding a “smoking gun” linking Iraq and al Qaeda became the main purpose of the abusive interrogation program the Bush administration authorized in 2002, a former State Department official told CNN on Thursday.

New ‘prisoner abuse’ photographs emerge despite US bid to block publication  —  Graphic photographs of alleged prisoner abuse, thought to be among up to 2,000 images Barack Obama is trying to prevent from being released, emerged yesterday.  —  The shocking images of inmates in Iraq …

In the Loop: The Not-So-Persuasive Liz Cheney  —  We now know at least one reason former vice president Dick Cheney was taking the Acela up to New York on Monday morning: He was going to attend a debate on U.S. policy on Iran where his daughter Liz Cheney, former principal deputy assistant secretary …

Political Insiders Poll  —  Q: Has Dick Cheney helped or hurt the Republican Party since leaving office?  —  Democrats (103 votes)  —  Helped 6 percent Hurt 92 percent  —  Both; neither; time will tell  —  (volunteered) 3 percent  —  Helped

Judge Sotomayor's Appellate Opinions in Civil Cases  —  Judge Sonia Sotomayor is an obviously serious candidate to serve on the Supreme Court.  We have been struck by how the amount of commentary about Judge Sotomayor has ignored the most accessible and valuable source of information: her opinions as an appellate judge.

Indiana Says ‘No Thanks’ to Cap and Trade  —  No honest person thinks this will make a dent in climate change.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  This week Congress is set to release the details of the Waxman-Markey American Clean Energy and Security Act, a bill that purports to combat global warming …

GM notifies 1,100 dealers they're out  —  Automaker makes big cut as part of plan to drop 40% of dealer network.  Many are expected to leave business this year.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — General Motors notified 1,100 of its 6,000 dealerships Friday that it is terminating their contracts …