Pelosi tries to backpedal on CIA criticism  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has backed down slightly in her fight with the CIA, saying that she really meant only to criticize the Bush administration rather than career officials.  —  “My criticism of the manner in which the Bush Administration …

Huntsman to China: It's About Romney  —  When, a day before the 2008 Tsunami Tuesday primaries, Michelle Obama visited with top apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, eyebrows were raised.  What was the Obama campaign doing reaching out to Mormons, some said, who have long been a reliable voting bloc for Republicans?

Joe Arpaio and the neo-Nazis: Is there a working relationship?  —  You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player!  —  DOWNLOADS: (1594)  —  PLAYS: (5108)  —  Last week we reported on Sheriff Joe's recent photo op with a clutch of neo-Nazis who came …

First Lady Speaks to Graduates Who Inspired Her  —  MERCED, Calif. — Michelle Obama on Saturday encouraged the first full graduating class at the University of California, Merced, to better their communities by using the same determination they had shown in bringing her to campus.

Conservatives Map Strategies on Court Fight  —  WASHINGTON — If President Obama nominates Judge Diane P. Wood to the Supreme Court, conservatives plan to attack her as an “outspoken” supporter of “abortion, including partial-birth abortion.”  —  If he nominates Judge Sonia Sotomayor …

Moscow police violently break up gay pride rally … MOSCOW (AP) - Riot police violently broke up several gay rights demonstrations in Moscow on Saturday, hauling away scores of protesters hours before the Russian capital hosted a major international pop music competition.

Obama Can't Turn the Page on Bush  —  TO paraphrase Al Pacino in “Godfather III,” just when we thought we were out, the Bush mob keeps pulling us back in.  And will keep doing so.  No matter how hard President Obama tries to turn the page on the previous administration, he can't.

Happy ‘Whitey Tape’ Eve!  —  One year ago tomorrow—May 16, 2008—former CIA analyst and current security consultant Larry Johnson put up this blog post at his site “No Quarter.” … Johnson posted a video of a then-current Tennessee Republican ad attacking Michelle Obama, then continued his argument.

NRA meeting becomes GOP rally  —  Administration is called hostile toward gun rights  —  PHOENIX — If you didn't know better, you might have thought you'd been transported back in time to last summer's Republican National Convention.  —  Thousands of people packed into an arena.

Obama protesters arrested at Notre Dame  —  President's appearance roils those who disagree with his abortion stance  —  A Notre Dame police officer, left, instructs anti-abortion protestors to leave the campus during demonstrations on Saturday in South Bend, Indiana.

RNC chief: Gay marriage will burden small business  —  SAVANNAH, Ga.—Republicans can reach a broader base by recasting gay marriage as an issue that could dent pocketbooks as small businesses spend more on health care and other benefits, GOP Chairman Michael Steele said Saturday.

Republicans ‘begging’ Erick Erickson to shut down Facebook protest of NRSC  —  You may remember my reaction when the “treacherous bastards” at the National Republican Senatorial Committee endorsed Charlie Crist in the Florida Senate race — 15 months before the primary!

Obama abroad: Ghana, Italy, Moscow  —  The president, with an avowed goal of reengaging the United States in international diplomacy on a wide array of fronts, will add Africa to his travels abroad this summer.  —  The White House, in announcing today the date of a trip to Moscow …