Sotomayor's Sharp Tongue Raises Issue of Temperament  —  WASHINGTON — Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, has a blunt and even testy side, and it was on display in December at an argument before the full federal appeals court in New York.

Kicking & Screaming: Journo Dragged From Near AF1  —  A reporter for a small newspaper was forcibly removed from a press area near Air Force One shortly before President Barack Obama arrived at Los Angeles International Airport to depart California early Thursday.

Fox Nation Goes Nirther  —  At the Fox Nation website, unrestrained Nirth Certifikit insanity runs rampant in the comments for a video of Obama spokesman Robert Gibbs answering a question from a Nirther journalist (not sure who it is): Should Obama Release Birth Certificate?  Or Is This Old News?

Give Montana Girls a Chance  —  A reader vents: Derb — I've been hoping that someone might be bold enough to rain on the Sotomayor “compelling life story” parade.  The woman grew up in the capital of the world, went to two Ivy League schools, and was blessed by Providence …

Why did Obama add Saudi Arabia to his itinerary?  —  The Arab media is buzzing today over the announcement that President Obama will travel to Riyadh before arriving in Cairo for his big address to the Islamic world.  Why the late addition to his itinerary?

Despite deal, bankruptcy for GM is ‘probable’  —  Government outlines plans for brief protection period; filing may be Monday  —  The government's new road map for General Motors would briefly send it into bankruptcy, erase most of its debt and eventually have it emerge leaner and stronger …

Fox News Embraces Right-Wing Theory That Obama Is Forcing GOP-Owned Car Dealerships To Close  —  Citing a handful of right-wing bloggers yesterday afternoon, the Washington Examiner reported ominously, “Evidence appears to be mounting that the Obama administration has systematically targeted Chrysler dealers …

Evidence mounts that recession may be ending  —  But the economy's bounce along the bottom may be a very bumpy ride  —  msnbc.com staff and news service reports  —  The economy is throwing off signals that it may be bumping along the bottom, and the ride is likely to be rough.

Nelson Now Open To Public Health Care, Baucus Will Fight For It  —  The push to include a public health care option as part of a system-wide overhaul benefited from two major boosts Wednesday.  Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), the chairman of the Finance Committee and lead health care negotiator …

Obama chides Israel on settlements in Abbas meeting  —  President Obama continued on a collision course with Israel on Thursday by stressing the need to stop West Bank settlement activity in meeting with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.  —  Adressing reporters in the Oval Office …

Sestak: Not Even Obama Can Talk Me Out Of Challenging Specter  —  In another sign of his determination to challenge Arlen Specter in the 2010 Democratic primary, Joe Sestak just told me in an interview that not even a personal plea from President Obama himself could dissuade him from making the race.

OBAMA: BUYER'S REMORSE  —  Admittedly, I was one of the moderate conservatives who was wooed by Obama during his PR campaign to become the country's next president.  Sadly, even though I was still unsure of my vote until the week before the election, I know better now.

Burris says blame impeachment panel for their questions, not him for his answers  —  SPRINGFIELD—U.S. Sen. Roland Burris today said he shouldn't be blamed for any lack of candor while under oath earlier this year before a special Illinois House panel about his appointment to the seat …

A California constitutional convention  —  Despite what the pundits say, such a effort isn't the answer to the state's structural problems.  It would take too long, be complicated and controversial, and likely lead to a dead end.  —  Since the defeat of the budget initiatives on May 19 …

Pentagon Plans New Arm to Wage Wars in Cyberspace  —  WASHINGTON — The Pentagon plans to create a new military command for cyberspace, administration officials said Thursday, stepping up preparations by the armed forces to conduct both offensive and defensive computer warfare.

Interrogations saved U.S. lives, Bush says  —  BENTON HARBOR, Michigan (CNN) — Former President George W. Bush on Thursday repeated Dick Cheney's assertion that the administration's enhanced interrogation program, which included controversial techniques such as waterboarding …

U.S. Presses China for Tough Response to North Korea  —  WASHINGTON — The United States is pressing China to consider taking a variety of severe sanctions against North Korea, including the inspection of suspect ships and planes, as it tries to ratchet up the global response …

Aloha man calls 9-1-1 over botched fast-food order  —  ALOHA - For most folks it's not a dilemma.  Given a choice between “a day without sunshine” and a day without jail time, most people will skip the orange juice and stay out of jail.  —  But Raibin Raof Osman isn't most people.

UN-BROKE: What You Need To Know About Money  —  Schools teach us almost everything, but not “Money 101.”  For the basics on finance, turn to UN-BROKE: What You Need to Know About Money.  It's an unconventional look at the fundamentals of everyday finance with all the facts about credit cards …

Pentagon denies report Iraq prison photos show rape  —  The Pentagon on Thursday denied a British newspaper report that photographs of Iraqi prisoner abuse, whose release U.S. President Barack Obama wants to block, include images of apparent rape and sexual abuse.

Nader Accuses McAuliffe of Suppressing Votes  —  Consumer activist Ralph Nader accused Terry McAuliffe Thursday of orchestrating an effort to remove him from the presidential ballot in 2004 when McAuliffe was chairman of the Democratic National Committee.  —  Nader said that McAuliffe offered …