Top Republican calls Limbaugh, Gingrich comments ‘terrible’  —  (CNN) — A top Senate Republican is taking aim at recent statements from conservative commentators Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich suggesting Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor is a “racist.”

Bush: ‘The information we got saved lives’  —  BENTON HARBOR, Michigan (CNN) - Former President George W. Bush on Thursday repeated Dick Cheney's assertion that their enhanced interrogation program was legal and garnered valuable information that prevented future terrorist attacks.

Netanyahu: “What the hell do they want from me?”  —  Last night, shortly after U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told journalists that the Obama administration “wants to see a stop to settlements — not some settlements, not outposts, not natural growth exceptions,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called a confidante.

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.

HOT  —  Lady Gaga and Small Wars Journal.  Both hot.  But don't take my word for it.  Rolling Stone: … Yeah, well, anyone with a Y chromosome can see the chick with the Phyllis Diller fright wig and the bubble bikini is hot.  * Glad to see RS is getting hip to how hot Small Wars can be.

The Big Inflation Scare  —  Suddenly it seems as if everyone is talking about inflation.  Stern opinion pieces warn that hyperinflation is just around the corner.  And markets may be heeding these warnings: Interest rates on long-term government bonds are up, with fear of future inflation …

Slaughter in Sri Lanka  —  Evidence gathered by The Times has revealed that at least 20,000 Tamils were killed on the beach by shelling as the army closed in on the Tigers  —  “Deeply disappointing” was how a human rights group yesterday described the vote in the United Nations Human Rights Council hailing …

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 …

Video: O'Reilly apologizes to Hot Air, sort of  —  Yes, he concedes, the quote last night should have been specifically attributed to a commenter, not to the site itself — but that's what we get for letting stuff like that be posted, now isn't it?  Do a better job of moderating comments and we won't have this problem.

Nader: McAuliffe Offered Money To Avoid Key States in '04 Race  —  Former presidential candidate Ralph Nader went public Thursday with an allegation that Virginia gubernatorial hopeful Terry McAuliffe offered his campaign money to stay off the ballot in key states during the 2004 elections …

Obama Approval Compares Favorably to Prior Presidents  —  Only three presidents since Eisenhower have had higher May ratings  —  PRINCETON, NJ — So far in May, Barack Obama has averaged 65% job approval.  Since World War II, only three of the previous eight presidents elected to their first terms …

Groups urge NBC to pull health care ad  —  Progressive health care reform groups demanded on Thursday that Washington's NBC television affiliate refuse to air a 30-minute infomercial funded by a conservative group opposed to creating a public insurance plan.