GOP takes aim at Obamas' NYC trip  —  President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama landed in New York Sunday afternoon, and after taking a helicopter from JFK into Manhattan, drove up the West Side Highway, where the northbound lanes were shut down by police for their visit, past Ground Zero …

Saudi beheads and crucifies murder convict  —  RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Saudi authorities beheaded and crucified a man convicted of brutally slaying an 11-year-old boy and his father, the Interior Ministry announced.  —  According to the statement issued by the ministry Friday …

First President in US History to Have Voted to Filibuster a Supreme Court Nominee Now Hopes for Clean Process  —  President Obama's expressed hope today in his weekly address “that we can avoid the political posturing and ideological brinksmanship that has bogged down this (Supreme Court nomination) …

Judge Sotomayor and Race — Results from the Full Data Set  —  I've now completed the study of every one of Judge Sotomayor's race-related cases that I mention in the post below.  I'll write more in the morning about particular cases, but here is what the data shows in sum:

U.S. vows to keep using ‘state secrets’ defense  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The Obama administration has informed a federal judge it will continue to invoke the “state secrets” privilege in a legal battle with an Islamic charity suspected of funding terrorism.  —  The United States has designated …

Update on Recovery Act Lobbying Rules: New Limits on Special Interest Influence  —  Another update from Norm Eisen, special counsel to the president for ethics and government reform, in the spirit of transparency as always:  —  I am writing with an update on the President's March 20 …

Supreme Court to Address Meeting the Needs of Special-Education Students  —  In a case with potential financial repercussions for school districts and families alike, the United States Supreme Court will soon decide when public schools must reimburse parents of special-education students for private-school tuition.

The Growth/Oil Hammer  —  I find the debate about whether or not we're seeing “green shoots” to be a bit confused.  Moreover, I don't believe I can see the future.  What I can see is the present, where markets react to any sign of good economic news with a big jump in oil prices.

Ted Rall: It's increasingly evident that Obama should resign  —  MIAMI — We expected broken promises.  But the gap between the soaring expectations that accompanied Barack Obama's inauguration and his wretched performance is the broadest such chasm in recent historical memory.

Fusion tests set at new Livermore facility  —  Outside a concrete slab of a building 10 stories high that holds the most powerful array of lasers and high-precision optics ever assembled, the scientists, engineers and workers who created the massive structure at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory celebrated its dedication Friday.

Oh, Keith  —  Keith Olbermann devoted a good deal of time on his show tonight to our reporting on Erich “Mancow” Muller's fake waterboarding escapade.  He says we're conspiracy theorists.  We never said anybody conspired with anybody to do anything, but his puzzling, false, and hysterically paranoid response makes us wonder.

Administration opposes Uighurs' release in US  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration, picking up the argument of its predecessor, is opposing the release of Chinese Muslim detainees at Guantanamo Bay into the United States.  —  In papers filed with the Supreme Court late Friday …