Iran's Disputed Election  —  Following up from last Friday's entry about Iran's Presidential Election, Tehran and other cities have seen the largest street protests and rioting since the 1979 Iranian Revolution.  Supporters of reform candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi, upset at their announced loss …

Getting Out Of The Way  —  I know why some believe that the president should speak out forcefully in defense of the resistance in Iran.  I don't have to explain why a great part of me wants that as well.  But I think the impulse should be resisted for the moment.

AMA to Obama: Feh.  —  From my vantage point about ten feet away from the television set, here's a thumbnail sketch of President Obama's speech to the American Medical Association today.  —  Reform will deliver beter quality medicine.  (Tepid applause.)  —  Reform will reduce the cost burden on employers and the government.

Dave: I Take ‘Full Responsibilty’ For ‘Beyond Flawed’ Palin Joke, and I'm Sorry  —  David Letterman is making a full-throated apology for his controversial joke about Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's daughter.  —  During a taping of tonight's edition of his CBS “Late Show,” Letterman went much further …

Why is Dennis Ross being ousted as Obama envoy to Iran?  —  Dennis Ross, who most recently served as a special State Department envoy to Iran, will abruptly be relieved of his duties, sources in Washington told Haaretz.  An official announcement is expected in the coming days.

Reality Check  —  Iran apologist Roger Cohen in today's Times: … There's an amazing thing happening in the blogs over the last few days that one assumes is a fair reflection of a broader shift in attitudes towards Iran.  Six months ago, few Americans would have disputed that Ahmadinejad …

Cheney: I Hope Panetta Was ‘Misquoted’ in Claiming My Wish for Attack  —  After the CIA director apparently told The New Yorker that he thinks the former vice president is crossing his fingers for another attack on America, Dick Cheney says he hopes his “old friend” didn't really say those words.

“Conservatives” Are Single-Largest Ideological Group  —  Percentage of “liberals” higher this decade than in early '90s  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Thus far in 2009, 40% of Americans interviewed in national Gallup Poll surveys describe their political views as conservative, 35% as moderate, and 21% as liberal.

State GOP staffer sends racist image of Obama.  —  Over the weekend, a GOP official in South Carolina posted a comment to Facebook comparing Michelle Obama to an escaped gorilla.  Now, in a second instance of Republicans playing the race card against the Obamas, Wonkette notes that a racist e-mail …

Exclusive: House Dems Planning Major Changes To Secret CIA Briefings Of Congress  —  In a move that could spark another fight with the GOP over CIA intelligence and secrecy, House Dems are quietly preparing to make major changes to the ways the CIA briefs Congress on covert actions …

Down Time Rescheduled  —  A critical network upgrade must be performed to ensure continued operation of Twitter.  In coordination with Twitter, our network host had planned this upgrade for tonight.  However, our network partners at NTT America recognize the role Twitter is currently playing as an important communication tool in Iran.

Pundit Glenn Beck on ‘Common Sense,’ More  —  Radio and television personality Glenn Beck was online Monday, June 15 at 1 p.m. ET to discuss his new book, “Glenn Beck's Common Sense: The Case Against an Out-of-Control Government, Inspired by Thomas Paine.”  —  Chicago: Glenn, On June 6 you said" …

Pol: Gorilla is ‘related’ to First Lady … A prominent South Carolina Republican killed his Facebook page Sunday after being caught likening the First Lady to an escaped gorilla.  —  Commenting on a report posted to Facebook about a gorilla escape at a zoo in Columbia, S.C., Friday …

Is Sonia Sotomayor Mean?  —  · The White House is fond of pointing out that U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor has more years on the bench, as a trial court and appellate judge, than any previous Supreme Court nominee.  —  With that record comes not just hundreds of written opinions, but thousands of oral arguments.

A Letter to the President from Joe Solmonese  —  Ed. Note: This morning HRC President Joe Solmonese sent a letter to President Barack Obama responding to the administration's brief that argues for the Defense of Marriage Act to be upheld in court.  The letter follows and is available in PDF: