Ensign Acknowledges Extramarital Affair  —  UPDATE, 6:55 p.m.: In a press conference moments ago, Ensign admitted the affair but seemed resolved to remain in political life.  “Last year I had an affair,” said Ensign.  “I violated the vows of my marriage.”  Ensign did not name the woman …

Iran's senior ayatollah slams election, confirming split  —  Mousavi supporters streaming down Vali Asr Street in Tehran Tuesday.  —  TEHRAN, Iran — Supporters of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his main rival in the disputed presidential election, Mir Hossein Mousavi …

U.S. to Extend Its Job Benefits to Gay Partners  —  President Obama will sign a presidential memorandum on Wednesday to extend benefits to same-sex partners of federal employees, administration officials said Tuesday evening, but he will stop short of pledging full health insurance coverage.

Key Obama Ally Says President Obama Did Not Follow the Law in IG Firing  —  After being briefed today on President Obama's firing last week of Gerald Walpin, Inspector General of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., said the president did not abide …

‘Fire Dave!’:  Crowd lines up to protest Letterman's ‘Late Show’ Palin joke … An apology from David Letterman was good enough for Sarah Palin - but not for protesters who demanded the late night host's dismissal Tuesday at a Broadway demonstration.  —  “Fire Dave!

BREAKING: HRC official & former top Clinton aide pull out of DNC gay fundraiser; Blade plans to photograph and video gay donors who attend  —  UPDATE: Show Obama you mean business, donate to AMERICAblog.  —  It's over, folks.  A lot of us have been saying that if Marty Rouse …

E-Mail Surveillance Renews Concerns in Congress  —  WASHINGTON — The National Security Agency is facing renewed scrutiny over the extent of its domestic surveillance program, with critics in Congress saying its recent intercepts of the private telephone calls and e-mail messages of Americans …

Obama Blueprint Deepens Federal Role in Markets  —  Plan to Overhaul Financial Regulation Focuses on Consumer Protection, Risk  —  The Obama administration last night detailed a series of proposals to involve the government more deeply in private markets, from helping to steer borrowers …

Grand Ayatollah Montazeri Issues Statement On Protests Against Poll Result  —  In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful  —  The noble and oppressed Iranian nation,  —  Greetings and salutation.  In the recent days, I witnessed the exuberant and devoted endeavour and presence …

McCain Unhinged  —  For two years now, John McCain has been entirely consistent on Iran: every last statement he's made—at least, those that I've seen—has been (a) fabulously uninformed and (b) dangerously bellicose.  He's still at it, apparently.  There is no question that President Obama's …

HALPERIN'S TAKE: 10 True Things About President Obama His Opponents Are Wrong About  —  1. He will not pressure Israel into some deal that will undermine its security.  —  2. He will not push for a health care plan without regard for cost savings.  —  3. He is not captive to his party's liberal interest groups.

Pardon Me, Sir, But is My Eye Hurting Your Elbow? … Sorry to say, the world can be divided into two kinds of people—those who apologize, and those who don't.  Among the former is David Letterman, a man so sorry he apologized to Sarah Palin twice; and Harry Whittington, above …

U.S. State Department speaks to Twitter over Iran  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department contacted the social networking service Twitter over the weekend to urge it to delay a planned upgrade that could have cut daytime service to Iranians, a U.S. official said on Tuesday.

U.S. Steps Gingerly Into Tumult in Iran  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration says it has tried to avoid words or deeds that could be portrayed as American meddling in Iran's presidential election and its tumultuous aftermath.  —  Yet on Monday afternoon, a 27-year-old State Department official …

Dem, GOP centrists meet in secret  —  Centrist House lawmakers from both sides of the aisle are working together privately on healthcare reform.  —  The talks have been so secretive and politically sensitive that some members interviewed by The Hill refused to name other legislators involved in the bipartisan effort.

Reid Clarifies His Position On DADT: ‘We Would Welcome A Legislative Proposal From The White House’  —  During a press conference yesterday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) attracted attention when a reporter asked him whether the Senate will be pushing for a bill to repeal “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” (DADT):

Some ‘neighborhood watch’: Forde's Minuteman spinoff outfit was about ‘starting a revolution against the government’  —  You can view this video right here by getting the latest version of Flash Player!  —  DOWNLOADS: (1082)  —  PLAYS: (3215)  —  Remember how all those right-wing pundits proclaimed …