As Confrontation Deepens, Iran's Leader to Speak  —  TEHRAN — As another day of defiance and uncertainty loomed in Iran's capital on Friday, it was increasingly apparent that there was no clear path out of a deepening confrontation that has posed the most serious challenge to the Islamic republic in its 30-year history.

The Washington Post fires its best columnist.  Why?  —  (updated below - Update II - Update III - Update IV)  —  One of the rarest commodities in the establishment media is someone who was a vehement critic of George Bush and who now, applying their principles consistently …

Obama health plan imperiled  —  President Obama's campaign for health care reform by this fall, once considered highly likely to succeed, suddenly appears in real jeopardy.  —  Top White House advisers, especially Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, are still privately predicting massive changes to the health care system in 2009.

Legendary CBS journalist Walter Cronkite reportedly gravely ill  —  FROM STAFF REPORTS  —  Legendary CBS anchorman Walter Cronkite, 92, long known as the “Most Trusted Man in America,” is gravely ill, according to multiple CBS News sources and published reports.

Mom fined to tune of $1.9M for 24 illegal songs  —  (CNN) — A federal jury Thursday found a 32-year-old Minnesota woman guilty of illegally downloading music from the Internet and fined her $80,000 each — a total of $1.9 million — for 24 songs.  —  Jammie Thomas-Rasset's case …

Google translates Persian  —  Today, we added Persian (Farsi) to Google Translate.  This means you can now translate any text from Persian into English and from English into Persian — whether it's a news story, a website, a blog, an email, a tweet or a Facebook message.

Pick for Protocol Post Corrects Failure to File Taxes in 2 Years  —  President Obama's choice as chief of protocol for the State Department, a position that carries the status of an ambassadorship, did not file tax returns for 2005 and 2006, errors she corrected last November.

Boxer scolds Army General for not calling her “Senator”  —  Ever wonder what Eric Cartman might sound like if he was in Congress?  Wonder no more...  California Senator Barbara Boxer is a Senator.  And if you don't acknowledge it, she'll demand you acknowledge it.  Even if you're a General in the United States Army.

Obama Needs to Change Stance on Iran  —  President Obama's first response to the protests in Iran was silence, followed by a cautious, almost neutral stance designed to avoid “meddling” in Iranian affairs.  I am reminded of Ronald Reagan's initially neutral response to the crisis following …

Japan warns that North Korea may fire missile at U.S. on Independence Day  —  North Korea may launch a long-range ballistic missile towards Hawaii on American Independence Day, according to Japanese intelligence officials.  —  The missile, believed to be a Taepodong-2 with a range of up to 4,000 miles …

White House Looks to Include Same-Sex Unions in Census Count  —  WASHINGTON — The White House said Thursday it was seeking ways to include same-sex marriages, unions and partnerships in 2010 Census data, the second time in a week the administration has signaled a policy change of interest to the gay community.

Spitzer may have been on to something at AIG  —  What a stunning disclosure of arrogance.  I remember having a healthy discussion with a former employee of that company who was defending him against Eliot Spitzers charges when he was the NY AG.  The AIG spinmeister gave a great story …

CONSERVATIVE LADIES PRETTY IN MINK  —  Pretty in Mink: Conservative Leading Ladies  —  Playwright turned U.S. Ambassador Clare Boothe Luce (1903 - 1987) — the namesake of the Clare Boothe Luce Policy Institute — was the editor of Vanity Fair, as well as a U.S. congresswoman from Connecticut.

Senator Beefcake?  —  Some revealing footage of Ohio Senate candidate Lee Fisher has emerged on YouTube, which features the bare-chested lieutenant governor sitting in his office writing a campaign memo.  —  “I just don't like being filmed at 12 in the morning when I'm exhausted and trying to do something …