Why Coleman lost  —  The Republican Party put an inordinate amount of faith in Norm Coleman's long-shot legal challenge, spending a million bucks on the idea that he'd catch a break in court.  —  But like dominoes, each Coleman legal challenge failed, one after another, ruling after ruling …

Palin story sparks GOP family feud  —  A hard-hitting piece on Sarah Palin in the new Vanity Fair has touched off a blistering exchange of insults among high-profile Republicans over last year's GOP ticket - tearing open fresh wounds about leaks surrounding Palin and revealing …

Roberts Shifts Court to Right, With Help From Kennedy  —  WASHINGTON — Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. emerged as a canny strategist at the Supreme Court this term, laying the groundwork for bold changes that could take the court to the right even as the recent elections moved the nation to the left.

Nothing so shocking about this coup  —  The greatest tourist attraction in Central America has always been politics.  Diplomats stop by every few years, take a couple of snapshots of what's going on at the presidential palace, and then profoundly declare their opinions, devoid of context or history.

S.C. Gov. Admits ‘Crossing Lines’ With Other Women  —  Mark Sanford: Argentine Lover My ‘Soul Mate;’ Also, Claims He's Trying To Fall Back In Love With Wife  —  CBS News Interactive: Political Scandals  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) ― South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford …

Wal-Mart Backs Insurance ‘Mandate’  —  WASHINGTON — In a major break with most other large companies, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Tuesday told the White House that it supports requiring employers to provide health insurance to workers, a centerpiece of President Barack Obama's effort to provide near-universal coverage to Americans.

The cautious approach to fixing banks will not work  —  With one bound the banks are free, or so it seems.  Already, the panic of the autumn of 2008 is fading.  The period within which lessons can be learnt and changes made is closing.  Yet without radical changes, another crisis is certain.

More Americans See Democratic Party as “Too Liberal”  —  More believe Democratic Party's, rather than Republican Party's, views are about right  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A Gallup Poll finds a statistically significant increase since last year in the percentage of Americans who describe …

Panel Recommends Ban on 2 Popular Painkillers  —  ADELPHI, Md. — A federal advisory panel voted narrowly on Tuesday to recommend a ban on Percocet and Vicodin, two of the most popular prescription painkillers in the world, because of their effects on the liver.

42% Say Climate Change Bill Will Hurt The Economy  —  Americans have mixed feelings about the historic climate change bill that passed the House on Friday, but 42% say it will hurt the U.S. economy.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that just 19% believe …

Key in Afghanistan: Economy, Not Military  —  CAMP LEATHERNECK, Afghanistan — National security adviser James L. Jones told U.S. military commanders here last week that the Obama administration wants to hold troop levels here flat for now, and focus instead on carrying out the previously approved strategy …

After Call From Senator Inouye's Office, Small Hawaii Bank Got U.S. Aid  —  Sen. Daniel K. Inouye's staff contacted federal regulators last fall to ask about the bailout application of an ailing Hawaii bank that he had helped to establish and where he has invested the bulk of his personal wealth.

Vibe magazine shutting down  —  Vibe magazine, the urban-music magazine founded in 1993 by Quincy Jones, is the latest victim of the media recession.  Multiple sources both within and outside the magazine confirmed that it is shutting down.  —  Reached for comment, chief financial officer Angela Zucconi …

Many With Insurance Still Bankrupted by Health Crises  —  Health insurance is supposed to offer protection — both medically and financially.  But as it turns out, an estimated three-quarters of people who are pushed into personal bankruptcy by medical problems actually had insurance when they got sick or were injured.

6 Mousavi supporters reportedly hanged  —  Article's topics: Iran, Iran Elections, Mir Hossein Mousavi  —  As the Iranian authorities warned the opposition on Tuesday that they would tolerate no further protests over the disputed June 12 presidential elections, a report emerged of the hangings …

CNN Poll: Americans worry Obama health care plan will increase costs  —  WASHINGTON (CNN)- A new national poll suggests that a bare majority of Americans support President Barack Obama's health care plan.  —  But the CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Wednesday morning indicates …

With Something for Everyone, Climate Bill Passed  —  WASHINGTON — As the most ambitious energy and climate-change legislation ever introduced in Congress made its way to a floor vote last Friday, it grew fat with compromises, carve-outs, concessions and out-and-out gifts intended to win …

Citi raises card rates on millions  —  Citigroup has sharply increased interest rates on up to 15m US credit card accounts just months before curbs on such rises come into effect, in a move that could fuel political anger at the treatment of consumers by bailed-out banks.