Terrific: Chavez accuses U.S. of having “a lot to do” with Honduras coup  —  From yesterday afternoon, a transparent attempt by the Evil Clown to bait The One into taking his side.  And darn if it didn't work. … At the risk of exploding what little right-wing blog cred I have left …

Ricci Vs. DeStefano  —  Getting back to first principles of affirmative action.  —  Monday's decision of the United States Supreme Court in the New Haven Firefighter's affirmative action case, Ricci v. DeStefano reveals an open wound on affirmative action by public bodies that time has not healed.

Ruling on Firefighters Unlikely to Hurt Sotomayor's Chances, Experts Say  —  The Supreme Court's rejection of a decision against white firefighters endorsed by Judge Sonia Sotomayor gives Republicans a renewed chance to attack her speeches and writings but is not expected to imperil …

Video: Press corps now openly laughing at Obama's backtracking on taxes  —  It's a laugh riot, isn't it?  Actually, they might be laughing more at Gibbs's feeble way of ducking the question than The One's looming broken promise, but in Gibbs's defense, what's he supposed to say?

U.S. Withdrawal From Iraqi Cities Marked by Holiday  —  BAGHDAD — Iraq declared a public holiday Tuesday to celebrate the official withdrawal of American troops from the country's cities and towns, emptying the streets as many people stayed home because they feared violence.

Sanford: Staying is part of God's plan  —  In a written message to supporters Monday, Mark Sanford asserted that God's plan for him includes finishing his term as South Carolina governor.  —  Sanford is facing calls for his resignation after disappearing to Argentina then returning last week to admit an affair.

Thoughts on this Term and the Next  —  It's always perilous to try and generalize about a Supreme Court Term.  Roughly 80 cases on diverse topics decided by 9 different people don't collectively produce clear themes.  When they do appear to, it's often a mirage that reflects the coincidence …

Enemies of the People  —  Writing in the New York Times, Paul Krugman has a Vyshinsky moment: So the House passed the Waxman-Markey climate-change bill.  In political terms, it was a remarkable achievement.  But 212 representatives voted no. A handful of these no votes came from representatives …

‘It takes small people to stoop this low’  —  Says Professor William Jacobson regarding Wonkette's despicable treatment of Sarah Palin's year-old son, Trig.  And I would amend the professor's sentiments only to improve them by saying, “It takes gay men to stoop this low.”  —  Yeah, I just wrote that.

Street to Log Best Quarter Since Crisis  —  The securities firms still standing on Wall Street are about to close the most lucrative quarter since the credit crisis erupted.  —  And instead of relying on risk and leverage to drive profits, companies such as J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. …

Video: Energy Czar hasn't read cap & tax, either  —  Barack Obama's energy czar appeared on Fox & Friends this morning to discuss the cap-and-tax bill passed by the House last week on a razor-thin margin.  Carol Browner got stumped by Fox's Steve Doocy while questioning her ability to speak to the subject …

CNN Poll: Americans don't want to intervene in Iran election crisis  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - A new national poll suggests that that nearly three out of four Americans don't want the U.S. directly intervene in the election crisis in Iran even though most Americans are upset by how the Iranian government …

The Brevity Act: Time for a 28th Amendment  —  Earlier this year, Congress passed a “Stimulus” Bill.  It was 973 pages long.  This past Friday, the House passed a “Climate Change” Bill.  It was more than 1200 pages long.  —  This got me wondering: how long, exactly, is our Constitution?

It Came from Wasilla  —  Despite her disastrous performance in the 2008 election, Sarah Palin is still the sexiest brand in Republican politics, with a lucrative book contract for her story.  But what Alaska's charismatic governor wants the public to know about herself doesn't always jibe with reality.

Obama's Obsolete Iran Policy  —  The audacity of hope gives way to the timidity of realism.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  President Obama's Iran policy is incoherent and obsolete.  Maybe David Axelrod should take note.  —  On Sunday, Mr. Obama's consigliere was asked about Iran …

Jackson Will From 2002 In Spotlight  —  A will drafted by Michael Jackson in 2002 which divides the singer's estate among his mother, three children and one or more charities could play a central role in determining how his tangled financial relationships will be unwound.

Ten States Race to Finish Budgets  —  Sharply Lower Tax Revenues Lead to Eleventh-Hour Wrangling, Threats of Shutdowns  —  Ten states were scrambling Monday to pass budgets before a Tuesday deadline, with a handful — including Arizona, Indiana and Mississippi — facing the possibility …

Rick Klein  —  ABC News' Senior Political Reporter and author of ‘The Note’  —  Rick Klein is ABC News' senior political reporter and author of ABC's The Note, a daily political blog and tipsheet that publishes every weekday morning at ABCNEWS.com.  The New Yorker magazine called The Note …

Vulnerable House Dems in GOP sights  —  Republicans believe a handful of junior House Democrats may have taken a career-ending vote by supporting the controversial energy bill last week and are planning to launch an ad campaign in targeted districts to try to seal their fate.

It's Now Legal to Catch a Raindrop in Colorado  —  DURANGO, Colo. — For the first time since territorial days, rain will be free for the catching here, as more and more thirsty states part ways with one of the most entrenched codes of the West.  —  Precipitation, every last drop or flake …

Yemeni plane crash: child survivor found in Indian Ocean  —  A young child has been plucked alive from the waters of the Indian Ocean by rescue boats searching for survivors of a Yemenia Air flight from Paris that crashed off the Comoros Islands, killing up to 152 people.