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.

Justices Reject Sotomayor Position 9-0 — But Bigger Battles Loom  —  The Supreme Court's predictable 5-4 vote to reverse the decision by Judge Sonia Sotomayor and two federal appeals court colleagues against 17 white (and one Hispanic) plaintiffs in the now-famous New Haven, Conn. …

Oklahoma Legislature to Consider Proclamation Linking the Economic Crisis to Obama's Immoral Policies  —  Recently, Rush Limbaugh explained (if it were not already obvious) how Obama economic policies were the cause of Republican Gov. Mark Sanford's affair with a beautiful Argentinian woman.

Presented by the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease: Snowe wants public option that only kicks in if private market fails — Exclusive draft: Senate HELP Committee Community Health Ins.  Option  —  Good Tuesday morning.  I like big PULSE and I cannot lie.

AP NewsBreak: SC gov admits additional liaisons  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford admitted Tuesday that he saw his Argentine mistress more times than previously disclosed, including what was to be a farewell meeting in New York chaperoned by a spiritual adviser soon after his wife found out about the affair.

U.S. Pullout 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.

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 …

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?

“The Commission Has Been Road-Blocked”: Republicans' War On The FEC  —  Last fall, James Ross, a New York City resident and a donor to several Democratic organizations, received an unusual letter.  “Your name has been put in our database,” Ross was told.  “We are monitoring all reports of a wide variety of leftist organizations.

Vince Lombardi Politics  —  Freud said we're forever changed by the traumas of our youth, and so it is with the Democrats and Clintoncare.  Even as you watch the leading Democrats today in their moment of glory, you can still see wounds caused by the defeat of the Clinton health care initiative.

MEDIA SWING FROM PROTESTS IN IRAN TO THE PASSING OF THE KING OF POP  —  In the age of 24 hours news, sometimes it's hard to know how to measure time.  —  Last week the news narrative careened through three distinct, often dramatic phases, and ended overwhelmed by a celebrity story that echoed coverage from more than a decade ago.

States brace for shutdowns  —  Time is running out for the legislatures in Arizona, California, Indiana, Mississippi and Pennsylvania to solve budget gaps.  —  Reporting from Indianapolis and Denver — The last time Indiana missed its deadline for passing a budget and had to shut down the government was during the Civil War.

Neda in Palestine, Sentenced To Die Alone  —  For over a week, major American news outlets have broadcast on a virtual loop the video of the killing of Neda Agha-Soltan, an unarmed 26-year-old Iranian woman, by Iranian security services.  The poignant footage of Neda dying before a throng …

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 nine different people don't collectively produce clear themes.  When they do appear to, it's often a mirage that reflects the coincidence …

Cheney Lays Down The Iraq Gauntlet  —  You could see this coming a mile off: having initiated the worst foreign policy decision in recent times, Cheney doesn't want the occupation to end any time soon.  More to the point, he is gearing up to blame Obama if the withdrawal leads to bloodshed or chaos.

Uncertainty Clouds Recovery of U.S. Investment in GM  —  Carmaker's Shares Would Have to Hit A Historic High  —  If a new General Motors emerges from bankruptcy as planned, U.S. financial aid for the company will expand to nearly $50 billion, but neither the government nor the company …

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.

Iraq, the unraveling (XIII): a faith-based war policy continues  —  Here is my summary of where we are now:  —  Several times the Bush administration tried to transfer responsibility for security to Iraqi army and police forces, only to see them unable to handle the burden.

BEWARE THE OBAMA ‘EVIL EYE’  —  As the summer begins, White House watchers have spotted a new look by President Obama: The Evil Eye!  —  Staffers have joked about the menacing glance, which comes when the president meets with world leaders who are not aligned with his progressive view.

Queen Michelle the First?  —  Michelle Obama wants a bigger role in her husband's administration, according to The Washington Post.  Unlike Laura Bush, who focused on a few peripheral issues, Obama wants a seat at the table when key policies are made.  —  Obama's new chief of staff …

As White House Readies Abortion Plan, Packaging Emerges as Major Issue  —  As the White House readies its plan for finding “common ground” on reproductive health issues and reducing the need for abortion, a major debate has emerged over how to package the plan's two major components …

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. …

Sanford should stay in office, keep field level for 2010 race  —  THE PEOPLE CALLING for Gov. Mark Sanford's resignation — from The New York Times to state Sen. Jake Knotts — either want to ensure that Lt. Gov. Andre Bauer wins the 2010 gubernatorial election or else haven't thought through …