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. …

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 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.

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?

AP Interview: Maine Sen. Snowe seeks health care compromise by keeping government plan on hold  —  (AP Photo/Pat Wellenbach) (Pat Wellenbach, AP / June 29, 2009)  —  PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Sen. Olympia Snowe, a key figure in shaping federal health care legislation, said Monday …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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. …

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.

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.

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 …

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?

FDA Confirms Presence of E. Coli in Nestlé Cookie Dough  —  The Food and Drug Administration said yesterday that it had confirmed the presence of E. coli 0157, a deadly strain of bacteria, in samples of Nestlé Toll House refrigerated cookie dough produced at the company's plant in Danville, Va.