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 …

The ‘Absentee’ Senator  —  Franken wins by changing the rules.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The Minnesota Supreme Court yesterday declared Democrat Al Franken the winner of last year's disputed Senate race, and Republican incumbent Norm Coleman's gracious concession at least spares the state any further legal combat.

New sex revelations fuel calls for resignation  —  Latest details tip scales for many  —  Six of 27 members of the conservative Senate Republican Caucus Tuesday night issued a letter calling on Gov. Mark Sanford to resign.  —  Two additional senators considered among Sanford's staunchest allies …

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.

Honduras Gets Ultimatum From American Nations  —  WASHINGTON — After an extended closed-door session that lasted close to dawn, the Organization of American States on Wednesday gave Honduras three days to restore the ousted Manuel Zelaya as president, or face suspension from the group …

Parsing the Health Reform Arguments  —  Some of the shibboleths we've heard in recent weeks don't make much sense.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The health-care debate continues.  We have now heard from nearly all the politicians, experts and interested parties: doctors, drug makers …

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 …

Roberts Court Shifts Right, Tipped by 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.

Joe the Plumber won't run for office: “You know, I talked to God about that and he was like, ‘No.’”  —  Last year at the height of his “fame,” Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher — aka “Joe the Plumber” — said that he was considering a run for public office.  “I'd be up for it,” he said.

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 …

Lieberman: I Stand With The Small Minority Of Americans Who Oppose Public Option  —  The surfeit of polling data showing broad public support for the public option hasn't swayed Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman, who's joining conservative Democrats and moderate Republicans in staunch opposition.

A Forecast With Hope Built In  —  In the weeks just before President Obama took office, his economic advisers made a mistake.  They got a little carried away with hope.  —  To make the case for a big stimulus package, they released their economic forecast for the next few years.

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 …

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.

Congressman tells TWI he will run against Specter  —  A congressman from the Philadelphia suburbs will challenge U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic Senate primary.  —  In an interview with The Wayne Independent Wednesday morning, U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak, D-Pa.,confirmed his intention …

Girls With Guns Get It  —  In both Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. Army and Marines found it useful to send a female soldier along on raids, as it was less disruptive to have a woman search the female civilians.  There was no shortage of volunteers for this duty.  The marines, as is their custom, saw more opportunities in this.

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.

Insured, but 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.

What Is a Master's Degree Worth?  —  Room for Debate recently published two forums on the burdens of student loans, and heard from a lot of former students, parents, professors and others who shared personal horror stories, blunt advice and critical observations about higher education.