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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

And The Story The MSM Still Won't Touch  —  Todd recounts it:  —  But there were ominous signs—indications of an erratic nature.  This is the third thing McCain could have discovered about Palin—a woman, after all, who kept a pregnancy secret for seven months, flew all the way home …

Wal-Mart backs health benefits mandate  —  With Wal-Mart's endorsement of a legal requirement that all employers provide health benefits to their workers, the nation's largest employer has broken from the business community.  —  The so-called employer mandate is adamantly opposed …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Bachmann Lies About Census' American Community Survey, Claims It Doesn't Ask About Citizenship  —  As ThinkProgress has previously noted, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) has been fearmongering about the 2010 Census and bragging that she plans to break the law by refusing to answer it.

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.