Palin Blasts Critics, Remains Mum on 2012 Bid  —  In her first interview since announcing she was stepping down as governor of Alaska, Palin remains coy about her presidential aspirations but criticized both Obama and the Republican Party.  —  FOXNews.com  —  Gov. Sarah Palin was coy …

Palin says ethics inquiries were paralyzing  —  INTERVIEW: Governor says she resigned because of frivolous complaints.  —  scockerham@adn.com  —  DILLINGHAM — Gov. Sarah Palin, three days after abruptly announcing she would resign as governor, said Monday that she did it because ethics complaints …

The Establishment's Palin Panic  —  I like Sarah Palin (though I don't know her well).  I respect her (though I'm aware of some of her limitations).  I wish her well (though I'm not convinced she should be the 2012 Republican presidential nominee).  —  I am convinced, though …

Palin says she is not a quitter  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (CNN) — Sarah Palin's not a quitter, she wants the public to know.  —  “I am not a quitter.  I am a fighter,” Palin told CNN on Monday while on a family fishing trip, on the heels of her Friday bombshell announcement that she was resigning as Alaska's governor.

SEEKING PROTECTION FROM THE ‘DEPARTMENT OF LAW’.... Sarah Palin, after avoiding public attention for a few days, spoke to quite a few news outlets today, and stuck to the line that she felt compelled to quit because the series of ethics allegations against her — all of which, she said, lack merit — were too big a burden and distraction.

U.S. House May Include Surtax on Wealthy in Health-Care Package  —  House Ways and Means Committee members are likely to propose a surtax on high-income Americans to help pay for an overhaul of the health-care system, according to people familiar with the plan.

The Cost of Controlling The Press  —  Barack Obama's White House is spending more than $80,000 a week to staff its old and new media offices.  Add the price of speechwriters and the White House communications tab reaches nearly $100,000 a week, or nearly $5 million a year-and that is for salaries alone.

Do Democrats Realize They're in Charge?  —  By this point, I could write the transcripts in advance.  Every interview with members of the administration involved in health-care reform goes the same way: A reporter asks if they support the public plan.  They do.  Then the intrepid reporters asks if it's non-negotiable.