White House declines to disclose visits by health industry executives  —  Citing an argument used by the Bush administration, the Secret Service rejects a request from a watchdog group to list those who have visited the White House to discuss the healthcare overhaul.

Dems Start To Push Back Hard To Prevent A ‘Waterloo’  —  A telling episode recounted by Senate Finance ranking member Charles Grassley reveals the Obama administration might be more worried than they are letting on that a Republican senator's comparison of the healthcare overhaul to Waterloo might be dangerously close to the truth.

Liz Cheney: No question on citizenship  —  Liz Cheney is taking some heat today for, amid a discussion on Larry King Live of the fringe movement that doubts Obama's citizenship, appearing to defend it.  —  “People are fundamentally uncomfortable, and they're fundamentally increasingly uncomfortable …

Pelosi: Congress should work through recess  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday said she's open to keeping the House in session through the August recess to pass its healthcare overhaul.  —  “I think 70 percent of the American people would want that,” Pelosi said.  “I want a bill.”

GOP's new youth ambassador: Lady Gaga?  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Politics may make for strange bedfellows — but even for this town, this may be the oddest couple to ever make beautiful music together: House Republicans...and pop diva Lady Gaga.  —  At Tuesday morning's weekly GOP conference meeting …

Orrin Hatch quits health care talks  —  The health care Gang of Seven is now down to six.  —  Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), one of seven senators involved in bipartisan Finance Committee negotiations, has left the talks.  —  Hatch informed Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) Wednesday afternoon …

SNOWE FALLS ON HEALTH CARE REFORM.... It seemed encouraging, at least at first.  Sen. Olympia Snowe (R) of Maine couldn't appear at a health care reform rally in her home state over the weekend, but a staffer from Snowe's office read an official statement from the senator.

Democrats Defeat Concealed Weapons Amendment  —  In a 58-39 vote, supporters of the looser gun law — including all but two Republicans and 20 moderate Democrats — fell two votes short of the 60 they needed under Senate rules to approve the measure.  The amendment, sponsored by Sen. John Thune …

Rep. Blackburn: “We're Not Going To Cry ‘Emergency’ Every Time We Have A Katrina” … THE MEANING OF “EMERGENCY”  —  While extolling the virtues of a balanced budget during a PAYGO debate on the floor of the House, Rep. Marsha Blackburn shamefully exclaimed: … This statement is shocking on many levels.

Next up for Sanford: 2-week European vacation with family  —  Gov. Mark Sanford said he is leaving the state Thursday with his wife and sons for a two-week European vacation.  —  Sanford said the trip long has been scheduled and was meant as a last family getaway with his family's four sons while they all still are living at home.

Long Island Man Charged in Attack on U.S. Base in Afghanistan  —  A 26-year-old American-born Long Island man who traveled to Pakistan and trained in a Qaeda camp there last year has been charged with taking part in a rocket attack against a United States base in Afghanistan, according to court papers unsealed on Wednesday.

Sarah Palin 2013: A Look Ahead  —  It is noon, Jan. 20, 2013.  Sarah Palin raises her right hand to be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.  —  Palin had won a decisive victory over the incumbent, Barack Obama.  The country was still trapped in economic rubble …

Toomey Ties Specter In Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; More Say New Democrat Does Not Deserve Another Term  —  Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter's 2010 reelection lead over Republican challenger Pat Toomey has shrunk to a tie with 45 percent for Specter and 44 percent for Toomey …

John S. Barry, Main Force Behind WD-40, Dies at 84  —  John S. Barry, an executive who masterminded the spread of WD-40, the petroleum-based lubricant and protectant created for the space program, into millions of American households, died on July 3 in the La Jolla neighborhood of San Diego.

The Ultimate Obama Insider  —  On Jan. 25, 2008, the day before the South Carolina Democratic primary, Barack Obama endured a grueling succession of campaign events across the state.  When his staff informed him that the evening would conclude with a brief show-up at the Pink Ice Ball …

Mexican Immigrants: How Many Come?  How Many Leave?  —  Updated July 22, 2009 to include expanded Methodology Appendix  —  The flow of immigrants from Mexico to the United States has declined sharply since mid-decade, but there is no evidence of an increase during this period in the number …

53% Now Oppose Congressional Health Care Reform  —  The health care reform legislation working its way through Congress has lost support over the past month.  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey shows that 44% of U.S. voters are at least somewhat in favor of the reform effort while 53% are at least somewhat opposed.

The remarkable vote to kill the plane and what it means for America's military future.  —  This is a big deal: The Senate today voted to halt production of the F-22 stealth fighter plane, and it did so 58-40, a margin much wider than expected.  —  Not only is this a major victory for Secretary …