Sotomayor Confirmed by Senate, 68-31  —  WASHINGTON — Voting largely along party lines, the Senate on Thursday confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th justice of the Supreme Court.  She will be the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the court.

Unions To Take On Conservative Groups Health Care Town Halls  —  The nation's largest federation of labor organizations has promised to directly engage with boisterous conservative protesters at Democratic town halls during the August recess.  —  In a memo sent out on Thursday …

‘Punkin’ the Birthers: Priceless'  —  It's looking more and more like the forged “Kenyan birth certificate” released by Orly Taitz on Sunday was a prank by a supporter of President Obama.  Politijab points to an anonymous blogger at FearlessBlogging, who has uploaded four photos of the original forgery and a mocking declaration:

White House: ‘War on terrorism’ is over  —  ‘Jihadists’ and ‘global war’ no longer acceptable terms  —  It's official.  The U.S. is no longer engaged in a “war on terrorism.”  Neither is it fighting “jihadists” or in a “global war.”  —  President Obama's top homeland security …

Obama as The Joker: Racial Fear's Ugly Face  —  ‘Political’ Poster Turns On Violent Symbolism  —  Between Jack Nicholson's 1989 portrayal of the Joker in “Batman” and Heath Ledger's 2008 characterization in “The Dark Knight,” something sinister happened to the villain's iconic makeup.

After 6 Months, More View Obama's Presidency as a ‘Failure’ Than Bush's  —  A rather surprising finding from the newly released CNN poll.  Question three on the national survey of 1,136 adults (which includes an oversample of African-Americans) asks, “Do you consider the first six months …

Pelosi: Town Hall Protesters Are “Carrying Swastikas”  —  Nancy Pelosi claims protesters are “carrying swastikas and symbols like that to a town meeting on healthcare.”  VIDEO: Man At Town Hall: “You Need To Get The Government The Hell Out Of Our Way” VIDEO: DNC Web Ad Attacks Protesters …

Many Fault Media Coverage of Health Care Debate  —  Partisan Divide Over Coverage of “Birther” Allegations  —  As the fight in Washington over health care reform continues to dominate public attention and media coverage, most Americans are critical of the way news organizations are explaining key elements of the debate.

CHRISTY ROMER ARGUES FOR THE STIMULUS.  —  Well, can't get a much better speech title than “So, Is It Working?”  That's the question answered in Council of Economic Advisers Chair Christina Romer's speech today, and she answers it with one word: Absolutely.

Anti-Obama Protester Compares President To Nazi In Swastika Sign  —  In championing the protests being staged at Democratic town halls, the Republican Party faces the obvious danger of becoming defined by the crazier elements of the crowd.  So it's hard to imagine GOP higher-ups feeling …

CNN Anchor Rips Into Health Care CEO Who's Funding Anti-Reform Effort  —  A CNN anchor today tore down Rick Scott, the founder of an organization that's been funding anti-health care reform protests and the former CEO of a hospital company that, as Sanchez pointed out, paid $1.7 billion …

Obama's dissident database could be secret — and permanent  —  The White House request that members of the public report anyone who is spreading “disinformation” about the proposed national health care makeover could lead to a White House database of political opponents that will be both secret …

Ron Paul: Obama ‘deserves an F’  —  Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) said Thursday that President Barack Obama deserves a failing grade for his first 200 days in office.  —  The libertarian-minded Republican ultimately graded the president at a just-passing “D” when asked to rate Obama's performance during …

U.S. Official: ‘Strong Indications’ Pakistani Taliban Leader Baitullah Mehsud is Dead  —  U.S., Pakistani Officials Awaiting DNA Tests for “100 Percent” Confirmation  —  “There is strong indication” that Pakistani Taliban leader Baitullah Mehsud was killed in a CIA drone strike that targeted …

THEY ALREADY HAVE THEIR CARE.... The CNN poll released yesterday found that 50% of Americans support President Obama's health care reform plan, while 45% are opposed.  There was, however, a generational divide.  —  “Obama's plan is most popular among younger Americans and least popular among senior citizens …

Election 2009: New Jersey Governor  —  New Jersey Governor: Christie Takes 13-Point Lead Again  —  Republican challenger Chris Christie has regained his 13-point lead over incumbent Democrat Jon Corzine in New Jersey's closely watched gubernatorial race.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports survey …

Crowd laughs and applauds at Rep. Akin's comment about lawmakers almost being ‘lynched’ at town halls.  —  At a “Freedom Conference” meeting earlier this week, Rep. Todd Akin (R-MO) mentioned that some Democratic lawmakers were almost “lynched” by angry protesters around the country at town hall meetings.

Reid: GOP ‘run by a talk show host’  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid launched his harshest attack on the Republican Party in months, claiming the GOP is “being run by a talk show host.”  —  Reid, armed with a patch of Astroturf, slammed Republicans for sponsoring town hall attacks …

No More Perks: Coffee Shops Pull the Plug on Laptop Users  —  They Sit for Hours and Don't Spend Much; Getting the Bum's Rush in the Big Apple  —  A sign at Naidre's, a small neighborhood coffee shop in Brooklyn, N.Y., begins warmly: “Dear customers, we are absolutely thrilled that you like us …