Baucus and the Threshold  —  So Senator Max Baucus, the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, has released his “mark” on proposed legislation — which would normally be the basis for the bill that eventually emerges from his committee.  And serious supporters of health care reform will soon face their long-dreaded moment of truth.

Washington Sketch: Michelle Obama Gets Her Farmers Market  —  Let's say you're preparing dinner and you realize with dismay that you don't have any certified organic Tuscan kale.  What to do?  —  Here's how Michelle Obama handled this very predicament Thursday afternoon:

Latest Updates on Protests in Iran  —  To supplement coverage of new opposition protests on Friday in Iran by our Times colleagues Alan Cowell and Robert Worth, The Lede is tracking reports of the events online.  Readers who are in Iran or in touch with people there are encourage to use …

Obama: Legalize illegals to get them health care  —  Republicans see a backdoor move toward ‘amnesty’  —  President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage.

Snowe: I Haven't Changed, My Party Has  —  It would be easy to over-interpret this statement from Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME), but it would be a mistake to dismiss it.  —  “I've always been a Republican for the traditional principles that have been associated with the Republican party since …

Bankers Face Sweeping Curbs on Pay  —  Fed Plans to Limit How Lenders Can Structure Compensation for Executives, Traders, Loan Officers; 5,000 Firms Affected  —  Policies that set the pay for tens of thousands of bank employees nationwide would require approval from the Federal Reserve …

Mandatory Insurance Is Unconstitutional  —  Why an individual mandate could be struck down by the courts.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Federal legislation requiring that every American have health insurance is part of all the major health-care reform plans now being considered in Washington.

No, It's Not About Race  —  You wouldn't know it to look at me, but I go running several times a week.  My favorite route, because it's so flat, is from the Lincoln Memorial to the U.S. Capitol and back.  I was there last Saturday and found myself plodding through tens of thousands of anti-government “tea party” protesters.

OBAMA '07 REVELATION: HEALTH CARE REFORM REQUIRES TAX HIKES — SAVINGS JUST A THEORY  —  “I've pushed people on the idea of paying higher taxes in order to implement the system.”

Analysis: ‘Racist’ claims defuse word's power  —  With the word being used so often, it's harder to define its meaning  —  Everybody's racist, it seems.  —  Republican Rep. Joe Wilson?  Racist, because he shouted “You lie!” at the first black president.  Health care protesters, affirmative action supporters?

Duo in ACORN Videos Say Effort Was Independent  —  Duo in Sting Video Say Their Effort Was Independent  —  The proposition was outrageous, outlandish, and right up James E. O'Keefe III's alley.  Hannah Giles was on the phone from the District, and she was asking him to dress like her pimp …

Memo to the DNC: What were you thinking?  —  The add essentially takes a non-issue for a vast majority of people and reminds the world how many czars Obama has.  Geez.  Talk about keeping a story alive.  The RNC should list the ad as an in-kind contribution.

Pagan ‘King’ Has Council GOP Nod  —  Dan Halloran, the Republican candidate for City Council facing primary winner Kevin Kim in the 19th District, already has a leadership role in a vast community that very few people know about - or understand.  —  Halloran is the “First Atheling,” or King …

Sources: Transit hub likely target of terror plot  —  (CNN) — A terror plot that came to light this week following raids in New York may have been targeting a major transportation center, sources close to the investigation told CNN on Thursday.  —  There was planning and preparation for an attack …

Miss California Wows Conservatives  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis and Brittany Crockett Report:  —  The Value Voters Summit heard from potential Republican presidential candidates and GOP congressional leaders on Friday morning.  —  But it was Carrie Prejean—former Miss California—who stole the show.

O'Reilly endorses the public option, which he previously called ‘socialism.’  —  Last night on Fox News, Bill O'Reilly actually told a Heritage Foundation scholar who was fear-mongering government-backed health care that he favors a public option: … Watch it:

Tell Mike Ross and Blanche Lincoln to Act Like Democrats - Or We'll Find Someone Who Will  —  Blanche Lincoln says she opposes a public option because it's “too expensive.”  She doesn't mention that it will save individuals $2000 a year in medical costs.  —  Mike Ross says he opposes …

‘ACORN Funded Prostitution Zone’  —  Anti-ACORN Guerilla Art goes viral in Los Angeles.  Obama “Hope” poster artist Shepard Fairey's studio targeted (below).  —  “ACORN Funded Prostitution Zone” tagged on the wall of the Shepard Fairey-owned Studio Number One.