Left claims 218 in sight  —  Liberal told House Democrats that they have nearly enough votes to pass their preferred version of health insurance reform.  —  Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told a closed-door caucus meeting that the group's …

Calling 'Em Out: The White House Takes on the Press  —  There was never a single moment when White House staff decided the major media outlets were falling down on the job.  There were instead several such moments.  —  For press secretary Robert Gibbs, the realization came in early September …

Corzine Points a Spotlight at His Rival's Waistline  —  It is about as subtle as a playground taunt: a television ad for Gov. Jon S. Corzine shows his challenger, Christopher J. Christie, stepping out of an S.U.V. in extreme slow motion, his extra girth moving, just as slowly, in several different directions at once.

American Voters Oppose Obama Health Care Plan, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; GOP Gets Lowest Grades Since Obama Elected  —  American voters oppose 47 - 40 percent President Barack Obama's health care reform plan, and don't want an overhaul that only gets Democratic votes …

Civilian, Military Officials at Odds Over Resources Needed for Afghan Counterinsurgency  —  In early March, after weeks of debate across a conference table in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the participants in President Obama's strategic review of the war in Afghanistan figured …

McDonnell Widens Lead in Virginia Governor's Race  —  Republican Withstands Rival's Attacks on Conservative Social Views  —  Republican Robert F. McDonnell has taken a commanding lead over R. Creigh Deeds in the race for governor of Virginia, as momentum the Democrat had built with an attack …

In First Lady's Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery  —  WASHINGTON — In 1850, the elderly master of a South Carolina estate took pen in hand and painstakingly divided up his possessions.  Among the spinning wheels, scythes, tablecloths and cattle that he bequeathed to his far-flung heirs …

French minister in ‘boy sex’ row  —  France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand is facing intense pressure over a book he wrote that described paying for “young boys” in Thailand.  —  The book was written four years ago, before he joined the government, but is back in the headlines following …

Health Care Speechwriter for Edwards, Obama & Clinton Without Insurance Now  —  For the first time in my life, I am without health insurance and it is a terrible feeling.  —  In the past, I paid attention to the health care debate as a speechwriter who prepared speeches, talking points …

REPORT: ‘We Will Overthrow The Government’ — Calls For Violence Repeatedly Stoked By Conservative Voices  —  Last week, the right-wing media outlet Newsmax — which receives 4 million unique monthly visitors and 130,000 print subscribers — published a column by conservative author John Perry arguing …

American troops in Afghanistan losing heart, say army chaplains  —  Martin Fletcher at Forward Operating Base in Wardak province, Afghanistan  —  American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months …

House GOP leaders voting against defense bill  —  House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) and House GOP Conference Chairman Mike Pence (R-Ind.) are voting against the House/Senate fiscal year 2010 defense authorization bill — because it contains hate crimes provisions designed to protect gays and lesbians.

Burr looking better  —  There is probably no politician in the country whose fate better exemplifies the shift in the national political climate over the last four months than Richard Burr.  —  His approval this month comes in at a very mediocre 36% with an almost equal 35% disapproving of his work in the Senate.

Intelligence Fiasco Footnote  —  The authors of the 2007 Iran NIE have some explaining to do.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  When it comes to politicized intelligence in the Bush years, the critics may finally have a point.  Perhaps the work of America's intelligence agencies was manipulated …

O'Reilly to Bachmann: You ‘drive the far-left crazy’ because you're ‘good looking.’  —  Last night, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly discussed why she is “second to Sarah Palin in far-left angst,” setting off a conversation between the two about why Bachmann faces …

Brooke Astor's Son Guilty in Scheme to Defraud Her  —  The son of Brooke Astor, the legendary New York society matriarch, was convicted on Thursday of stealing from her as she suffered from Alzheimer's disease in the twilight of her life.  —  Barring an appeal, the jury's verdict means …

THE UNAMBIGUOUS MEANING OF A CROSS.... Thee U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a case called Buono v. Salazar, the year's big church-state case.  The controversy surrounds a large white, wooden cross, built to honor the war dead of World War I, given special congressional status on federal land.

Congress' Torture Cover-Up.  —  Since 2003, the ACLU has been seeking torture documents through a FOIA lawsuit.  In 2005, the Southern District Court of New York ordered the government to release a set of photos depicting detainee abuse, a decision that was affirmed by the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in September of 2008.

Joe Wilson's tally since ‘You Lie’ rises to $2.7 million  —  South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson has raised $2.7 million in an outpouring of conservative support that followed his shouting “You lie!” at President Obama during a joint session of Congress and facing fierce attacks from Democrats as a result …

Father of Palin's grandson to pose for Playgirl  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Levi Johnston is going for the ultimate exposure—his bare body.  —  Posing nude for Playgirl is next for the 19-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandchild.  Johnston's attorney, Rex Butler …

Independents  —  I was listening to all the gasbags drone on all day yesterday about how the “independents” are all unhappy with Obama and are probably going to vote for the Republicans again when just a couple of years ago they were all unhappy with Bush and voted with the Democrats.

Scientist: Carbon Dioxide Doesn't Cause Global Warming  —  A noted geologist who coauthored the New York Times bestseller Sugar Busters has turned his attention to convincing Congress that carbon dioxide emissions are good for Earth and don't cause global warming.