Do the Watusi: Art, imitation, and the Obamas  —  Yesterday, we chuckled over the indecision-themed “word art” that the Obamas chose to hang in the White House.  —  Today, a Free Republic poster notices another of the Obamas' curious art choices: “Watusi (Hard Edge),” by Alma Thomas …

Opt Me Out of Public Option Purism  —  Some of the usual suspects are out this morning with criticism of Tom Carper's compromise proposal to insert a robust public option into the Democrats' health care bill, but allow states to opt out of it by legislative or popular action.

Barack Obama: Taleban can be involved in Afghanistan future  —  President Obama is prepared to accept some Taleban involvement in Afghanistan's political future and is unlikely to favour a large influx of new American troops being demanded by his ground commander, a senior official said last night.

Fair and Decent?  —  Scott Rasmussen periodically polls Americans on whether their country is “generally fair and decent,” as opposed to “basically unfair and discriminatory.”  The former view, of course, tends to predominant, but the latest results are rather sad: … Note where the change has come:

Rep. Michele Bachmann Says MSNBC Hosts Are ‘Stalkers,’ One of them Responds  —  On “The O'Reilly Factor” last night, Minnesota GOP Rep. Michele Bachmann talked about having “personal stalkers” eluding to certain, though unnamed, MSNBC anchors.  —  O'Reilly: “Does it bother you that NBC News …

Barack Obama adviser says Sharia Law is misunderstood  —  President Barack Obama's adviser on Muslim affairs, Dalia Mogahed, has provoked controversy by appearing on a British television show hosted by a member of an extremist group to talk about Sharia Law.

No DNA match for sperm found on Channon Christian's underwear  —  Test shows sperm does not match any suspect in torture-slaying death, or boyfriend Chris Newsom.  —  SEVIERVILLE — Former President George W. Bush addressed a capacity crowd Wednesday night at the Wilderness Resort and Convention Center in Sevierville.

A President's Brave—And Meaningful—Ambassadorial Appointment  —  The president has a troubled relationship with a vocal minority group.  To mollify his critics, the president appoints a member of this minority group to an ambassadorship.  It's a symbolic gesture, it doesn't require …

Little Soldier Girl “Didn't Want to Let Go”  —  Four-year old Paige didn't want to say goodbye to her daddy before he was shipped off to Iraq  —  A family photo that shows a little girl beside her father and his fellow soldiers in uniform as they prepare to go to war has resonated well beyond the tight knit Bennethum clan.

Alleged Toronto 18 ringleader pleads guilty  —  Zakaria Amara pleaded guilty Thursday to charges related to the Toronto 18 terrorist plot to set off three fertilizer bombs, two in Toronto and one at an unnamed Ontario military base.  —  Amara, 24, has been alleged to be one of the ringleaders …

Treason and Sedition  —  Article III of the Constitution defines treason against the United States in three ways: levying war against the country, adhering to the country's enemies, or giving aid or comfort to enemies.  The punishment for treason is death, but the article requires a high burden of proof.

Broun: Pelosi A ‘Domestic Enemy Of The Constitution’  —  At a town hall in Commerce, Ga., last week, Rep. Paul Broun (R-GA) called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “domestic enem[y] of the Constitution.”  —  “When I was sworn into the Marine Corps, I was sworn to uphold the Constitution against every enemy, foreign and domestic,” he said.

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 …

U.S. Mortgage Backer May Need Bailout, Experts Say  —  A year after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac teetered, industry executives and Washington policy makers are worrying that another government mortgage giant could be the next housing domino.  —  Problems at the Federal Housing Administration …

Couple battle to make insurers liable for coverage decisions  —  Their wrongful-death suit against Cigna over the loss of their 17-year-old daughter was blocked.  Now they aim to bring change.  —  Hilda Sarkisyan went with supporters to Cigna's headquarters in Philadelphia in 2008, seeking an apology for her daughter's death.

How long can Dems stand by Rangel?  —  In his trademark gravelly New York brogue, Charlie Rangel has been known to say: “I'll be with you 'til I can't be with you.”  —  Now, even some Democrats who have stuck with him through his messy financial problems are beginning to wonder if they can't stick with him anymore.