White House Disavows Report That It Disdains Gay Critics, Bloggers As “Internet Left Fringe”  —  The White House is strongly denying a report making the rounds that it views gay critics and bloggers as part of an “Internet left fringe,” with a senior adviser asserting to me that this sentiment …

The Insurance Industry's Deceptive Report  —  In the hallowed tradition of the tobacco and energy industries, the health insurance industry has commissioned a report (pdf) projecting doom and despair for those who seek to reform its business practices.  The report was farmed …

Two Americans Share Nobel in Economics  —  The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Science was awarded on Monday to two Americans for their work in economic governance.  —  The prize committee cited Elinor Ostrom of Indiana University “for her analysis of economic governance, especially the commons” …

Heckuva Job, Barack  —  This was Barack Obama's chance.  —  Here was an opportunity to cut himself free, in a stroke, from the baggage that's weighed his presidency down — the implausible expectations, the utopian dreams, the messianic hoo-ha.  —  Here was a place to draw …

WaPo Page A1 breaking news: Conservatives are horrible ogres, Part 99,999  —  The Sunday edition of the Washington Post featured a massive, front-page article by Ann Gerhart decrying the “incivility” of conservatives.  “The nation's political discourse seems sour, angry, even dangerous,” Gerhart frets.

Hillary Clinton says she won't run for president again  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said Monday she would not run for president again, and brushed off suggestions that she is being marginalized in the Obama White House.  —  Clinton, who lost the Democratic …

Sharpton to NFL: Block Limbaugh  —  Rev. Al Sharpton pleaded with the National Football League on Monday to deny conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh the opportunity to buy the St. Louis Rams franchise.  —  In a letter sent to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Sharpton wrote that he was …

It's a Fork, It's a Spoon, It's a ... Weapon?  —  NEWARK, Del. — Finding character witnesses when you are 6 years old is not easy.  But there was Zachary Christie last week at a school disciplinary committee hearing with his karate instructor and his mother's fiancé by his side to vouch for him.

Kenyan police arrest American heading for Somalia  —  * Man was trying to enter area controlled by insurgents  —  * Arrested U.S. national told police he is a Muslim  —  An American man has been arrested in northern Kenya while trying to enter an area of Somalia controlled by Islamist insurgents, police and residents said on Monday.

Schwarzenegger signs gay rights bills  —  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed two gay rights bills, one honoring late activist Harvey Milk and another recognizing same-sex marriages performed in other states.  —  In the last of hundreds of bill actions taken before midnight Sunday …

CREATING A MONSTER.... The right-wing “Tea Party” activists are, obviously, deeply opposed to the Obama White House's policies and the Democratic agenda in general.  But Alex Isenstadt reports that they're not especially pleased with the state of the Republican Party, either.