BREAKING FROM NBC: White House official calls gays part of “Internet left fringe”  —  UPDATE FROM PAM: … And let me just add that if we're all insignificant children who don't understand politics, and who the White House doesn't worry about, then why did a White House official feel the need …

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 …

Insurance Group Says Health Bill Will Mean Higher Premiums  —  Report Issued Before Key Committee Vote  —  After months of collaboration on President Obama's attempt to overhaul the nation's health-care system, the insurance industry plans to strike out against the effort on Monday …

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.

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.

Democrats Must Attack to Win in 2010, Strategists Say  —  New Jersey Republicans complain that Gov. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, has turned nasty to gain ground in his re-election bid this year.  Republicans elsewhere should brace themselves.  —  That is because Mr. Corzine's strategy …

Civilian Goals Largely Unmet in Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON — Even as President Obama leads an intense debate over whether to send more troops to Afghanistan, administration officials say the United States is falling far short of his goals to fight the country's endemic corruption …

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 …

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 …