DNC circulates Palin memo; ‘God Bless’  —  The Democratic National Committee has been, for days emailing reporters gleefully about Sarah Palin's media blitz, feeding the flames of what officials there see as a distraction for and a threat to the Republican Party.

To Our Readers  —  This is only the second time in its nearly ten-year history that the Dish has gone silent.  The reason now is the same as the reason then.  When dealing with a delusional fantasist like Sarah Palin, it takes time to absorb and make sense of the various competing narratives that she tells about her life.

Obama: 'We've restored America's standing'  —  Beijing, China (CNN) — A little more than a year after his election, President Obama said his administration has laid the groundwork for success on global and domestic matters.  —  “I think that we've restored America's standing in the world …

3 Democrats Could Block Health Bill in Senate  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, says he is not sure he is ready to help a Democratic health care proposal clear even the most preliminary hurdle: gaining the 60 votes his party's leaders need to open debate on the measure later this week.

Holder's Testimony — By: Andy McCarthy  —  They are in recess after opening statements and initial rounds of questions.  Here are some of the Attorney General's whoppers so far:  —  1. The “tragic shooting” at Ft. Hood.  What happened at Ft. Hood was a jihadist massacre — a terrorist act, not a tragedy.

Obama Approval Dips Below 50% For First Time, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; Support For U.S. Troops In Afghanistan Drops Below 50%  —  President Barack Obama's job approval rating is 48 - 42 percent, the first time he has slipped below the 50 percent threshold nationally …

$500 Million and Apology From Goldman  —  How much good will can an apology — and half a billion dollars — buy?  A lot, Goldman Sachs is hoping.  —  After first staunchly defending its outsize profits and pay, and then bristling at calls for restraint in these tough economic times …

Health ‘Reform’ Gets a Failing Grade  —  The changes proposed by Congress will require more draconian measures down the road.  Just look at Massachusetts.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  As the dean of Harvard Medical School I am frequently asked to comment on the health-reform debate.

Washington Sketch: Republican senators do an about-face on judicial filibusters  —  In their quest to thwart President Obama, Republicans do not fear the hobgoblin of consistency.  —  For much of this decade, Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, now the top Republican on the Judiciary Committee …

Conservative cowards  —  American liberals are tough on terrorists and secure in their knowledge that the Sept. 11 conspirators are guilty of mass murder.  American conservatives are timid cowards who fear that the U.S. government can't actually prove that the Sept. 11 killers committed their heinous crimes.

Union blocks teacher bonuses  —  Grinchlike union bosses are blocking at least 200 of Boston's best teachers from pocketing bonuses for their classroom heroics in a puzzling move that gets a failing grade from education experts.  —  The Boston Teachers Union staunchly opposes a performance bonus plan …

Somali woman stoned for adultery  —  A 20-year-old woman accused of committing adultery in Somalia has been stoned to death by Islamists in front of a crowd of about 200 people.  —  A judge working for the militant group al-Shabab said she had had an affair with an unmarried 29-year-old man.

GOP Rep. Defends Obama On Afghanistan, Blasts Bush Administration … To hear most Republicans tell it, President Obama is “dithering” on what should be an easy decision to order a surge of U.S. combat troops in Afghanistan.  However, one of the most conservative members of Congress yesterday voiced support …

Washington Times editor files EEOC complaint  —  Disclosing his dismissal, Miniter says paper forced him to attend religious event  —  The former editorial page editor of the Washington Times has filed a discrimination complaint against the paper, saying he was “coerced” …