Why I'm speaking at Tea Party convention  —  Later this week I'll head to Nashville, where I'll have the honor of speaking with members of the Tea Party movement.  I look forward to meeting many Americans who share a commitment to limited government, common sense and personal responsibility.

Giannoulias declares victory in Democratic Senate race  —  Says Kirk's days in Washington are over  —  State Treasurer Alexi Giannoulias beat back a strong challenge from former City Inspector General David Hoffman for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate from Illinois — the former seat of President Obama.

Official Says Terrorism Suspect Is Cooperating  —  WASHINGTON — Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, the Nigerian man accused of trying to blow up a jetliner bound for Detroit on Dec. 25, started talking to investigators after two of his family members arrived in the United States and helped earn his cooperation …

Obama responds to Reid about Las Vegas remarks  —  President Barack Obama on Tuesday responded to criticism from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) regarding comments he made that Reid deemed derisive of Las Vegas.  —  In a letter to addressed “Dear Harry,” Obama said he …

Obama rips GOP as ‘opportunists,’ touts loan plan  —  Buzz up!  —  NASHUA, N.H. - President Barack Obama branded Republicans on Tuesday as electoral opportunists more concerned about their own interests than the people's, taking a political risk by escalating criticism of the very lawmakers he's urging to work with him.

Quinn declares victory but Hynes won't concede in Democratic governor's race  —  Posted by Rick Pearson, David Heinzmann, Monique Garcia, Michelle Manchir and Jared Hopkins at 6:53 p.m.; last updated at 12:35 a.m.  —  The races for governor went down to the wire tonight with razor-thin margins separating …

Senators Warned of Terrorist Attack on U.S. by July  —  WASHINGTON — The threat of a crippling attack on computer and telecommunications networks is growing, America's top intelligence official told lawmakers on Tuesday, as an increasingly sophisticated group of enemies has “severely threatened” …

Reuters Withdraws ‘Backdoor Taxes To Hit Middle Class’ Story Linked By Drudge Report  —  The lead story at DrudgeReport.com as of 11:30 a.m. this morning was “**REUTERS: Backdoor taxes to hit middle class.”  But Reuters withdrew the article last night.  Drudge noted the change and wrote …

Conservative Blogger Faces Criticism Over Protege … text sizeAAA  —  The conservative online news entrepreneur Andrew Breitbart is, for the moment, doing little to dispel stereotypes about bloggers.  During a recent visit to his home on the west side of Los Angeles, Breitbart, 41, is working from his own basement.

Former Sen. Coats to Challenge Sen. Bayh  —  INDIANAPOLIS - Informed and reliable sources are telling Howey Politics Indiana that former U.S. Sen. Dan Coats will announce Wednesday he will challenge U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh.  —  The source, former aide Curt Smith of the Indiana Family Institute …

Dodd Calls Obama Plan Too Grand  —  WASHINGTON — The chairman of the Senate Banking Committee warned on Tuesday that the Obama administration's new proposals to rein in Wall Street firms ran the risk of derailing months of delicate negotiations over overhauling financial regulations.

Our licence fees pay for climate denial |  Sunny Hundal  —  The BBC spouts rightwing bias while ignoring environmental science.  So why not give other conspiracies a platform too?  —  After watching last night's Newsnight, I can only come to one conclusion: the BBC has become this country's …

No Help in Sight, More Homeowners Walk Away  —  In 2006, Benjamin Koellmann bought a condominium in Miami Beach.  By his calculation, it will be about the year 2025 before he can sell his modest home for what he paid.  Or maybe 2040.  —  “People like me are beginning to feel like suckers,” Mr. Koellmann said.

AIG plans to pay $100 million in another round of bonuses  —  American International Group plans Wednesday to pay another round of employee bonuses, worth about $100 million, said several people familiar with the matter, a year after similar payments at the bailed-out insurance giant infuriated many Americans and inflamed Washington.

McCain appears to shift on 'don't ask, don't tell'  —  Three years ago, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was pretty clear about his stand on the military's “don't ask, don't tell” policy.  —  A former war hero, McCain said he would support ending the ban once the military's top brass told him that they agreed with the change.

Exclusive: The Jenny Sanford Interview  —  S.C. First Lady Tells Barbara Walters: ‘I Thought He Loved Me in His Own Way, Which Is Not a Warm, Bubbly Way’  —  South Carolina first lady Jenny Sanford recalls how she made the “leap of faith” to marry husband Gov. Mark Sanford even though …

The Futile Struggle Against Free Content  —  David Goldman writes about falling music sales: … Music industry executives can tell themselves that as long as they want.  But under conditions of perfect competition, the price of a song ought to be equal to the marginal cost of distributing a new copy of a song.

Hoyer walks back week-end prediction  —  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) told reporters on Tuesday that he doesn't “think time's running out” for Congress to do health care reform - but he's not making any predictions about when things will get back on track.