U.S. Adds 162,000 Jobs in March; Rate Remains 9.7%  —  The American economy added 162,000 jobs in March, the Labor Department reported Friday, in a month when the government hired thousands of temporary census workers.  —  Multimedia  —  The unemployment rate held steady at 9.7 percent …

Obama's Approval Rating Hits New Low  —  Posted by Tucker Reals 15 comments - Share - - - Share - E-mail - Print - Font Last week, President Obama signed historic health care reform legislation into law — but his legislative success doesn't seem to have helped his image with the American public.

Obama: “I Can Go to My Right, but I Prefer My Left”  —  President Obama hit the basketball court and talked politics with CBS “Early Show” co-anchor Harry Smith this morning.  —  Smith asked Mr. Obama, who is left-handed, if he can ever go to his right.  —  “I can go to my right, but I prefer my left,” the president says.

Mount Dora doctor tells Obama supporters: Go elsewhere  —  (Photo by Deirdre Lewis / April 1, 2010)  —  MOUNT DORA — A doctor who considers the national health-care overhaul to be bad medicine for the country posted a sign on his office door telling patients who voted for President Barack Obama to seek care “elsewhere.”

Anti-Obama Billboards Appear on Metro Highways  —  ATLANTA — One group is taking freedom of speech and freedom of expression to the limits in a series of Metro Atlanta highway billboards voicing strong opinions against President Barack Obama.  —  The billboards are the latest move to sway public opinion …

Financial Reform 101  —  Let's face it: Financial reform is a hard issue to follow.  It's not like health reform, which was fairly straightforward once you cut through the nonsense.  Reasonable people can and do disagree about exactly what we should do to avert another banking crisis.

New mileage rules: Pay more for cars, less at pump  —  WASHINGTON - Drivers will have to pay more for cars and trucks, but they'll save at the pump under tough new federal rules aimed at boosting mileage, cutting emissions and hastening the next generation of fuel-stingy hybrids and electric cars.

Ratings Fall on Newscasts at 2 Networks  —  With buyouts and layoffs in progress, the mood at ABC News cannot be good.  It was probably not enhanced by the ratings report for the first quarter of the year showing that the network's evening newscast, “World News,” had sunk to the lowest numbers …

Behind the Headlines: What's driving the Tea Party Movement?  —  New polling data examines the demographics and political philosophy behind the Tea Party Movement  —  WASHINGTON DC (April 1, 2010) — Tea Party activists may be ardent supporters of economic conservatism but are similar …

The Ecstasy of Fiscal Policy  —  Let's say you're a political consultant.  You're sitting there in your West Hollywood bondage-themed strip club with party donors picking up the tab, and, of course, you're thinking about what a great country this is.  Swept up in the spirit of gratitude, you decide you'd like to give back.

Koch Outraged By Obama's Treatment of Israel Over Housing Construction  —  Former New York Mayor Ed Koch expressed disappointment in President Obama on Thursday for his treatment of Israel after it announced it would continue construction in East Jerusalem - the section of the holy city claimed by the Palestinians.

More Struggling Borrowers Face Pay Garnishment  —  PHOENIX — When the bank sued Leann Weaver for not paying her credit card balance, her reaction was typical for someone in that situation.  Personal and financial setbacks weighed her down, and she knew she owed the $2,470.

Democrats map out midterm campaign strategy for Obama  —  Facing a tough midterm election in which they could potentially lose their majorities in Congress, Democrats are privately debating where and how President Obama can help — or hurt.  —  The president is unlikely to campaign in Arkansas …

Private sector hiring lifts March payrolls  —  (Reuters) - U.S. non-farm payrolls, a key measure of the economy's health, rose in March for only the third time since recession struck in late 2007 as the private sector stepped up hiring at the fastest pace in almost three years.

Health Care for All, With Obama Down the Street  —  PORTLAND, Me.  —  First through the door of the Portland Community Health Center on Thursday morning was a stick figure of a man, oblivious to the homemade signs and the White House advance team across the street.

Red America, White Power  —  Is the Tea Party movement motivated by race hatred?  —  On November 9, 1938, in the Tyrolian city of Innsbruck, Richard Berger, president of the local Jewish community, was snatched from his home and beaten to death with rocks and rifle butts, his body deposited in a nearby river.

Views of Pelosi Not Fundamentally Changed After Health Vote  —  Balance of opinion toward speaker still negative  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' views of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi are not fundamentally changed after the passage of healthcare reform.  Though more Americans now have an opinion of her …

What's gender when you're D.C. Democrats trying to defeat a California Republican named Dana?  —  The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee is doing everything it can to defeat certain targeted Republicans around the country.  All part of the perpetual PR combat between parties.

Abortion provider's killer is sentenced to life in prison  —  Scott Roeder is defiant in a Kansas courtroom as he receives a harsher sentence for shooting Dr. George Tiller in the face in 2009.  —  Scott Roeder sits in court Thursday.  (Jeff Tuttle / Associated Press)

Iowa, I salute you.  —  You know, I judge the states by their rest stops.  Iowa rules supreme.  It's breezy and 77°, the sun is setting over the semis on I-80, and we're sitting outside with our laptops at a picnic table — and we can plug in our power cords and pick up free WiFi.

Pawlenty stands with beleaguered Steele  —  Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty (R) reiterated Friday that he supports Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele in the wake of a donor scandal at the party.  —  Pawlenty, who is expected to seek the GOP nomination for president in 2012 …

The Professor of War  —  At 57, General David Petraeus has revolutionized the way America fights its wars, starting with the surge in Iraq and continuing into his current command, with responsibility for Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Yemen.  Charting Petraeus's relentless challenge …

Ruling on Wiretapping Poses Challenge for Obama  —  WASHINGTON — As a presidential candidate, Senator Barack Obama declared that it was “unconstitutional and illegal” for the Bush administration to conduct warrantless surveillance of Americans.  Many of his supporters said likewise.

Three Congressmen Defy GOP Earmark Ban, Face Losing Committee Seats  —  Three Republican congressmen have defied their party's decision to ban all earmarks for one year, a move that could cost them their committee posts.  —  According to the New Orleans Times-Picayune, Reps. Anh “Joseph” …