Obama Limits When U.S. Would Use Nuclear Arms  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama said Monday that he was revamping American nuclear strategy to substantially narrow the conditions under which the United States would use nuclear weapons, even in self defense.  —  But the president …

Video Shows 2007 Air Attack in Baghdad That Killed Photographer  —  WASHINGTON — The Web site WikiLeaks.org released a graphic video on Monday showing an American helicopter shooting and killing a Reuters photographer and driver in a July 2007 attack in Baghdad.

25 killed in West Virginia mine blast  —  Montcoal, West Virginia (CNN) — The death toll from the massive explosion at a sprawling coal mine in West Virginia rose to 25 early Tuesday, making it the deadliest U.S. mining disaster in 25 years.  —  Crews halted their efforts …

McMillen: I Was Sent to Fake Prom  —  To avoid Constance McMillen bringing a female date to her prom, the teen was sent to a “fake prom” while the rest of her class partied at a secret location at an event organized by parents.  —  McMillen tells The Advocate that a parent-organized prom happened behind …

Poll news for Nevada's Democrat Harry Reid: 62% there don't like incumbents or the healthcare bill  —  A new state poll of Nevadans out Monday from Rasmussen Reports confirms what has become increasingly clear in recent weeks: American voters are angry about numerous things and their prime targets of opportunity in 2010 are incumbents.

IRS chief: Buy health insurance or lose your tax refund  —  Individuals who don't purchase health insurance may lose their tax refunds according to IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman.  After acknowledging the recently passed health-care bill limits the agency's options for enforcing the individual mandate …

Rigid Filing Deadlines Strike Disabled Veterans' Claims  —  Three years ago, the Supreme Court said there are some filing deadlines so rigid that no excuse for missing them counts, even if the tardiness was caused by erroneous instructions from a federal judge.

How the GOP Purged Me  —  I am an old Republican.  I am religious, yet not a fanatic.  I am a free-marketer; yet, I believe in the role of the government as a fair evenhanded referee.  I am socially conservative; yet, I believe that my lesbian niece and my gay grandchild should have the full protection …

Dan Quayle seeks GOP convention for Phoenix  —  Former Vice President Dan Quayle has been putting his political connections to work on behalf of Phoenix's bid to secure the 2012 Republican National Convention.  —  Quayle, who lives in Paradise Valley and whose son Ben is running for Congress in Arizona …

Several Doses of Pessimism  —  If you need cheering up, read no further.  Here are a couple of pessimistic evaluations of recent events.  First, Frank Gaffney asks Who Lost Iraq? … Jonathan Spyer, meanwhile, observes the Druse and draws sad but logical conclusions.

Potheads to Palin: Join us  —  You know what?  That's a hell of an idea. … She can't do it if she's running in 2012.  Conservative Republicans, i.e. her base, oppose legalization 20/77; a bold stroke on this front would scare a bunch of them into Huckabee's camp.

Relax, We'll Be Fine  —  According to recent polls, 60 percent of Americans think the country is heading in the wrong direction.  The same percentage believe that the U.S. is in long-term decline.  The political system is dysfunctional.  A fiscal crisis looks unavoidable.  There are plenty of reasons to be gloomy.

Obama Throws “Disappointing” First Pitch  —  Marking a 100-year tradition, President Obama today threw out the first pitch at Nationals Stadium, kicking off the season at the opening game of the Washington Nationals vs. the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  The presidential pitch went high and wide …

Foreign Ownership of U.S. Debt Continues to Grow  —  Using data from the Department of Treasury's Financial Statement of the United States, this chart shows the United States debt held by the public from 2000 to 2009.  These holdings have been divided into debt held by domestic investors and foreign investors.

OFF-THE-HOOK HYPOCRISY: REP. WATERS USED TO LOVE ‘VULGAR’ & ‘OUTLANDISH’ PROTEST RALLIES  —  “They have turned up the volume.”

Dems' special-election scramble  —  The prospect of losing two House seats in back-to-back special elections next month has sparked a vigorous, behind-the-scenes Democratic effort, designed to avoid an outcome that could lead to panic among the rank-and-file and stall the momentum generated …