McDonnell's Confederate History Month proclamation irks civil rights leaders  —  RICHMOND — Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, reviving a controversy that had been dormant for eight years, has declared that April will be Confederate History Month in Virginia, a move that angered civil rights leaders Tuesday …

Reporter's notebook: What really happens at Tea Party rallies  —  (CNN) — When it comes to the Tea Party movement, the stereotypes don't tell the whole story.  —  Here's what you often see in the coverage of Tea Party rallies: offensive posters blasting President Obama and Democratic leaders …

FIRST THOUGHTS: THE GOP'S VOID  —  The GOP's leadership void... The hits keep on coming for Steele, though the RNC reported raising $11.4 million in March... But that is less than the $13 million-plus the DNC is reporting... Is Bart Stupak going to call it quits?... Obama heads to Prague this evening …

U.S. Approves Targeted Killing of American Cleric  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has taken the extraordinary step of authorizing the targeted killing of an American citizen, the radical Muslim cleric Anwar al-Awlaki, who is believed to have shifted from encouraging attacks …

AP sources: FBI arrests man for threatening Pelosi  —  WASHINGTON — The FBI arrested a northern California man Wednesday for allegedly making threatening phone calls to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi over health care reform, law enforcement officials told The Associated Press.

Obama weighs new peace plan for the Middle East  —  Despite recent turbulence in U.S. relations with Israel, President Obama is “seriously considering” proposing an American peace plan to resolve the Palestinian conflict, according to two top administration officials.

Voters Issue Strong Rebuke of Incumbents in Congress  —  Fewer than half (49%) would re-elect own member, 28% for most members  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A record-low percentage of U.S. voters — 28% — say most members of Congress deserve to be re-elected.  The previous low was 29% in October 1992.

Health care overhaul spawns mass confusion for public  —  WASHINGTON — Two weeks after President Barack Obama signed the big health care overhaul into law, Americans are struggling to understand how — and when — the sweeping measure will affect them.  —  Questions reflecting confusion …

Upheaval in Kyrgyzstan as Leader Flees  —  MOSCOW — Large-scale protests on Wednesday appeared to overthrow the government of Kyrgyzstan, an important Amerian ally in Central Asia.  Government officials said at least 41 people had been killed in bloody fighting between riot police …

In rare letter to shareholders, Goldman denies double-dealing  —  WASHINGTON — Goldman Sachs' top officers denied in a letter to shareholders made public Wednesday that the company bet against investors who bought its subprime mortgage securities in 2006 and 2007 as the firm readied itself for a sharp drop in the U.S. housing market.

Marco's millions (and what it means)  —  Money isn't everything in politics.  But it's dang close.  —  Witness former state House Speaker Marco Rubio's (R) remarkable $3.6 million raised for his Senate bid over the first three months of the year.  —  Rubio, as recently as six months ago …

GOP will win House, Senate  —  Stanley Greenberg and James Carville claim that the Republican Party has peaked too soon.  —  Stanley Greenberg and James Carville claim that the Republican Party has peaked too soon.  Incredibly, Greenberg says that “when we look back on this, we're going to say Massachusetts is when 1994 happened.”

New Duke Policy Renders Students Unwitting Rapists; Removes Protections for Those Accused of Sexual Misconduct  —  Duke University has instituted a new “sexual misconduct” policy that can render a student guilty of non-consensual sex simply because he or she is considered “powerful” on campus.

For the wealthy, less in taxes is not always more  —  You thought only conservatives got mad about taxes?  —  Tea partiers, eat your hearts out: A group of liberals got together Tuesday and proved that they, too, can have a tax rebellion.  But theirs is a little bit different: They want to pay more taxes.

55% Say Media Bias Bigger Problem in Politics Than Big Contributions  —  Voters agree that big money talks in politics but apparently not as loudly as big media.  —  Fifty-five percent (55%) of U.S. voters continue to think that media bias is a bigger problem in politics today …

NYT: O-Care is really No-Care  —  For months, media outlets like the New York Times scolded conservatives over their concerns about rationed medical care.  Sarah Palin outraged them by referring to “death panels” when the ObamaCare bill wound up containing language enabling “comparative effectiveness” …

Specter claims Reid deal for Judiciary chair  —  Sen. Arlen Specter says he has an agreement with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to become the next chairman of the Judiciary Committee, but three senior Democrats are blocking the deal.  —  Specter (D-Pa.) has worked diligently behind …

House liberals shift climate change tactics, will not draw ‘lines in the sand’  —  Liberal House Democrats are shifting their political tactics on climate change after failing to secure a public option in the new healthcare reform law.  —  The move comes in the wake of liberals having to walk …

Florida says challenge to healthcare reform widens  —  (Reuters) - Five more states are joining a Florida-led group of states in a lawsuit challenging President Barack Obama's overhaul of the U.S. healthcare system, Florida's attorney general said on Wednesday.

GM: More Troubles Coming Down the Road  —  The Government Accountability Office has a report out today on the unfunded liabilities of the GM and Chrysler pensions.  The most controversial aspect of the bankruptcy reorganizations orchestrated by the Obama administration is that the companies reaffirmed …