Republicans convene in New Orleans, with no mention of Katrina  —  Five years after President Bush's failed response to a natural disaster in New Orleans deeply damaged his party's credibility and helped sweep them from power, top Republicans speaking to supporters in New Orleans tonight made no mention of Hurricane Katrina.

President Obama questions Sarah Palin's nuclear acumen  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Barack Obama on Thursday made clear he was not going to take advice from Republican Sarah Palin when it comes to decisions about the U.S. nuclear arsenal.  —  Palin, the former vice presidential candidate …

Democratic Party Image Drops to Record Low  —  Favorable images of Democratic, Republican Parties now tied  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' favorable rating of the Democratic Party dropped to 41% in a late March USA Today/Gallup poll, the lowest point in the 18-year history of this measure.

It's War: SEIU Starting Third Party In North Carolina  —  In a shot across the bow of Dems, the labor powerhouse SEIU is starting a new third party in North Carolina that hopes to field its own slate of candidates, part of an effort to make the Democratic Party more reliable on issues important to labor, I'm told.

BREAKING: Obama Administration Denies Visas to Israeli Nuclear Scientists  —  The Obama administration is now denying U.S. visas to Israeli scientists who work at that nation's Dimona nuclear reactor.  This startling reversal of traditional policy was reported April 7, 2010 …

Netanyahu cancels trip to DC Nuclear Security Summit  —  The move came amid US warnings that Turkey and Egypt plan to lead a motion demanding that Israel open its nuclear facilities for international inspection.  —  Talkbacks (26)  —  Make JPOST.COM your Home Page  —  Iranian Threat

Matthews and Buchanan Gush Over the ‘Dazzling’ ‘Rodeo Queens’ Palin and Bachmann  —  Matthews and Buchanan both seriously need to get a room here...ugh.  They both were just gushing over Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin and their appearance together at a rally to raise money for Bachmann.

Power Struggle: Inside The Battle For The Soul Of The Democratic Party (Print Version)  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Raúl Grijalva is sitting quietly with a few of his staffers at one end of the bar, a bottle of Bud and a shot of whiskey in front of him, while his fellow Democratic members …

Two Nevada Republicans Call for Ensign to Bow Out  —  WASHINGTON — Senator John Ensign's political troubles worsened Thursday as more Republican colleagues from his home state of Nevada said that the ethics investigations surrounding him have threatened to damage the party statewide.

Big U.S. Banks Mask Risk Levels  —  Quarter-End Loan Figures Sit 42% Below Peak, Then Rise as New Period Progresses; SEC Review  —  Major banks have masked their risk levels in the past five quarters by temporarily lowering their debt just before reporting it to the public, according to data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

‘Shoe Bomb’ Diplomat Was Going to See al Qaeda Inmate  —  Qatari Diplomat Allegedly Told Air Marshalls He Was Trying to Set His Sandals on Fire  —  The Qatari diplomat who was arrested for sarcastically telling air marshals on a jetliner that he was trying to set his shoes on fire was en route …

Glenn Beck Inc  —  In his empire there's the ideology—and then there's the money machine.  —  Five and a half hours before showtime Glenn Beck still isn't quite sure how he'll provide tonight's entertainment, “The Future of History”—two hours of monologue (and answers to preselected questions) …

Why So Glum?  History Suggests a Strong Recovery  —  The American economy appears to be in a cyclical recovery that is gaining strength.  Firms have begun to hire and consumer spending seems to be accelerating.  —  That is what usually happens after particularly sharp recessions …

National Democrats growing increasingly worried about Hawaii special election  —  National Democrats are growing increasingly concerned that the presence of two well-known candidates in an all-party special election in Hawaii next month will badly jeopardize their chances of holding the seat …

Virginia: Whereas Your Governor Is a Moron...  WHEREAS, April is the month in which the people of Virginia joined the Confederate States of America in a four-year war between the states for independence that concluded at Appomattox Courthouse; and  —  WHEREAS, Virginia has long recognized …

Prosecutor: East TX Man Distributed Pipe Bombs Because Of Anger At Government  —  An East Texas man who federal prosecutors allege left explosive devices including pipe bombs in multiple area mail boxes, was motivated in part by anger at the government, Brit Featherston …