BOEHNER TIES HIMSELF IN KNOTS.... After reports surfaced yesterday that the Securities and Exchange Commission is going after Goldman Sachs, both sides of the political divide tried to seize on the news to make a larger point.  Only one side made sense.  —  For Democrats, the case was pretty easy …

A Mighty Pale Tea  —  On Thursday, I came here outside Dallas for a Tea Party rally.  —  At first I thought, “Wow!  This is much more diverse than the rallies I've seen on television.”  —  Then I realized that I was looking at stadium workers.  I should have figured as much when I approached the gate.

Pictures: TWO Monitors Extremist Conference In Lynchburg  —  For the past two days I observed The Awakening, a two day extremist conference that took place at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. In-depth commentary and analysis will be provided later when I return to New York City.

New Jersey's ‘Failed Experiment’  —  The new governor is on a mission to make his state competitive again in attracting people and capital.  —  'I said all during the campaign last year that I was going to govern as if I was a one-termer," explains New Jersey Governor Chris Christie on a visit …

Arizona to allow concealed weapons without permit  —  PHOENIX - Favoring the constitutional right to bear arms over others' concerns about gun safety, Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday signed into law a bill making Arizona the third state allowing people to carry a concealed weapon without requiring a permit.

Israel iPad Ban Puzzles Many  —  Government Cites Wireless Interference, but Apple Tablet Uses Standard Chips  —  JERUSALEM—Israel this week has been blocking travelers from bringing Apple Inc.'s new iPad into the country saying the device's wireless technology threatens to create interference …

Obama Weighs Supreme Court Nominees, and Each Potential Battle  —  Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press; University of Chicago; Jose Luis Magana/Associated Press  —  Solicitor General Elena Kagan, and two federal appeals court judges, Diane P. Wood and Merrick B. Garland, are Supreme Court contenders.

Ash deepens Europe travel chaos  —  Virtually all of Europe's major airports remain closed as a huge plume of volcanic ash drifts south and east across the continent from Iceland.  —  Millions of air travellers are stranded across Europe after some 18,600 flights were cancelled on Friday.

Press airs grievances to Gibbs  —  White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs met with a delegation from the White House press corps for 75 minutes on Thursday in an effort to improve frayed relations between the two sides.  —  Ed Chen, a White House correspondent for Bloomberg News …