Gates Says U.S. Lacks Strategy to Curb Iran's Nuclear Drive  —  WASHINGTON — Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates has warned in a secret three-page memorandum to top White House officials that the United States does not have an effective long-range policy for dealing with Iran's steady progress …

Tea parties fight Obama's culture of dependence  —  “Do you realize,” CNN's Susan Roesgen asked a man at the April 15, 2009, tea party in Chicago, “that you're eligible for a $400 credit?”  When the man refused to drop his “drop socialism” sign, she went on, “Did you know that the state …

McCain Denies That He Is ‘Running Away From The Maverick Title’: ‘I Prefer Great American Myself’  —  Facing a tough primary challenge from former Congressman J.D. Hayworth, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been moving hard to the right.  In an interview with Newsweek earlier this month …

Clinton: If Obama Offers Peace Plan, ‘I Will Support It’  —  Discussing the Middle East peace process on ABC's This Week, host Jake Tapper asked former President Bill Clinton whether he thought it was “time for President Obama to put a peace plan on the table,” as has been reported the administration is considering.

It's Aggregate Demand, Stupid  —  David Wessel explains Christina Romer's view of the economic situation: … Here's the nominal GDP situation:  —  Brad DeLong remarks: … Every time there's a downturn a certain swathe of the elite starts to label it unfixable and structural.

McConnell: Liquidation fund isn't only problem with financial reform  —  Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) on Sunday said it was more than just the so-called “bailout fund” that's keeping him from supporting Democrats' financial regulatory reform bill.

NHS bars woman after she saw private doctor  —  A WOMAN has been denied an operation on the NHS after paying for a private consultation to deal with her severe back pain.  —  Jenny Whitehead, a breast cancer survivor, paid £250 for an appointment with the orthopaedic surgeon …

Clinton on Rush, Mistakes, Advice for Obama  —  Former President Bill Clinton Discusses the Issues on ‘This Week’  —  Bill Clinton made mistakes as president on financial regulation, he admitted in an exclusive “This Week” interview, but Clinton stood his ground regarding the dangers …

Koch Industries denies funding tea parties, but official filings say otherwise  —  For some odd reason, the Koch folks want to be one degree of separation from the tea parties.  I don't understand it, since the good tea party people are simply grassroots, everyman movements, based on Mom …

57% Have More Trust In Those In Congress Who Voted Against Bailouts  —  Government bailouts are still a sore subject with most voters.  But the Political class remains supportive of efforts to have taxpayers bail out troubled and failing companies.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports national …

Geithner praises ‘positive side’ of tea parties  —  Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner praised the “positive side” of the tea party movement Sunday, suggesting the movement's concern with deficits could align the group with the administration in the future.

How Clinton exploited Oklahoma City for political gain  —  Former President Bill Clinton (AP Photo/Ben Margot, File) (AP)  —  With the 15th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing Monday, former President Bill Clinton is playing a starring role in the liberal effort to draw what the New York Times calls …