Most transparent White House ever...  Police chased reporters away from the White House and closed Lafayette Park today in response to a gay rights protest in which several service members in full uniform handcuffed themselves to the White House gate to protest “Don't Ask, Don't Tell.”

Is Goldman Obama's Enron?  No, it's worse (Updated)  —  Campaign contributions from Goldman Sachs employees to President Obama are nearly seven times as much as President Bush received from Enron workers, according to numbers on OpenSecrets.org.  —  President Bush's connections to Enron …

White House: Obama Won't Make Cautious Court Pick Because GOP Will Oppose Whoever He Nominates  —  President Obama thinks Republicans will engage in a full battle over his Supreme Court nominee regardless of the person's ideological leanings, and in some ways “that realization is liberating for the president” …

Next Up?  Obama Calls Sen. Scott Brown About Immigration  —  President Barack Obama called Massachusetts' new Republican senator, Scott Brown, from Air Force One today to deliver some news: Democrats are moving forward with an immigration overhaul in a month.

Ronald Reagan and James Dean: Rare Video From 1954  —  Today, it's an astonishing, even eerie, scene: the icon of modern American conservatism, whose rise to political prominence was galvanized by the cultural rebellion of the 1960s, fighting off an attack-at-gunpoint by the quintessential modern American rebel.

McCain's Integrity  —  There is a new round of “where have you gone, John McCain?” liberal commentary starting up.  I used to find this amusing, but it is all based on a profound misunderstanding of McCain the politician.  Recently, McCain has been making a fool of himself by repudiating …

Lucy And The Football  —  Talking Points Memo reports that Democrats are largely unprepared for the possibility that Republicans will filibuster financial reform.  —  Is this really possible?  I'm afraid it is.  My own conversations with administration officials over the past few weeks …

Arizona legislature demands immigrants and President of the United States verify their status.  —  Just a few days after Arizona lawmakers passed an immigration law that will essentially require anyone who is or looks like an immigrant to carry their proof of residency at all times …

Hitler Is Very Upset That Constantin Film Is Taking Down Hitler Parodies  —  For my money, memes on the Internet don't get any better than the Hitler one.  You know, the one in which you take some current event (the more mundane, the better) and shove it into the scene from the German film Downfall …

McCain: I won't support Crist if he runs as an Independent candidate  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday he will not support Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in his Senate race if he runs as an Independent.  —  Crist, who helped McCain win Florida in the 2008 presidential GOP primary …

Halperin Takes A Stand  —  It isn't every day that a consumate inside-game reporter/pundit type like Mark Halperin aggressively calls out one party for lying, but that's exactly what Halperin did early this morning on MSNBC, talking about the GOP claim that the Dem financial reg reform bill will lead to a permanent bailout.

FDA plans to limit amount of salt allowed in processed foods for health reasons  —  The Food and Drug Administration is planning an unprecedented effort to gradually reduce the salt consumed each day by Americans, saying that less sodium in everything from soup to nuts would prevent thousands …

Supreme Court voids law aimed at banning animal cruelty videos  —  The Supreme Court struck down a federal law Tuesday aimed at banning videos depicting graphic violence against animals, saying that it violates the constitutional right to free speech.  —  Chief Justice John J. Roberts Jr. …

GOPer Tries to Ape My Snark  —  I'm not quite sure what to make of this.  A couple weeks ago our Eric Kleefeld came up with video showing Nevada Senate candidate Sue Lowden suggesting that “bartering” for medical care would be a good way to rein in spiraling health care costs.

Obama Approval Slips Further in Fifth Quarter to 48.8%  —  Ranks among lowest fifth-quarter averages for elected presidents  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama averaged 48.8% job approval for his fifth quarter in office, spanning Jan. 20-April 19 Gallup Daily tracking.

Bernard Goldberg Admits Jon Stewart is Right About His Generalizations and Then Attacks Him  —  I said last week that Bernard Goldberg wasn't going to be happy after Jon Stewart ended his segment Fox News Pundits Don't Agree With Demonizing an Entire Group Unless it's the Liberals by telling Bernard Goldberg to go f**k himself.

Senate Democrats' budget to allow use of reconciliation rules  —  The budget resolution being drafted by Senate Democrats will include reconciliation instructions, according to Democrats briefed on the matter.  —  The reconciliation instructions, which allow legislation to move through …

California senator complains of harassment from Palin fans  —  California State Senator Leland Yee, who has been battling a state university over disclosing Sarah Palin's speaking contract, complains in a press release today that he's been getting nasty emails and faxes.

Rubio: 'I Don't Think Any Of Us Are Going To Blame Israel' If They Decide To Attack Iran  —  Yesterday, a conservative Florida blogger interviewed Republican GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio about “the struggle against Radical Islam and Global Terrorism.”  When asked if he would support …

Bill Black Testimony on Lehman Bankruptcy - Transcript and Video  —  FDL Contributor Bill Black scorched everyone with his testimony on the failure of Lehman Brothers before the House Financial Services Committee today.  His prepared remarks can be found here (PDF).

ATTORNEY GENERAL CUOMO CHARGES PEDRO ESPADA JR. AND 19 EXECUTIVES WITH LOOTING HIS BRONX NOT-FOR-PROFIT  —  Espada and His Family Siphoned More Than $14 Million Over 5 Years  —  Espada Packed Board with Family Members and Senate Employees to Rubber Stamp Expenditures

Inhofe: Clinton comments over the top  —  Former President Bill Clinton's comments surrounding the Oklahoma City bombing commemoration are “unconscionable” and an “over-the-top” effort to silence critics, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said Tuesday.  —  Clinton has drawn fire for reprising criticism …