FreedomWorks Bullies GEICO To Axe Voice Over Actor  —  GEICO voice over actor targeted by Tea Party members after expressing opinion on FreedomWorks voicemail.  —  Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 21, 2010 — Los Angeles actor, D.C. Douglas, says he was dropped from the upcoming GEICO …

Senate Panel Approves Tougher Derivative Rules  —  WASHINGTON — The Senate Agriculture Committee on Wednesday approved legislation to tighten regulation of derivatives trading, with a single Republican, Senator Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, joining Democrats in supporting the measure.  The vote was 13 to 8.

MSNBC Pulls the Plug on Donny Deutsch's Weeklong Anchoring Stint  —  A week-long anchoring stint on MSNBC by Donny Deutsch ended abruptly on Wednesday, and four people briefed on the decision said the cancellation stemmed from an unflattering mention of that channel's No. 1 anchor, Keith Olbermann, a day earlier.

Obama's Bounce Goes Flat, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; But Voters Confident He Will Pick Good Judge  —  President Barack Obama's job approval, which bounced slightly to a 45 - 46 percent split March 25 in the wake of his health care victory, has flattened out at 44 - 46 percent …

Dems To Attack Sue Lowden With “Chickens For Checkups” Web Site  —  Chickens for Checkups!  —  That's the name of a new Web site the DSCC is planning to unveil today in an effort to draw national attention to GOP Senate candidate Sue Lowden, who doubled down this week on her assertion …

SPR exclusive bulletin: Crist to run for Florida Senate as an independent  —  It may be the worst-kept secret in American politics today, and it's apparently about to become a reality.  Reliable sources informed me today that embattled Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, whose early lead …

Senator DeMint to Brody File: Tea Party Movement Will Bring On “Spiritual Revival”  —  Senator Jim DeMint tells The Brody File that the Tea Party is a “spiritual revival” waiting to happen.  He compares it to “The Great Awakening”.  You can watch his fascinating comments below and read a partial transcription as well.

The Filter That Protects Palin From Scrutiny  —  Here's a revealing glimpse into how a delusional, incompetent, pathological liar has managed never to hold a real press conference and yet remains a credible public figure.  She avoids the filters - i.e. skeptical journalists - and deploys one simple propaganda tool:

Mike Allen, the Man the White House Wakes Up To  —  Before he goes to sleep, between 11 and midnight, Dan Pfeiffer, the White House communications director, typically checks in by e-mail with the same reporter: Mike Allen of Politico, who is also the first reporter Pfeiffer corresponds with after he wakes up at 4:20.

Bush Still Gets More Blame for Economy Than Obama  —  Of the three party groups, only Republicans say Obama bears more blame than Bush  —  PRINCETON, NJ — More than a year into Barack Obama's presidency, Americans are more likely to say George W. Bush is responsible for today's economic problems …

Testimony Could Undercut SEC Charge Against Goldman  —  The government has testimony from a Paulson & Co. official that could contradict its own claims against Goldman Sachs, CNBC has learned.  —  Paolo Pellegrini told the government that he informed ACA Management that Paulson intended to bet against …

Bertha Lewis Unleashed: Bashes Conservatives and the Tea Party, Promotes Socialism  —  Apparently CEO Bertha Lewis said of ACORN yesterday “we're on life support”.  Well, I think ACORN's remaining benefactors might be a little closer to pulling the plug once and for all after watching …

About Jon Stewart ...  In the big scheme of things what Jon Stewart says about me or what I say about him doesn't amount to much.  It doesn't really amount to much in the small scheme of things, either.  But this is the United States of Entertainment, after all, so here goes.

N.J. voters reject school budgets in heated elections … New Jersey voters took a stand on school spending and property taxes Tuesday, rejecting 260 of 479 school budgets across 19 counties, according to unofficial results in statewide school elections.  —  In the proposed state budget …

FBI, Justice Dept. open probe of Massa payments after retirement announcement  —  Federal authorities have launched a public corruption investigation into events surrounding former representative Eric Massa (D-N.Y.), according to documents obtained by The Washington Post.

UPDATED with photos, video: GetEQUAL disrupts House committee hearing … Activists from GetEQUAL interrupted a House committee hearing this morning to demand a markup of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act.  The activists approached Chairman George Miller, D-California, and attempted to hand him a magic marker.

New Financial-Reform Bill Would Break Up Banks.  —  Sens. Sherrod Brown (right), Ted Kaufman, Robert Casey and Sheldon Whitehouse are introducing a new financial-reform bill, the Safe Banking Act of 2010, to limit the size of the banks — and, in the process, break up existing firms.

All About the (New) Benjamins: Redesigned 100  —  Ben Franklin Gets a Makeover As New $100 Bill Unveiled  —  The recession has left many people strapped for cash, but even so, you will soon notice a new look for the $100 bill.  —  Ben Franklin's makeover was shown off at a ceremony …