Once critical of financial regulation bill, Republicans change their tone  —  Key Senate Republicans on Tuesday began to back away from their sharp criticism of proposed new financial regulations and expressed optimism that a bipartisan deal on a bill that would drastically change …

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 …

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 …

U.S. attorney, IRS and FBI investigating Florida GOP credit card use  —  Federal law enforcement agencies have launched a criminal investigation into the use of American Express cards issued by the Republican Party of Florida to elected officials and staff, according to sources familiar with the probe.

Republican baffled by Tea Party endorsement of Democrat rival  —  When the Tea Party Express last week endorsed Idaho Rep. Walt Minnick — the only Democrat to receive the backing of the conservative grassroots group — one of his Republican challengers said he was simply baffled to learn the news …

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 …

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 …

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.

White House eagerly touts early repayment of GM loans  —  The Obama administration launched a media blitz on Wednesday to promote the early repayment of billions in loans to General Motors.  —  GM repaid an outstanding $5.8 billion in loans to the U.S. on Wednesday, loans it had received …

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 …

Ensign Campaign's Haul Last Quarter: 50 Bucks  —  Sen. John Ensign's re-election campaign took in just $50 in contributions, from one contributor, during the first quarter of 2010, according to FEC reports.  The paltry take comes as more bad news for the scandal-tarred Nevada Republican, who would run for re-election in 2012.

Matthews Allows Gun Rights Protesters to Show Their Blind Hatred for President Obama  —  Chris Matthews allows 2nd Amendment protesters Larry Pratt and Skip Coryell to dig their own hole while trying to get them to explain what freedoms are being taken away from them and what right the 2nd Amendment protects.

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.

Economic Scene: As Markets Fizzle, Buying May Cost Less Than Renting  —  In much of the country, for much of the last decade, renting a home has usually been a better financial move than buying one.  It's been true in Southern California, San Francisco, Phoenix, Las Vegas and large parts of Florida …

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 …

Iran boosts Qods shock troops in Venezuela  —  Pentagon predicts U.S. clash with Islamist paramilitary  —  Iran is increasing its paramilitary Qods force operatives in Venezuela while covertly continuing supplies of weapons and explosives to Taliban and other insurgents in Afghanistan and Iraq …

Farewell to Korengal  —  LAST week the United States military pulled out of the Korengal Valley in eastern Afghanistan.  Six miles long, sparsely populated and of dubious strategic value, the Korengal was the scene of some of the most relentless fighting of the Afghan war.