SEC staffers watched porn as economy crashed  —  WASHINGTON - Senior staffers at the Securities and Exchange Commission spent hours surfing pornographic websites on government-issued computers while they were being paid to police the financial system, an agency watchdog says.

The Government War  —  In these columns I try to give voice to a philosophy you might call progressive conservatism.  It starts with the wisdom of Edmund Burke — the belief that the world is more complex than we can know and we should be skeptical of handing too much power to government planners.

Don't Cry for Wall Street  —  On Thursday, President Obama went to Manhattan, where he urged an audience drawn largely from Wall Street to back financial reform.  “I believe,” he declared, “that these reforms are, in the end, not only in the best interest of our country, but in the best interest of the financial sector.”

Obama Blasts Arizona Illegal Immigration Effort  —  This is pretty big: Obama just now sharply condemned the controversial anti-illegal immigration effort in Arizona, calling it “misguided” and “irresponsible” — and even said his administration could insert itself into the fight if civil rights are found to be violated.

Barack Obama Strangelove Backing A Weapon Too Crazy For Bush/Cheney  —  The NY Times continues to present the Administration spin in favor of reducing our nuclear arsenal.  Part of the rationale was that our conventional weapons, such as smart bombs and cruise missile, are much more accurate and powerful.

The Real Republican Civil War  —  The struggle between Marco Rubio and Charlie Crist for the Florida Senate seat symbolizes the rift between the reformers and the establishment in the GOP.  —  Marco Rubio appeared on a Sunday talk show this month to say something remarkable.

Report says health care will cover more, cost more  —  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama's health care overhaul law is getting a mixed verdict in the first comprehensive look by neutral experts: More Americans will be covered, but costs are also going up.  —  Economic experts at the Health …

GOP: Put Betty Sutton ‘back in the kitchen’?!  —  What's the best way to move women back decades?  Just ask the GOP.  —  The Republican Review, an apparent newsletter produced by the Medina County (Ohio) Republican Executive Committee, states the following:

Schumer: Obama's ‘counter-productive’ Israel policy ‘has to stop’  —  New York Senator Chuck Schumer harshly criticized the Obama Administration's attempts to exert pressure on Israel today, making him the highest-ranking Democrat to object to Obama's policies in such blunt terms.

Scott Brown rules out 2012 presidential run, backs Romney  —  Massachusetts Republican Senator Scott Brown said this morning he was ruling out a presidential run in 2012 and that he supported former Bay State governor Mitt Romney in the race.  —  “Yes, absolutely, 2012, I'm ruling it out …

Potential Supreme Court pick Garland could find foes on left  —  Unlike several other possible candidates to succeed retiring Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge Merrick B. Garland probably won't face conservative opposition.  Instead, it could be liberals lining up against him.

Derivatives industry fights back as reform momentum grows  —  Representatives for the $450 trillion, privately-traded derivatives industry on Thursday fought back against growing momentum for reforms that would require contracts to be traded on exchanges, calling it unnecessary and likely harmful to industrial companies.

White House leaves Durbin hanging  —  Sen. Dick Durbin slipped into the West Wing last week to ask Rahm Emanuel for White House help in saving Barack Obama's old Senate seat.  —  But he didn't leave with any ironclad commitments.  —  Durbin told Emanuel that Democratic nominee Alexi Giannoulias …

Institutionalizing Crony Capitalism  —  In the wake of the recent financial meltdown, Americans know that we need reform.  Not only have many individuals learned lessons about personal responsibility through this, but we've been able to engage in a discussion about government's appropriate role.

Liberals and the Violence Card  —  Conservative protest is motivated by a love of what America stands for.  —  The latest liberal meme is to equate skepticism of the Obama administration with a tendency toward violence.  That takes me back 15 years ago to the time President Bill Clinton accused …

Hoyer Sees Election Trouble for House Democrats  —  Nationally-recognized election prognosticator Charlie Cook isn't the only one who sees the majority for House Democrats slipping away.  Today, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer agreed, but said that he and others will mount a strong campaign …

Greece Requests Financial Aid  —  Bowing to market pressure, Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou said Friday he will ask for the European Union and International Monetary Fund to activate an emergency financial support package to help shore up public finances.

Redactions Revealed: The Six Secrets You Need to Know From the Obama Subpoena Request  —  Former governor Rod Blagojevich's defense team asked Thursday to issue a trial subpoena to the President of the United States of America.  —  The motion, intended to be heavily redacted …

Poll says Obama, Dalai Lama world's most popular  —  PARIS (AFP) - US President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama are the world's two most popular leaders, according to a poll conducted in six countries and released on Friday.  —  Obama won 77 percent backing, one percentage point higher than in November …