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.

Have Conservatives Gone Mad?  —  Serious thinkers on the right have finally gotten around to a full and open debate on the epistemic closure problem that's plaguing the conservative movement.  The issue, to put it in terms that even I can understand, because I didn't study philosophy much in college: has the conservative base gone mad?

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.

Kerry: Three Big Oil Companies Likely to Back Climate Bill  —  When Sens. John Kerry, Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman release their climate bill on Monday, they expect to have the backing of three of the five major oil companies, Mother Jones has learned.  In a conference call with a coalition …

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 …

The Specter of Socialism is Haunting Jonah Goldberg  —  I'm egomaniacal enough to keep tabs on what's being said about me on the internet, so I've seen a ton of conservative blogs quote this section of a Jonah Goldberg article in Commentary purporting to vindicate the right's “socialist” hits on Barack Obama:

Gov. Brewer signs controversial immigration bill  —  Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer today signed a controversial immigration bill into state law, advancing a politically charged debate that is already having reverberations in Washington.  —  “Respect for the rule of law means respect for every law,” said Brewer, a Republican.

NOT ALL GAY SEX IS ABUSIVE  —  Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments on a story in today's New York Times about a case of alleged sexual abuse committed by a Chilean priest:  —  If a 17-year old guy has sex with an older guy for twenty years, and continues to have sex with him at the age of 38 …

Palin testifies in hacking case  —  Sarah Palin took the stand for about an hour Friday morning in the Knoxville, Tennessee, trial of a man accused of hacking her e-mail, a manager in the court clerk's office said.  —  (CNN) - Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin testified that she did not realize anyone …

Maybe America doesn't want an immobilized judicial branch after all. … - Climate Change Is Going To Reshape the American Electoral Map.  Here's How.- J. Lo's New Movie Is Terrible but Not as Bad as Other Rom-Coms- Project Runway Finale: The Nazi-Inspired Designs Win?

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.”

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.

Gay Activists v. The White House: The Inside Story  —  For 17 years, the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy has grabbed thousands of gay soldiers by their collars and thrown them out of the military.  By this time next year, that policy will be gone.  Gay people will be openly serving in the United States Armed Forces.

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 …

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.

Is the Earth striking back?  —  Editor's note: Alan Weisman is the author of “The World Without Us,” an international bestseller now in 33 languages.  It was named the Best Nonfiction Book of 2007 by both Time magazine and Entertainment Weekly, the #1 Nonfiction Audiobook of 2007 by iTunes …

Virginia DMV Pulls License Plate Coded With Neo-Nazi Message From Truck With Anti-Islam Imagery  —  A photo has been circulating the Internet this week showing a truck parked in a disabled person parking spot, emblazoned with a large Confederate flag, and featuring a picture of the World Trade Center burning.

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.

Sens. Lugar, Durbin Ask Napolitano to Stop Deporting Students  —  ABC News' Devin Dwyer reports: With prospects of immigration reform this year continuing to fade, a bipartisan duo of Senators has asked Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to halt deportation of some undocumented immigrants …

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tim James tells us, “This is Alabama.  We speak English.”  —  From The Rachel Maddow Blog — ‘This is Alabama.  We speak English’: … This guy is about as subtle as a brick upside your head.  —  h/t Laffy