McCain: ‘Serious mistake’ if car bombing suspect was Mirandized  —  It would have been a serious mistake to have read the suspect in the attempted Times Square car bombing his Miranda rights, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said Tuesday.  —  McCain, the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee …

White House in P.R. ‘panic’ over spill  —  The ferocious oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico is threatening President Barack Obama's reputation for competence, just as surely as it endangers the Gulf ecosystem.  —  So White House aides are escalating their efforts to reassure Congress and the public …

Sestak Gains On Specter Among Pennsylvania Democrats, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Onorato Tops Field Of Unknowns In Governor's Primary  —  U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak is within striking distance of U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter in the Pennsylvania Democratic primary, trailing the long-time incumbent 47 …

President Obama: GOP Opposition to Stimulus ‘Helped to Create the Tea-Baggers’  —  Three days after he decried the lack of civility in American politics, President Obama is quoted in a new book about his presidency referring to the Tea Party movement using a derogatory term with sexual connotations.

“Socialism” Not So Negative, “Capitalism” Not So Positive  —  A Political Rhetoric Test  —  “Socialism” is a negative for most Americans, but certainly not all Americans.  “Capitalism” is regarded positively by a majority of the public, though it is a thin majority.

Poll Shows Most in U.S. Want Overhaul of Immigration Laws  —  LOS ANGELES — The overwhelming majority of Americans think that the country's immigration policies need to be seriously overhauled.  And despite protests against Arizona's stringent new immigration enforcement law …

On Discovering Bill Maher  —  Yes, I know I'm retro, but until this weekend I had never seen nor heard the apparently quite famous Bill Maher.  That oversight has now been remedied thanks to some seriously brilliant producers at ABC television who were insightful enough to book Mr. Maher …

Through oil-fouled water, big government looks better and better  —  There is something exquisite about the moment when a conservative decides he needs more government in his life.  —  About 10:30 Monday morning, Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), an ardent foe of big government …

Kyl jokes about Obama drowning  —  Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) got a big laugh on Saturday at a National Republican Senatorial Committee retreat, but his joke definitely wouldn't be funny to some people.  —  According to a source who attended the meetings, Kyl told the assembled crowd …

The 10 Most Wanted Lobbyist Loopholes  —  Loopholes are a lobbyist's best friend.  —  As debate on the Wall Street Reform bill returns today to the floor of the Senate, lobbyists are working overtime to insert loopholes and special provisions into the bill.

Reid: Must finish reform by next week  —  Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday that the Senate must finish its work on financial regulatory reform “one way or the other” by next week.  —  In his opening statement on the floor, Reid stated emphatically that there is too much left …

Congress Members Bet on Fall in Stocks  —  Some members of Congress made risky bets with their own money that U.S. stocks or bonds would fall during the financial crisis, a Wall Street Journal analysis of congressional disclosures shows.  —  Senators have criticized Goldman Sachs Group Inc. for profiting from the housing collapse.

House Races in 2010  —  'Hey Jim, could you put together a list of House races where it's either an open seat race or a vulnerable incumbent?" the editors ask, oh-so-innocently.  —  Do they have any idea how much work that entails?  Scott Brown won a Senate race in Massachusetts …