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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

The Limits of Policy  —  Roughly a century ago, many Swedes immigrated to America.  They've done very well here.  Only about 6.7 percent of Swedish-Americans live in poverty.  Also a century ago, many Swedes decided to remain in Sweden.  They've done well there, too.

“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.

Christian right leader George Rekers takes vacation with “rent boy”  —  The pictures on the Rentboy.com profile show a shirtless young man with delicate features, guileless eyes, and sun-kissed, hairless skin.  The profile touts his “smooth, sweet, tight ass” and “perfectly built 8 inch cock …

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 …

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.

JPMorgan Chase Memo Sneers At ‘Ignorant’ Senators, ‘Time For The Grownups To Step In’  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  A top executive at JPMorgan Chase told clients Monday that senators displayed “an unnerving ignorance of fundamental principles of market economics” during last week's Goldman Sachs hearing …