What It Takes  —  About a decade ago, one began to notice a profusion of Organization Kids at elite college campuses.  These were bright students who had been formed by the meritocratic system placed in front of them.  They had great grades, perfect teacher recommendations …

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950  —  Amid complaints about high taxes and calls for a smaller government, Americans paid their lowest level of taxes last year since Harry Truman's presidency, a USA TODAY analysis of federal data found.  —  Some conservative political movements such as the …

EXCLUSIVE: Mullah Omar Captured!  —  Through key intelligence sources in Afghanistan and Pakistan, I have just learned that reclusive Taliban leader and top Osama bin Laden ally, Mullah Omar has been taken into custody.  —  According to the State Department's Rewards for Justice Program …

DeMint: A conservative kingmaker upends GOP order  —  WASHINGTON — Jim DeMint is becoming something of a tea party hero, even a potential conservative kingmaker, a status that is not making the freshman senator many friends among fellow Republicans in Congress.

Gordon Brown quits as PM as Lib-Dem deal falls apart  —  Gordon Brown is set to resign tonight and allow David Cameron to be Britain's new Prime Minister.  —  The Labour leader's final desperate attempt to cling on to power with a Lib-Lab deal crumbled amid a rebellion on his own side …

Obama Said to Be Open to New Miranda Look  —  WASHINGTON — David Axelrod, the top White House political adviser, said Monday that President Obama was amenable to Attorney General Eric H. Holder Jr.'s call for a new law allowing interrogators to question terrorism suspects for lengthy periods without informing them of their rights.

‘Secret prison’ at US air base  —  The US airbase at Bagram in Afghanistan contains a facility for detainees that is distinct from its main prison, the Red Cross has confirmed to the BBC.  —  Nine former prisoners have told the BBC that they were held in a separate building, and subjected to abuse.

VP Biden's son Beau hospitalized  —  Vice President Joe Biden's son, Beau, has been hospitalized for reasons that have yet not been made public.  —  A terse statement released Tuesday morning by the vice-president's office said Beau Biden, Delaware's attorney general “is at Christiana Medical Center undergoing treatment at present.

Bill Clinton lends a hand on wife's debt  —  Former President Clinton is helping Sec. of State Hillary Clinton retire her remaining 2008 presidential campaign.  —  Washington (CNN) - If you supported Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her 2008 presidential run, chances are you received …

Marshall, Cunningham closing on Burr  —  Elaine Marshall and Cal Cunningham have both gained ground on Richard Burr after building up their exposure during the Democratic primary campaign.  Burr is now in a weaker position than Elizabeth Dole was at the same point in the election cycle two years ago.

Did Big Bet Trigger Stock Swoon?  —  Shortly after 2:15 p.m. Eastern time last Thursday, hedge fund Universa Investments LP placed a big bet in the Chicago options trading pits that stocks would continue their sharp declines.  —  On any other day, this $7.5 million trade for 50,000 options contracts might …

Obama drug plan ‘firmly opposes’ legalization as California vote looms  —  The Obama administration said Tuesday that it “firmly opposes” the legalization of any illicit drugs as California voters head to the polls to consider legalizing marijuana this fall.

'Tea party'-backed platform sails through Maine GOP convention  —  Maine is known for GOP moderates, but over the weekend, conservative activists succeeded in passing a platform that's backed by tea party groups.  —  Conservative activists backed by “tea party” groups have rejected …