A gaffetastic new Miss USA  —  She nearly tripped over her gown.  —  She called birth control a “controlled substance.”  —  She argued that contraceptives should be covered by health insurers because they are “expensive” — and then said you could get them for “free” from your OB/GYN's office.

The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment  —  In 2003, several prominent Jewish philanthropists hired Republican pollster Frank Luntz to explain why American Jewish college students were not more vigorously rebutting campus criticism of Israel.  In response, he unwittingly produced …

Answer the lesbian question, Ms Legal Eagle  —  The nominee to be the next justice of the Supreme Court has no opinion on anything.  Well, that's not entirely true.  She did believe in providing free coffee for students when she was dean of Harvard Law School.

A Conservative's Case for Sarah Palin's Genius  —  (Tony Lee is a conservative writer who lives in Virginia.  Follow him on twitter: @TheTonyLee.  — MA)  —  I hadn't seen Sarah Palin speak in person since the 2008 elections.  If one just watched or read mainstream media accounts …

Apologizing For Arizona  —  This is unfreakingbelievable, even for the Obama administration: … What an idiot!  China murdered millions of its citizens who opposed the government's Communist policies and allows most of its people little or no freedom.  We, on the other hand, enforce our immigration laws.

Obama's terms for financial overhaul remain mostly intact  —  The Senate this week could hand President Obama his second major legislative victory of the year, both on administration priorities that seemed in doubt not long ago.  —  Passage of a 1,400-page bill to overhaul …

Video: The greatest political ad ever?  —  It's not the greatest ad ever.  If he had roped a calf or branded a steer or something, then it would have been the greatest ad ever.  I watched it twice before googling around to see if it was some sort of stunt candidacy or “Funny or Die” parody.  Nope.

Newt Gingrich says President Obama is Nazi-Commie “threat to our way of life.”  —  Will Howard Kurtz ask Chris Wallace why FOX News decided to make Newt Gingrich's new book their number one segment of the day?  Then they followed it up by interviewing Laura Bush and proceeded into their wingnut panel discussion.

The amazing campaign ads of Alabama  —  Alabama Republicans have, for reasons that I don't understand but which I hope a reader will explain, produced a raft of strange and memorable television ads this cycle: Young Boozer's broadside; ‘This is Alabama.  We speak English’; the scornful attack on an accused evolutionist.

Iran agrees to exchange of nuclear material  —  Tehran would send the bulk of its nuclear material to Turkey as part of a deal that could ease international tensions.  —  Brazilian, Iranian and Turkish leaders mark the signing of Tehran's nuclear deal.  From left: Brazil Foreign Minister Celso Amorim …

Burns, Critz close  —  The special election to replace John Murtha looks to be headed for a photo finish, with Republican Tim Burns leading Democrat Mark Critz 48-47 in PPP's final poll of the race.  —  PA-12 provides a clear example of how dimly voters are viewing politicians and parties across the board right now.

Howard Kurtz explores how oil spill, bombing news trumped Nashville flood  —  As Nashville anchor Bob Sellers watched his city submerged and spent time helping colleagues whose homes were utterly ruined, he was struck by how the disaster remained a largely local story.

Laura: Obama, Michelle Benefit From Double Standard  —  President Obama benefits from a double-standard in the press compared to her husband, Laura Bush said today — and Michelle Obama has managed to escape the pigeon hole Bush and other first ladies have gotten jammed in.

Primary focus: Whose clout is at stake  —  Tuesday's primary elections in Pennsylvania, Kentucky and Arkansas won't just be a test of the national political environment.  They'll also offer a clearer look at who's shaping up to be a powerful force in 2010 and who's already struggling to stay relevant in the long midterm cycle.