The GOP's special failure  —  All the evidence pointing to monster Republican House gains this fall—the Scott Brown upset win in Massachusetts, the scary polling numbers in once-safely Democratic districts, the ever-rising number of Democratic seats thought to be in jeopardy—was contradicted Tuesday.

More on Rand Paul  —  So is Rand Paul, on a personal level, just a deeply unlikeable guy?  One of the weird things about his acceptance speech last night was that he held it at the local country club — to what looked uncannily like a members only crowd.  This morning he defended the venue …

“Nobody is on our side”  —  Being back home in the Midwest is always grounding.  The most classic moment was a conversation in a restaurant with someone who was expressing anger at all incumbents and both parties who said to me “nobody is on our side.”  —  That was the theme of yesterday's big day of political news.

Dean: N.Y. Times story a ‘hatchet job’  —  Howard Dean on Wednesday took the New York Times to task for running a “hatchet job” story on Democratic Senate candidate Richard Blumenthal misstating his service in Vietnam without acknowledging that the information came from a GOP campaign.

Slow learners at the 9th Circuit  —  The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a stimulus package for the Supreme Court, which would rather not have one.  The 9th Circuit, often in error but never in doubt, provides the Supreme Court with steady work: Over the past half-century …

The Death Of Independence  —  Analysts are pointing toward last night's primary results (the defeat of Arlen Specter, Trey Grayson, and the run-off for Blanche Lincoln) as - when combined with Bob Bennett and Alan Mollohan's defeats - proof of anti-incumbency and anti-Washington establishment.

MEXICAN PRESIDENT KNOCKS ARIZONA LAW FROM WHITE HOUSE LAWN  —  ABC News: Mexican President Felipe Calderon took the unusual step Wednesday morning of criticizing an American law while visiting the White House, saying cooperation is needed to fix the US-Mexican immigration issue but …

Rahm's Son's Bar Mitzvah Irks Some in Israel  —  Israeli Activists Say They Will ‘Blow Up,’ Figuratively, Zach Emanuel's Bar Mitzvah  —  White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's plan to take his son, Zach, to Jerusalem's famous Western Wall for his Jewish coming-of-age ritual appeared to have run into serious trouble.

Theater J pulls Madoff play after objections from activist Elie Wiesel  —  Bowing to objections from Elie Wiesel, the author, human rights activist and Holocaust survivor, Theater J has canceled its first production of the coming season — a play in which Wiesel is a character.

Key senator says hold off on 'Don't Ask' repeal  —  A key U.S. senator has told the Blade that he opposes repealing “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” at this time.  —  In a brief exchange on Capitol Hill, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Tuesday he would vote against an effort next week to overturn the law.

HOUSE PASSES BEER RESOLUTION  —  While most of Washington was focused on Tuesday's election results, the House was busy doing something else: Passing a resolution about beer.  —  House Resolution 1297, sponsored by Rep. Betsy Markey, supports “the goals and ideals of American Craft Beer Week.”

Conspiracy of Banks Rigging States Came With Crash  —  A telephone call between a financial adviser in Beverly Hills and a trader in New York was all it took to fleece taxpayers on a water-and-sewer financing deal in West Virginia.  The secret conversation was part of a conspiracy stretching across …

Why We're Having an Everybody Draw Mohammed Contest on Thursday May 20  —  Author's Note: This article includes three images that clearly denigrate Islam and the Prophet Mohammed.  So there is absolutely no question about the provenance of these images, I would like to direct all readers …

Bennet now leads general  —  The results of yesterday's special election in Pennsylvania were a clear indication that things are starting to turn around for Democrats, and Michael Bennet's improved standing for reelection is a reflection of that.  Bennet now leads Jane Norton 44-41 in his quest for a full term in the Senate.

Pakistan arrests army officer linked to Times Square bomb suspect  —  The major's involvement with Faisal Shahzad remains unclear, but authorities say the two met in Islamabad and were in cellphone contact.  —  Reporting from Islamabad, Pakistan  —  Investigators have arrested …