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 …

Reid to call financial regulation vote  —  With time running out for Democrats and Republicans to reach agreement on the final details of a Wall Street reform bill, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced on the floor Wednesday morning that he will call for a vote to end debate on the legislation at 2 p.m.

Blumenthal's Vietnam Claims Grew in Time, Colleague Says  —  Former Representative Christopher Shays of Connecticut found it puzzling: over time, his friend Attorney General Richard Blumenthal kept revising how he talked about his military service during the Vietnam War.  At first, in the 1980s, he was humble.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.”

Scandals in the House Republican Class of 1994  —  When was it, exactly, that the Republican revolution merged with the sexual revolution?  —  With each passing year, the class notes for the famous House Republicans Class of '94 get more lurid.  The latest entry was submitted Tuesday morning by Rep. Mark Souder (Ind.).

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.