Rand Paul, telling the truth  —  If we use “gaffe” in its proper, Kinsleyan form, that's what U.S. Senate candidate Rand Paul issued to NPR yesterday, and that's what he defended on Rachel Maddow's show last night.  He told the truth about his stance on the Civil Rights Act.

Exclusive: President Obama To Replace Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair*  —  ABC News has learned that President Obama will replace the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair (ret.) His resignation will come as soon as tomorrow, sources tell ABC News.

Scientists Fault Lack of Studies Over Gulf Oil Spill  —  Tensions between the Obama administration and the scientific community over the gulf oil spill are escalating, with prominent oceanographers accusing the government of failing to conduct an adequate scientific analysis of the damage …

Critics weigh Blumenthal's words  —  “I wore the uniform in Vietnam and many came back & to all kinds of disrespect.  Whatever we think of war, we owe the men and women of the armed forces our unconditional support.”  —  The occasion was the Stamford Veterans Days parade: Nov. 9, 2008.

Democratic New York senator Chuck Schumer is poised to become majority leader  —  On Mother's Day, Chuck Schumer delivered two commencement speeches upstate, flew back to Brooklyn to eat dinner with his wife, mother and daughters and at 7:38 p.m. toted a briefcase into his midtown office …

GOP lawmaker blasts Mexican pres. comments as inappropriate  —  Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) blasted Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday, calling the visiting dignitary's remarks on Arizona's recently implemented immigration law “inappropriate.”  —  Earlier Thursday …

The New Free Speech Movement  —  Today is Everybody Draw Mohammed Day, a completely made-up satirical “holiday” dedicated to the concept of drawing Mohammed cartoons, as a way of making a statement about freedom of speech.  —  Not everyone agrees with this idea, however.

Stunning Drop in Whitman's Support Transforms GOP Race for Governor  —  Fiorina, Campbell in Dead Heat While DeVore's Support Doubles  —  Support for Meg Whitman has plummeted 23 points since March, and she is now in a far closer race with Steve Poizner to become the Republican nominee for governor.

CALDERON GETS STANDING OVATION FROM DEMS FOR CRITICIZING AZ IMMIGRATION CRACKDOWN  — Fox News: Mexico's Calderon Takes His Case to Congress  —  Looks like someone else didn't read the bill....  OH OH!  He is afraid they won't be bringing all the billions back to Mexico!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Salahis Stopped by Secret Service Near White House Last Night  —  The Salahis were stopped by the U.S. Secret Service last night at around 8 p.m. ET during the State Dinner for Mexican President Felipe Calderon as their stretch limousine ran a red light and seemed to be trying to turn …

A Tax Hike Conservatives Can Love?  —  I'm in general suspicious of claims that such-and-such a means of enhancing revenue is something that conservatives would be willing to embrace.  Oftentimes people reach the conclusions that conservatives might support this or that by the erroneous method …

Scientists make ‘artificial life’  —  The synthetic cell looks identical to the “wild type”  —  Scientists in the US have succeeded in developing the first synthetic living cell.  —  The researchers constructed a bacterium's “genetic software” and transplanted it into a host cell.