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.

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.

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.

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 …

Landis Admits Doping, Accuses Others  —  Floyd Landis, the American cyclist whose 2006 Tour de France victory was nullified after a positive doping test, has sent a series of emails to cycling officials and sponsors admitting to, and detailing, his systematic use of performance enhancing drugs during his career.

Mexican president urges Congress to reinstate assault weapons ban  —  Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Thursday urged U.S. lawmakers to reinstate a ban on assault weapons during a joint-session address to Congress.  —  Calderon said that while he respected the U.S. Constitution's guarantees …

A Bad Day for the Obama Agenda  —  The primary election results show rising intensity among Republican voters.  —  The temptation for politicians and political analysts is to draw broad, sweeping conclusions from election results.  But most election outcomes defy being reduced to a single cause.

Election 2010: South Carolina Republican Primary for Governor  —  South Carolina GOP Primary for Governor: Haley Jumps Ahead  —  With South Carolina's Republican Primary for Governor less than three weeks away, State Representative Nikki Haley, coming off a fresh endorsement by Sarah Palin, now leads the GOP pack.

Bring it on: Pelosi predicts ‘for sure’ that Dems will win House  —  Speaker Nancy Pelosi has a message for Republicans this fall: Bring it on.  —  A buoyant Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Wednesday basked in the Democrats' special-election triumph while bashing Republicans and expressing confidence …