Paul Calls White House Pressure On BP ‘Un-American,’ Says That ‘Sometimes Accidents Happen’  —  In an interview on ABC News' Good Morning America today, host George Stephanopoulos pressed GOP Kentucky Senate candidate Rand Paul on “how far” he would “push” his anti-government views.

Rodent scurries by as Obama lauds Wall Street vote  —  WASHINGTON - In his battle with the titans of Wall Street, President Barack Obama almost got upstaged by a rat.  —  But he didn't even seem to notice.  Assuming that's what it was, scurrying in front of his podium Thursday in a sun-drenched Rose Garden.

Another Case of Blumenthal Misstating Service  —  WASHINGTON — Broader newspaper archival searches continue to turn up instances in which Attorney General Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut portrayed himself as a Vietnam War veteran even though he did not serve in the war.

Mayor Daley Threatens to Shoot the Messenger—Namely, Me  —  Mayor Daley loves to bag on the local media, and given my recent line of inquiry into his politics and policies, I've never expected to be greeted with a fruit basket at City Hall.  —  But even I was a bit taken aback this morning …

The Story of an Angry Voter  —  Let's imagine a character named Ben.  A couple of decades ago, Ben went to high school.  —  It wasn't easy.  His parents were splitting up.  His friends would cut class to smoke weed.  His sister got pregnant.  But Ben worked hard and graduated …

Lost Decade Looming?  —  Despite a chorus of voices claiming otherwise, we aren't Greece.  We are, however, looking more and more like Japan.  —  For the past few months, much commentary on the economy — some of it posing as reporting — has had one central theme: policy makers are doing too much.

Why I Won't Be Participating in ‘Draw M******* Day’ (PBUH)  —  One of the most frustrating things that comes with being one of Eastern Iowa's top 500 political satire bloggers is dealing with readers who presume to know where I stand on the issues.  Worse yet, some even seem to think they can dictate the content of my posts.

Washington Times Debuts Dale ‘N-Word Sign’ Robertson as Tea Party Columnist  —  According to a press release, self-described “Tea Party Founder” Dale Robertson has joined the Washington Times' “Tea Party Report” blog.  Robertson, you may recall, was thrust back into the limelight in March …

N.J. Gov. Chris Christie swiftly vetoes ‘millionaires tax,’ property tax rebate bills … TRENTON — It took about two minutes from the time Senate President Steve Sweeney certified the passage of the millionaires tax package for Gov. Chris Christie to veto the bills at his desk.

EXCLUSIVE: Bob Kerrey Tapped to Head MPAA  —  Former U.S. Sen. Bob Kerrey has been tapped to be the next chairman of the Motion Picture Association of America, TheWrap has learned.  —  Kerrey has won approval from the heads of the movie companies that make up the powerful Hollywood lobby …

Unions to spend $100M in 2010 campaign to save Dem majorities  —  At least two influential unions will spend close to $100 million on the 2010 election, with most of those funds going to protect incumbents.  —  Union officials told The Hill they plan to help endangered members …

GOP fingers culprit in Pa. election  —  In the wake of Tuesday's Pennsylvania special election loss, disappointed House Republican leaders have engaged in a round of soul-searching to determine the causes behind the defeat and put an end to what they view as a potentially damaging campaign narrative.

Gibbs points to Christmas bombing attempt as reason Blair is gone  —  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs hinted that recent attempted terrorist attacks led to the resignation of Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair.  —  Gibbs on Friday pointed to “coordination issues” …

Forget Greece: Europe's real problem is Germany  —  Ground zero of Europe's debt-currency-banking crisis isn't in Greece, or Portugal, or Ireland or even Spain.  It's in Germany.  —  So says Martin Wolf, the estimable economics columnist of the Financial Times, who this week offered …

Kevin Costner may hold key to oil spill cleanup  —  The actor has invested 15 years and $24 million in a cleanup system involving centrifugal oil separators.  BP and the Coast Guard plan to test six of the machines on the spill next week.  —  U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service specialists capture a laughing gull on Breton Island.

Why is Sarah Palin in Boise?  Vaughn Ward defends campaign  —  BOISE — Sarah Palin is in Boise to campaign for Republican Vaughn Ward — who is vying for a seat in congress.  —  Ward admits that in recent weeks — he has experienced what he calls mis-steps.

Taliban blow up ‘U.S. spies’ in Pakistan  —  Militants strap explosives to two men in public execution, officials say  —  MIRANSHAH, Pakistan - Taliban militants strapped explosives to two men accused of being U.S. spies and blew them up at a public execution in northwest Pakistan, intelligence officials and residents said on Friday.

'I'm a Marxist' says Dalai Lama, but agrees capitalism has helped China  —  TIBETAN spiritual leader the Dalai Lama says he's a Marxist, yet credits capitalism for bringing new freedoms to China, the communist country that exiled him.  —  “Still I am a Marxist,” the exiled Tibetan Buddhist leader …

U.N. sanctions loophole: Russia can send missiles to Iran  —  A draft U.N. resolution that would impose sanctions on Iran, including limits on global arms transfers, will not block the controversial transfer of Russian S-300 missiles to the Iranian military, according to U.S. and Russian officials.