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.

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.

Poll: Schedule fails to sway public  —  The White House has, for weeks now, rolled out popular health reform benefits well ahead of schedule, items like coverage for young adult children and tax credits for small business, hoping these early deliverables would shore up public support.

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 …

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.

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 …

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” …

Gingrich Says Comparing Obama Administration To Nazi Threat Is ‘Pretty Reasoned And Compelling’  —  Newt Gingrich has made headlines recently by writing in his new book, To Save America, that the Obama administration's “secular socialist machine” represents “as great a threat to America as Nazi Germany or the Soviet Union.”

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 …

Relatives ID West Memphis suspects  —  At left, a photo of Joe and Jerry Kane from a memorial website dedicated to the two.  On the right, a photo of one of the suspects in the killing of two West Memphis police officers Thursday, who relatives have identified as 16-year-old Joe Kane.