Obama Offers Strategy Based in Diplomacy  —  WEST POINT, N.Y. — President Obama previewed a new national security strategy rooted in diplomatic engagement and international alliances on Saturday as he essentially repudiated his predecessor's emphasis on unilateral American power and the right to wage pre-emptive war.

Rep. Van Hollen: Wall Street vote shows rift between Tea Party, Republicans  —  The chief campaign strategist for House Democrats thinks the GOP made a strategic error in voting against Wall Street reform.  —  Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) made the case that Republicans' widespread opposition …

WHEN EXTREMISM AND IGNORANCE COLLIDE.... Republican Senate candidate and right-wing ophthalmologist Rand Paul got into a little trouble this week while explaining his opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.  To a lesser extent, his disagreement with the Americans With Disabilities Act also raised a few eyebrows.

James Carville Takes On Obama On Oil Spill: He's ‘Risking Everything’ With ‘Go Along With BP Strategy’  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Democratic strategist James Carville and MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews, two reliable supporters of President Barack Obama, have issued withering critiques …

Whatever Germany does, the euro as we know it is dead  —  Angela Merkel's ban on short-selling is just a distraction from the horror to come  —  “Money can't buy you friends, but it does get you a better class of enemy” - Spike Milligan  —  For Angela Merkel, leader of the eurozone's richest country …

Cuomo Opens Campaign for New York Governor  —  Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo announced his candidacy for governor on Saturday, saying he was seeking not only to lead New York but to remake a state mired in political scandal and paralyzed by financial crisis.  —  Multimedia

Texas board approves social studies standards that perceived liberal bias  —  The Texas state school board gave final approval Friday to controversial social studies standards that minimize the separation of church and state and say that America is not a democracy but a “constitutional republic.”

Tiger willing to give Elin $750M - to keep quiet … TIGER SCANDAL SCORECARD … EDITORS' PICKS … BEST OF NYDN.COM

THE FAMILIAR RING OF THE K STREET PROJECT.... The notorious K Street Project became synonymous with Republican excesses of the Gingrich/DeLay/Bush era, and for good reason.  Among its components was a heavy-handed scheme to “encourage” corporate PACs to contribute to Republican candidates, or face adverse consequences.

Weekly Address: President Obama Establishes Bipartisan National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling  —  Names Former Two-Term Florida Governor and Former Senator Bob Graham and Former Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency William K. Reilly as Commission Co-Chairs

Tea Party Makes Gains, but McConnell Seems Secure  —  WASHINGTON — Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Republican leader, keeps a card tucked away in his jacket, or close at hand on his desk in the Capitol, with a running tally of how Senate Republicans would come down on a certain big issue.

Obama's lazy tribute to Daniel Pearl … Barack Obama's remarkable powers of oratory are well known: In support of Chicago's Olympic bid, he flew into Copenhagen to give a heartwarming speech about himself, and they gave the games to Rio.  He flew into Boston to support Martha Coakley's bid …

Man Who Shot Police Had Antigovernment Views  —  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An antigovernment Ohio man who had had several run-ins with the police around the country was identified Friday as one of two people suspected of gunning down two officers during a traffic stop in Arkansas.