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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.”

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

Payback Time: Deficit Crisis Threatens Ample Benefits of European Life  —  PARIS — Across Western Europe, the “lifestyle superpower,” the assumptions and gains of a lifetime are suddenly in doubt.  The deficit crisis that threatens the euro has also undermined the sustainability …

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.

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.

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

BP is sticking with its dispersant choice … BP has told the Environmental Protection Agency that it cannot find a safe, effective and available dispersant to use instead of Corexit, and will continue to use that chemical application to help break up the growing spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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 …