Biden solidifies defense of Israel: 'What's the big deal here?'  —  Vice President Joe Biden offered the White House's strongest defense yet of Israeli's actions off the coast of Gaza this week in an interview with Charlie Rose airing tonight on PBS.  —  “I think Israel has an absolute right to deal with its security interest.

NBC runs Palin statement day later  —  NBC's “Today” show on Wednesday read a statement from Sarah Palin intended for the previous day's broadcast after the former Alaska governor's complaint that the program ignored her rebuttal to a critical interview.  —  On Tuesday, the show broadcast …

AP Sources: Admin talked jobs with Romanoff  —  WASHINGTON — Administration officials dangled the possibility of a job for former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff last year in hopes he would forgo a challenge to Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, administration officials said Wednesday …

A Storyteller Loses the Story Line  —  It's not a good narrative arc: The man who walked on water is now ensnared by a crisis under water.  —  One little hole a mile down on the ocean floor, so deep it seems like hell spewing up its sulfurous smoke, has turned the thrilling saga of “The One” into the gurgling horror of “The Abyss.”

BP Oil Leak May Last Until Christmas in Worst Case Scenario  —  BP Plc's failure since April to plug a Gulf of Mexico oil leak has prompted forecasts the crude may continue gushing into December in what President Barack Obama has called the greatest environmental disaster in U.S. history.

Obama whacks GOP in Pittsburgh  —  PITTSBURGH — President Barack Obama — seizing on the smash-mouth spirit of the Steelers — delivered his first major midterm hit on the GOP on Wednesday during a quick trip to Western Pennsylvania.  —  Obama has largely been on the defensive during …

RAHM EMANUEL (and Valerie Jarrett) SUBPOENAED BY BLAGOJEVICH: ATTORNEY  —  President Obama's chief of staff Rahm Emanuel was subpoenaed by the defense to testify in Rod Blagojevich's upcoming trial, a Blagojevich attorney told the Chicago Sun-Times.  —  “Yes, he's been subpoenaed by the defense …

Brewer tells conflicting stories about dad's war effort  —  Gov. Jan Brewer said in a recent interview that her father died fighting Nazis in Germany.  In fact, the death of Wilford Drinkwine came 10 years after World War II had ended.  —  During the war, Drinkwine worked as a civilian supervisor …

Competition's Good!  Joe Miller for Alaska  —  Contested primaries are so good for America's political process!  Competition makes everyone work harder, be more efficient, debate clearer, and produce more.  So, Alaskans should be thrilled that Joe Miller jumped in the GOP race and is ready …

Ex-Florida GOP chairman Jim Greer arrested  —  Jim Greer, former chairman of the Republican Party of Florida who has been under criminal investigation for his financial handling of the organization, was arrested this morning.  —  Florida Department of Law Enforcement agents brought Greer …

Carville unrepentant on W.H. criticism  —  James Carville walked into one of his favorite New Orleans eateries, Eleven 79, Tuesday night — and was stunned to find BP CEO Tony Hayward and Coast Guard Adm. Thad Allen, the two men tasked with stopping the Gulf spill, eating dinner together.

Kirk campaign acknowledges another misrepresentation of military service  —  Mark Kirk's Senate campaign has now acknowledged a second misrepresentation of his service record, admitting to me that his Web site falsely claimed that he was “the only member of Congress to serve in Operation Iraqi Freedom.”

TRENDING: George W. Bush joins Facebook  —  The office of former President George W. Bush has joined popular social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.  —  Washington (CNN) - He was succeeded in the White House by the most web savvy administration in U.S. history, but that has not stopped …

Study Finds Blacks Blocked From Southern Juries  —  In late April in a courthouse in Madison County, Ala., a prosecutor was asked to explain why he had struck 11 of 14 black potential jurors in a capital murder case.  —  The district attorney, Robert Broussard, said one had seemed “arrogant” and “pretty vocal.”