Rahm Emanuel expected to quit White House  —  Rahm Emanuel, the White House chief of staff, is expected to leave his job later this year after growing tired of the “idealism” of Barack Obama's inner circle.  —  Washington insiders say he will quit within six to eight months in frustration …

Lax Oversight Cited in Failure of Oil Rig's Failsafe Device  —  It was the last line of defense, the final barrier between the rushing volcanic fury of oil and gas and one of the worst environmental disasters in United States history.  —  Its very name — the blind shear ram — suggested its blunt purpose.

Radicals, Islamists and Longshoremen blockade Israeli ship in Oakland  —  An Israeli cargo ship arriving in Oakland today was forced to sit idle and not offload its containers when longshoremen joined forces with a coalition of communist and Islamist groups who picketed the port in protest …

Bork to publicly oppose Kagan for Supreme Court  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Failed conservative Supreme Court nominee Robert Bork is joining anti-abortion activists to publicly oppose confirming Elena Kagan as a justice.  —  Bork plans to detail his criticisms of Kagan during …

Op-Ed Columnist: Budget Deficits: Spend Now, Save Later  —  Spend now, while the economy remains depressed; save later, once it has recovered.  How hard is that to understand?  —  Very hard, if the current state of political debate is any indication.  All around the world, politicians seem determined to do the reverse.

Republicans' Midterm Voting Enthusiasm Tops Prior Years  —  Relative enthusiasm advantage for GOP over Democrats largest in Gallup history dating to 1994  —  PRINCETON, NJ — An average of 59% of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents have said they are more enthusiastic than usual …

Mika Admits: I'm ‘Working With White House’ On Oil Spill Talking Points  —  Cut out the middle-woman and install Obama's teleprompter on the Morning Joe set . . .  Give her high marks for candor: on today's show, Mika Brzezinski admitted that she has been “working with the White House” on oil spill talking points.

PRODIGAL SON  —  Is the wayward Republican Mike Huckabee now his party's best hope?  —  Sun was bouncing off the miles of Jerusalem stone and the black hats of the Hasidim on the afternoon when Mike Huckabee went to visit the Wailing Wall, earlier this year.

Doctors limit new Medicare patients  —  WASHINGTON — The number of doctors refusing new Medicare patients because of low government payment rates is setting a new high, just six months before millions of Baby Boomers begin enrolling in the government health care program.

Israeli Easing of Blockade of Gaza Draws Praise of U.S.  —  JERUSALEM — Bowing to worldwide pressure and condemnation, Israel on Sunday formally announced an eased blockade of Gaza that could significantly expand the flow of goods overland into the impoverished coastal Palestinian enclave, isolated by the Israelis for three years.

We can still win the war: Things are grim in Afghanistan, but victory remains in sight  —  Recent reports from Afghanistan paint a dark picture of the counterinsurgency efforts in the Taliban-infected south and east of the country.  This spring's operation in Marja, initially proclaimed a military success …

Andy Stern Joins SIGA's Board of Directors  —  SIGA Technologies, Inc. (SIGA 6.77, -0.03, -0.44%) , a company specializing in the development of pharmaceutical agents to combat bio-warfare pathogens, announced today that Andy Stern, labor leader and prominent advocate for reform, joined SIGA's board of directors.

House Dems prepare alternative to budget that would avoid deficit vote  —  House Democrats are readying an alternative budget measure that would set next year's spending levels without requiring a vote on deficits.  —  House Budget Committee Chairman John Spratt (D-S.C.) said the alternative would be the …

Rep. Cohen joins rap group onstage at campaign event  —  Videos emerged Sunday of Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) joining a rap group onstage at a campaign event.  —  “Give him the support because the town is under pressure,” the group rapped as Cohen danced alongside.

French prisoner ‘killed cellmate and ate his lung’  —  A French prisoner killed his cellmate then sliced open his chest to remove and eat his heart, a court has heard.  —  However, the man removed the wrong organ, and ate his lung by mistake.  —  Nicolas Cocaign, 39 …