Christopher Hitchens diagnosed with cancer, cuts short his book tour  —  Christopher Hitchens is being treated for cancer, forcing the D.C. writer to cut short his latest book tour.  In a statement released through his publisher Twelve, the British-born provocateur, 61, said that he has …

Jobless Benefits Repeat  —  Once again, the Congress is going to go on a break without having extended long term jobless benefits, as the Senate failed to get 60 votes last night on another plan from Democrats.  —  By my count, this is the third time that Senators will have gone …

Manchin spokesman: No plans to change Byrd succession process  —  After speculation swirled Wednesday that West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchin (D) might revisit succession plans for the late Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), a Manchin spokesman told the Charleston Gazette the governor has not considered it.

Klobuchar Hits Coburn For Saying America Was More Free When There Were No Women On The Supreme Court  —  As confirmation hearings on Elena Kagan's nomination to the Supreme Court proceed, Senate Republicans continue blustering through their arguments — even going as far as to lambast Kagan's …

In Clarence Thomas's gun rights opinion, race plays a major role  —  He hardly ever speaks during oral arguments, often appearing asleep on the bench.  But in his written opinion Monday supporting the right to bear arms, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas roared to life.

“Torture” study reveals appalling cowardice of America's newspapers  —  On the one hand, waterboarding is torture.  —  On the other hand....  I'm sorry — there is no other hand.  Waterboarding is torture, period.  It's been that way for decades — it was torture when we went …

Pentagon recommends Medal of Honor for a living soldier  —  The Pentagon has recommended that the White House consider awarding the Medal of Honor to a living soldier for the first time since the Vietnam War, according to U.S. officials.  —  The soldier, whose nomination must be reviewed by the White House …

Hypocrisy, Thy Name is Andrew Sullivan  —  Leave it to Andrew Sullivan.  It's been 24 hours since I offered $100,000 for the full list and contents of the Ezra Klein's four-year experiment in political-journalist editorial collusion — the on line progressive jazz fusion station known as JournoList.

Portland police will investigate accusations that Al Gore groped woman  —  Portland police announced today that it will re-open and investigate a Portland massage therapist's allegations that former Vice President Al Gore sexually assaulted her at a downtown hotel in October 2006.

Election 2010: Pennsylvania Senate  —  Pennsylvania Senate: Toomey (R) 45%, Sestak (D) 39%  —  Republican Pat Toomey continues to hold a modest advantage over Democrat Joe Sestak in the race to replace Arlen Specter as U.S. senator from Pennsylvania.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports telephone survey …

Independent Voters Favor GOP in 2010 Election Tracking  —  Prefer Republican candidate to Democrat by an average of 45% to 35%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — By an average 10 percentage-point margin since March, 45% to 35%, independent registered voters have consistently preferred the Republican …

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis  —  EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING ADMINISTRATION  —  Program Contact:  —  TRANSMISSION OF MATERIAL IN THIS RELEASE IS EMBARGOED UNTIL  —  (202) 693-4676  —  UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE WEEKLY CLAIMS REPORT  —  SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA

We're looking more like France  —  Republicans can barely contain their glee at their electoral prospects for this year.  —  There is reason for this optimism.  The Obama administration's poll numbers continue to sink, and history tells us that things could get worse before they get better.

Iran Arms Syria With Radar  —  System Could Help Tehran Dodge Israeli Strike; a Blow to U.S. Strategy on Damascus  —  JERUSALEM—Iran has sent Syria a sophisticated radar system that could threaten Israel's ability to launch a surprise attack against Iran's nuclear facilities …

Evangelicals warn GOP on immigration  —  President Barack Obama's allies have been blasting the GOP's blockade of immigration-reform legislation, making the case that Republicans will alienate a core constituency - conservative Christians - unless they get on board.

House Sends Finance Overhaul to Senate  —  WASHINGTON—The House agreed Wednesday to a sweeping rewrite of the nation's financial regulations, moving the initiative one step closer to becoming law.  —  Focus now shifts to the Senate, where questions linger about whether Democrats have nailed …

IL Dems Trying to Force Black Conservative Woman off Ballot?  —  That's what a little bird tells me.  —  What happens when Democrats are forced to cannibalize two of the main voting blocks they exploit the most for personal gain?  AWK-WARD.  —  Her name is Cedra Crenshaw.  From Illinois Review:

The Most Unhappy Fellow  —  Our Independence Day weekend winner of the title of Most Unhappy Person in Washington is: John Boehner, the House minority leader.  —  I know this is a bit of a surprise since the award almost always goes to the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, whose job is frequently compared to herding cats.

Democrats to punt on taxes  —  Democratic leaders are likely to punt the task of renewing Bush-era tax cuts until after the election.  —  Voters in November's midterms will thus be left without a clear idea of their future tax rates when they go to the polls.

Sexy Russian Spy Video Interview: She Infiltrated New York Entrepreneur Week  —  That sexy Russian spy, Anna Chapman, is everywhere this week, with pictures and excerpts from Facebook showing up throughout the media.  —  But Mediaite has obtained a never-before-seen video of Chapman talking …

RGA flush with cash ahead of crucial gubernatorial races  —  With redistricting on the horizon, the Republican Governors Association (RGA) had its largest fundraising quarter to date.  The committee has pulled in $18.9 million since the end of March and now has some $40 million cash on hand, according to a release.

Taliban rule out Nato negotiation  —  The Taliban in Afghanistan tell the BBC they will not enter into any kind of negotiations with Nato forces.

Some Afghan military officers to get training in Pakistan  —  KABUL — Afghan President Hamid Karzai has agreed to send a group of military officers to Pakistan for training, a significant policy shift that Afghan and Pakistani officials said signals deepening relations between the long-wary neighbors.

Surprise Rise in Jobless Claims Stokes Recovery Worries  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New claims for state unemployment aid unexpectedly rose last week, heightening fears the U.S. economic recovery is stalling.  —  Initial claims for state unemployment benefits increased 13,000 …