THE PROBLEM WITH SHORT MEMORIES.... Given all the public confusion, it's sometimes surprising President Obama's approval rating isn't lower.  Take this tidbit from the latest Pew Research report. … I guess the frequent Republican complaints about “bailouts” led much of the public …

State Department warns employees about new website highlighting Top Secret facilities  —  The State Department is bracing for a potentially explosive new feature on the Washington Post website that would publish the names and locations of agencies and firms conducting Top Secret work on behalf …

A conservative dismisses right-wing Black Panther ‘fantasies’  —  A scholar whom President George W. Bush appointed vice chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, Abigail Thernstrom has a reputation as a tough conservative critic of affirmative action and politically correct positions on race.

Senator Vitter suggests Rachel Maddow only looked like a woman “a long time ago”  —  UPDATE, 5:16 p.m.: Vitter has now written a note of apology to Maddow.  —  Original post:  —  Oh, what fun!  —  On a right wing radio station this morning, Senator David Vitter appeared to suggest …

America's Ruling Class — And the Perils of Revolution  —  As over-leveraged investment houses began to fail in September 2008, the leaders of the Republican and Democratic parties, of major corporations, and opinion leaders stretching from the National Review magazine (and the Wall Street Journal) …

A Final Thought  —  Here is former head and current spokesperson for the Tea Party Express Mark Williams satirically responding to the NAACP: … Williams has since taken the original down and posted a half-hearted justification.  Mark Williams is the same man who has denounced Barack Obama as …

The scariest jobs graph you've seen yet  —  That's job growth per month on the X axis, and how many months that level of job growth would take to get us back to pre-recession levels on the Y axis.  Notice that adding new jobs at a rate of 200,000 a month would take us 150 months — or 12.5 years — to get back to normalcy.

Boehner: No more new Federal regulations!  —  UPDATE, 2:50 p.m.: DCCC chair Chris Van Hollen responds: … Original post:  —  A day after calling for repeal of the new financial regulatory reform bill, John Boehner is going even further: He's calling for a moratorium on all new Federal regulations — in the name of job creation.

The incredible obviousness of the Democrats' political fortunes  —  The topic du jour appears to be the Obama paradox.  How, some writers are asking, can the Democrats be both passing a lot of legislation and be headed for a defeat at the polls?  —  But there's no contradiction.  No paradox.

On Mel Gibson, “Conservative” — By: Jonah Goldberg  —  For starters, I think it's all unseemly.  I don't think this is the kind of thing that should be spilled out for the public no matter who it is.  I think Gibson is clearly troubled and despite his well-documented paranoia, there are many long knives out with his name on them.

What Went Wrong: The Rahm Factor  —  A fascinating and depressing interview with David Obey: … But remember, the Cossacks work for the czar.

Obey: White House Suggested Cutting Food Stamps to Pay for Education Program  —  This entire interview with Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.), the head of the House Appropriations Committee and a powerful veteran member of Congress, who is retiring this year, is worth a read.  But one passage is particularly striking.

U.S. SENATE RACE: Reid takes lead on Angle  —  New poll shows Republican losing support among every voter group  —  U.S. Sen. Harry Reid has opened a strong lead over Republican opponent Sharron Angle after pummeling her in a ubiquitous TV and radio ad campaign that portrays the Tea Party favorite as …

Aaron Sorkin to direct John Edwards film  —  ‘Social Network’ scribe to adapt ‘The Politician’  —  Aaron Sorkin — best known for creating “The West Wing” — will make his feature directorial debut with a John Edwards biopic.  —  Sorkin's adapting and producing Andrew Young's “The Politician …

About That Financial Reform ‘Victory’  —  Dodd-Frank may backfire on Democrats.  —  “President Obama Signs Historic Stimulus Bill”—Rocky Mountain News, Feb. 17, 2009  —  “Obama Signs Historic Health Care Legislation”—NPR, March 23, 2010  —  “Senate Poised to Pass Historic Financial Reform”—McClatchy, July 12, 1010

Obama's next act  —  In the political marketplace, there's now a run on Obama shares.  The left is disappointed with the president.  Independents are abandoning him in droves.  And the right is already dancing on his political grave, salivating about November when, his own press secretary admitted Sunday …

McCain challenges Obama in new TV ad  —  Arizona Sheriff Paul Babeu defends McCain in a new TV ad.  —  Washington (CNN) - Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, the former GOP presidential hopeful running for re-election debuted a new TV ad Friday, but instead of targeting his opponents he focused directly …

Post poll: McInnis losing support, Republicans like Tancredo  —  Support for GOP gubernatorial candidate Scott McInnis is eroding among Republicans but he remains a viable candidate even after a plagiarism scandal, according to a new Denver Post poll.  —  Twenty percent of registered Republican voters …

Chelsea Clinton's A-List Wedding: Few Details, Many Questions  —  To the roaring, screeching Amtrak trains approaching Rhinecliff station from the north or south, add the occasional thwack-thwack-thwack of helicopter rotors.  —  Do those choppers carry Secret Service agents trying to secure …