Tim Geithner Opposes Nominating Elizabeth Warren To Lead New Consumer Agency  —  What's Your Reaction: … Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner has expressed opposition to the possible nomination of Elizabeth Warren to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, according to a source with knowledge of Geithner's views.

Goldman Settles With S.E.C. for $550 Million  —  Updated Updated with confirmation of The New York Times's report about Goldman's $550 million settlement.  —  Goldman Sachs has agreed to pay $550 million to the Securities and Exchange Commission, one of the largest penalties ever paid by a Wall Street firm …

Oil leak stopped for first time since April  —  BP said Thursday that it has stopped oil from leaking out of its blown-out well in the Gulf of Mexico.  The gusher has been throttled for the first time since the April 20 blowout on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon.

Early signs of 2012 power  —  With roughly 18 months to go until the Iowa caucuses, here's what the latest fundraising numbers and recent activity of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates tell us: Mitt Romney is the traditional front-runner, Sarah Palin is a not-so-traditional force, and Tim Pawlenty is the early bird.

Attorney who helped terrorist gets 10 years in prison  —  A judge had resentenced a 70-year-old civil rights lawyer to 10 years in prison for letting a jailed Egyptian sheik communicate with his radical followers.  —  Federal Judge John Koeltl sentenced Lynne Stewart in Manhattan after she pleaded …

“Tea partier” Mark Williams writes ‘letter to Abe Lincoln’ ... from the ‘coloreds’  —  If you're feeling pissy that the NAACP condemned your witch doctor signage and you're out to prove that your movement isn't racist, wouldn't it help not to actually say anything that might be construed as racist?

Dem Rep Sheila Jackson Lee Tells NAACP: “All Those Who Wore Sheets a Long Time Ago Lifted Them Off to Wear Tea Party Clothing” (Applause!)  —  Representative Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) told the NAACP this week that those who wore sheets lifted them off and are now wearing tea party clothing.

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 …

Left vows to fight any fiscal panel proposals to cut Social Security  —  Liberals wary of cuts to Social Security benefits are taking on President Obama's fiscal commission, seeing it as a more serious threat to the entitlement program than President George W. Bush's push to privatize the system five years ago.

Greenspan Says Lawmakers Should Let All Bush's Tax Cuts Lapse  —  Former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, whose endorsement of George W. Bush's 2001 tax cuts helped persuade Congress to pass them, said lawmakers should allow the cuts to expire at the end of the year.

Breitbart to NAACP Chief: ‘Go to Hell!’  —  “Let me say something a tad newsworthy to the president of the NAACP.  You can go to hell. ...  I have tapes...tape of racism and it's an NAACP dinner.  You want to play with fire?  I have evidence of racism and it's coming from the NAACP.”

Manhattan banker sentenced to 12 years for nearly $300 million fraud  —  New York (CNN) — Former political fundraiser Hassan Nemazee was sentenced Thursday to 144 months in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office in New York and to the FBI.  —  Nemazee, 60, a New York resident pleaded guilty …

When does Fox News' ugly race-baiting become the story?  —  Amazing.  Bernie Goldberg and I actually agreed.  But only for a moment.  —  The conservative media critic appeared on The O'Reilly Factor this week while the host, like every other Fox News host and anchor …

An Obama Administration Job for Sen. Specter?  —  Sources tell ABC News that Sen. Arlen Specter, D-Pennsylvania, has informed the White House that he would like to consider remaining in public service after his Senate term ends at the end of this session, and White House officials are keeping …

Scott Brown slams Kathy Griffin for calling daughters ‘prostitutes’  —  Sen. Scott Brown (R-Mass.) lashed out at comedienne Kathy Griffin on Thursday for describing his daughters as “prostitutes.”  —  Brown strongly condemned remarks Griffin made on CNN in which she mocks Brown's daughters, Ayla and Arianna.

Berwick: Bigger Than Kagan  —  If the American people want the health-care world Dr. Berwick wishes to give them, that's their choice.  But they must be given that choice.  —  Barack Obama's incredible “recess appointment” of Dr. Donald Berwick to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services …

Arizona Halts Photo Enforcement of Speed Laws  —  PHOENIX — At the first tick of the clock Friday, an array of automated cameras on Arizona freeways aimed at catching speeders were to stop clicking.  —  There is no glitch.  The state, the first to adopt such cameras on its highways in October 2008 …

Sen. Bennett agrees to help Ethics panel in Countrywide probe  —  Sen. Robert Bennett (R-Utah) has agreed to assist the Senate Ethics Committee in a potential investigation of his staffers participation in a controversial VIP mortgage lending program at Countrywide Financial Corp.