Charlie Rangel's War: Deal Axed At 11th Hour  —  However, A Compromise Is Possible Between Now And When Expected Trial Would Take Place In September  —  Rep. Rangel: I'm Just Glad Nobody Is Calling Me ‘Corrupt’ Or ‘Dishonest’  —  NEW YORK (CBS) ― Deal, no deal ... deal, no deal.

McMahon Campaign Hits Grimm For Taking “Jewish Money”  —  Mike Grimm, a G.O.P challenger for Mike McMahon's Congressional seat, took in over $200,000 in his last filing.  —  But in an effort to show that Grimm lacks support among voters in the district, which covers Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn …

President Obama calls African-Americans a ‘mongrel people’  —  NEW YORK — President Obama waded into the national race debate in an unlikely setting and with an unusual choice of words: telling daytime talk show hosts that African-Americans are “sort of a mongrel people.”

Fired USDA employee Sherrod to sue conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart  —  Ousted USDA employee Shirley Sherrod says she will sue conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart, the Associated Press reports.  —  Sherrod made the announcement Thursday in San Diego at the National Association of Black Journalists annual convention.

Nobody is Helping Aisha  —  It's certainly true as Time's emotionally manipulative new cover image indicates that the Taliban are terrible for women and that the more of Afghanistan they rule the worse things will be for women.  That said, it's extremely disingenuous to act …

Dems Call On GOPers To Renounce Phyllis Schlafly Over Remarks About ‘Unmarried Women’ (AUDIO)  —  Conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly took aim at “unmarried women” at a recent fundraiser and in an interview with TPM, saying that they overwhelmingly support President Obama and are all on welfare.

What would Republicans do for the economy?  An interview with Rep. Paul Ryan.  —  Paul Ryan is the ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee, and one of the party's most influential voices on the economy.  And with Republicans likely to pick up a lot of seats — and maybe even the House …

Fed Member's Deflation Warning Hints at Policy Shift  —  WASHINGTON — A subtle but significant shift appears to be occurring within the Federal Reserve over the course of monetary policy amid increasing signs that the economic recovery is weakening.  —  On Thursday, James Bullard …

Tea Party Jitters  —  Spencer Wilking Finds That New York's Tea Partiers Aren't The Bigoted White Guys You Fear.  —  “Liberty is on the march,” Dan Halloran yells as he clutches a microphone in front of a gathered crowd inside Webster Hall.  “Not only is it on the march …

As Tennesseans Desperately Search For Work, Wamp Suggests Unemployed Are ‘Just Sitting Back Waiting’  —  This past Tuesday, Rep. Zach Wamp (R-TN), who is also a leading candidate for the GOP nomination for governor, joined a conference call with the right-wing National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB).

Fox News Poll: Republicans Garner 11-Point Lead in Midterms  —  With less than 100 days until the midterm elections, American voters would give the edge to Republicans by an 11 percentage-point margin if the Congressional election were today.  Yet a majority doesn't think a Republican takeover of Congress would lead to positive change.

Obama Housing Bailout Under Attack  —  Criticism of the Obama Administration's mortgage bailout, the Home Affordable Modification Program, is reaching a fever pitch, and I know this because, among other things, the Administration itself appears to be mounting a defense.

Americans Look to Wealthy to Help Save Social Security  —  Favor expanding Social Security taxes, limiting benefits for high-income Americans  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Of six possible ways to address concerns with the Social Security system in a recent USA Today/Gallup poll, a majority of Americans favor two …

Fred Barnes not on a team?  Why did GOP pay him?  —  The Weekly Standard editor claimed political purity in bashing Journolist, but he's on the Republican payroll  —  In the pages of the Wall Street Journal, Fred Barnes has lately lamented the betrayal of “traditional journalism” …

OMB nominee got $900,000 after Citigroup bailout  —  Bonus issued after 2008 report  —  President Obama's choice to be the government's chief budget officer received a bonus of more than $900,000 from Citigroup Inc. last year — after the Wall Street firm for which he worked received a massive taxpayer bailout.

Support for Mexican border fence up to 68%  —  Support for the building of a fence along the Mexican border has reached a new high, and voters are more confident than ever that illegal immigration can be stopped.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 68% of U.S. voters …

Ariz. Illegal Immigration Law Judge Threatened  —  Federal Judge Received Messages from People Against Ruling Who “Expressed Their Displeasure in a Perverted Way”  —  (AP) Authorities say a federal judge in Phoenix has been getting some threats since her ruling on Arizona's controversial immigration law.

Univision video confirms Sandoval said his kids don't look Hispanic  —  I have confirmed that Brian Sandoval, as reported by Univision's news director in a column and revealed in an earlier blog post, did indeed say that his children don't look Hispanic when asked by the Spanish-language station whether …

Body of Jarod Newlove, second missing U.S. sailor, found in Afghanistan  —  KABUL — A second U.S. sailor who disappeared in eastern Afghanistan last week has been found dead.  —  The discovery Wednesday ended the urgent search that had begun Friday evening when two U.S. Navy service members drove away …

Conway won't commit to Reid as Democratic Leader  —  In an interview with Mandy Connell on 84WHAS Radio Wednesday morning, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Jack Conway reiterated his opposition to Cap and Trade and his support of “Card Check,” the union backed initiative to make labor organizing easier.

Computer Evidence Ties Leaks to Soldier  —  Investigators have found concrete evidence on computers used by Pfc. Bradley Manning that link him with the leak of classified Afghanistan war reports, a U.S. defense official said.  —  The disclosure came as Defense Secretary Robert Gates pledged Thursday to …

Obama should give Warren a recess appointment  —  CAPITALISM AND markets depend on the morality, honesty, and good faith of those who participate in them.  Markets function best and deliver prosperity when they are honest and the law enforces that honesty; dishonesty, fraud …

The Work Of Depressions  —  I've been surprised by a lot of things since the financial crisis broke, few of them good.  One of the truly amazing things, however, is the return of full, 1930s-type liquidationism — the idea that a slump serves a useful purpose, and that stimulating the economy …