Protests, Rhetoric Feed Jihadists' Fire  —  Islamic radicals are seizing on protests against a planned Islamic community center near Manhattan's Ground Zero and anti-Muslim rhetoric elsewhere as a propaganda opportunity and are stepping up anti-U.S. chatter and threats on their websites.

Now That's Rich  —  We need to pinch pennies these days.  Don't you know we have a budget deficit?  For months that has been the word from Republicans and conservative Democrats, who have rejected every suggestion that we do more to avoid deep cuts in public services and help the ailing economy.

Poll numbers in 1994, a bad year for Democrats, don't bode well for them in 2010  —  Is it deja vu all over again for Democrats?  —  Some neutral observers and senior strategists within the party have begun to believe that the national political environment is not only similar to what they saw in 1994 …

Was Mike Huckabee Ready To Sell His Endorsement to Rick Scott for $250,000?  —  I have spoken with a reliable source telling me that a little over a week ago, Mike Huckabee approached the Rick Scott campaign and made overtures that his endorsement could be had for $250,000 dollars.

Real Estate's Gold Rush Seems Gone for Good  —  Housing will eventually recover from its great swoon.  But many real estate experts now believe that home ownership will never again yield rewards like those enjoyed in the second half of the 20th century, when houses not only provided shelter but also a plump nest egg.

10 things Obama must do in 10 weeks  —  (CNN) — President Obama is facing criticism that his message has gone off track at a crucial time for his party and administration.  With the midterm elections just 10 weeks away, the president's approval ratings are at their lowest.

Moving targets, US housing edition  —  If at first you don't succeed . . . move the goal-posts.  —  In the grand tradition of stimulus policy gone wrong, that seems to be just what the US Treasury has done in relation to its Hamp mortgage modification programme.

Taliban-hired snipers believed to have killed British soldiers killed by air strikes  —  Four foreign snipers hired by the Taliban, thought to be responsible for the deaths of ten British soldiers, have been hunted down and killed.  —  The mercenaries were found by British special forces …

The billionaire brothers who are waging a war against Obama.  —  David H. Koch in 1996.  He and his brother Charles are lifelong libertarians and have quietly given more than a hundred million dollars to right-wing causes.  —  KEYWORDS … On May 17th, a black-tie audience …

Philly requiring bloggers to pay $300 for a business license  —  It looks like cash hungry local governments are getting awfully rapacious these days: … To say that these kinds of draconian measures are detrimental to the public discourse would be an understatement.

Max Blumenthal Lies Again About Geller  —  Max Blumenthal, notorious Jew hater, is lying, slandering and making up racist propaganda against me again.  I have no idea what this rally is.  I have no idea who these people are.  I have no idea who organized this rally.

Pakistanis Tell of Motive in Taliban Leader's Arrest  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — When American and Pakistani agents captured Abdul Ghani Baradar, the Taliban's operational commander, in the chaotic port city of Karachi last January, both countries hailed the arrest as a breakthrough …

Credit-Card Rates Climb  —  Levels Hit Nine-Year High as New Rules Limiting Penalty Fees Help Fuel Rise  —  Interest rates continue to tumble for the U.S. Treasury, companies and home buyers alike.  But for a large portion of 381 million U.S. credit-card accounts, borrowing rates have been moving only one way: up.

Iran's President Unveils New Long-Range Drone Aircraft  —  TEHRAN — Iran unveiled a long-range unmanned bomber on Sunday, the latest in a series of announcements about new Iranian military advances as tensions rise over Tehran's nuclear program.  —  Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad …

Insurance agents fight for survival in world after health reform  —  Insurance agents and brokers, afraid of being rendered irrelevant in the post-health reform world of simplified insurance shopping, are fighting for their very survival.  —  The agents want lawmakers' and regulators' support …