A G.O.P. Leader Tightly Bound to Lobbyists  —  WASHINGTON — House Democrats were preparing late last year for the first floor vote on the financial regulatory overhaul when Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio and other Republican leaders summoned more than 100 industry lobbyists …

A Harsh Thing I Should Have Said (Martin Peretz Dept)  —  Usually you regret the harsh things you say more than the harsh things you decide not to say.  At least, that's how it usually turns out for me.  —  Here's an exception.  Earlier this week I wrote an item about an incredible instance …

Gingrich: Obama's ‘Kenyan, anti-colonial’ worldview  —  Citing a recent Forbes article by Dinesh D'Souza, former House speaker Newt Gingrich tells National Review Online that President Obama may follow a “Kenyan, anti-colonial” worldview.  —  Gingrich says that D'Souza has made a …

When Peggy Left Barry  —  How did the first president of color become so colorless?  —  And how can Obamicans can Obama?  —  The president is everywhere, trying to get more aggressive and recapture some of his “Yes we can” mojo in an effort to fend off the rebuke that's barreling toward him from voters this fall.

Time for This Big Dog to Bite Back  —  NO, he can't.  President Obama can't reverse the unemployment numbers by Election Day.  He can't get even a modest new stimulus bill past the Party of No, and even if he could, there would be few jobs to show for it until (maybe) 2011.

Saudi diplomat seeking asylum: ‘My life is in danger’  —  Envoy says he fears persecution if he leaves the U.S. and returns home  —  A ranking Saudi diplomat told NBC News that he has asked for political asylum in the United States, saying he fears for his life if he is forced to return to his native country.

Palin Welcomes Murkowski to Alaskan Election Race, Calls Effort ‘Futile’  —  Former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin said she would welcome a write-in ballot bid by Senator Lisa Murkowski, while predicting it would be a “futile” effort.  —  “Joe Miller is going to win the general,” …

Hoyer: Dems won't lose the House  —  House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) acknowledged Sunday that Democrats will lose seats in the midterm elections but said they will keep their majority.  —  “We are going to hold the House,” said Hoyer, appearing on CNN's State of the Union.