Is This America?  —  For a glimpse of how venomous and debased the discourse about Islam has become, consider a blog post in The New Republic this month.  Written by Martin Peretz, the magazine's editor in chief, it asserted: “Frankly, Muslim life is cheap, most notably to Muslims.”

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 …

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.

New chairman: Unemployment ‘going to stay high’ in near term  —  President Obama's new chairman of the Council of Economic Affairs (CEA) said Sunday that the national unemployment rate will not decrease significantly anytime soon.  —  Austan Goolsbee, who Obama announced on Friday …

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.

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.

2 Local Men Burn Quran Despite Protest  —  Local Religious Leaders Follow Through With Plans  —  SPRINGFIELD, Tenn. — Despite multiple pleas to reconsider, two local religious leaders held a private Quran burning in a Springfield backyard Saturday afternoon.

If the ‘Mosque’ Isn't Built, This Is No Longer America  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  I am opposed to the building of the “mosque” two blocks from Ground Zero.  —  I want it built on Ground Zero.  —  Why?  Because I believe in an America that protects those who are the victims of hate and prejudice.

Russia Uses Microsoft to Suppress Dissent  —  IRKUTSK, Russia — It was late one afternoon in January when a squad of plainclothes police officers arrived at the headquarters of a prominent environmental group here.  They brushed past the staff with barely a word and instead set upon the computers before carting them away.