Is the Hudson ruling good news for health reform?  —  District Court Judge Henry E. Hudson, a George W. Bush appointee, has, as expected, ruled the individual mandate unconstitutional.  So why are health reformers so unexpectedly pleased?  —  There are two reasons, but first, let's put this into context.

CHEERING A VICTORY OVER THEIR OWN IDEA.... Many on the right are, not surprisingly, delighted with today's federal district court ruling on the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate.  That's to be expected — they're hoping to gut the law.  The two previous legal defeats notwithstanding …

Judge Who Ruled Health Care Reform Unconstitutional Owns Piece of GOP Consulting Firm  —  Henry E. Hudson, the federal judge in Virginia who just ruled health care reform unconstitutional, owns between $15,000 and $50,000 in a GOP political consulting firm that worked against health care reform.

Amazing  —  A year ago, no one took seriously the idea that a federal health care mandate was unconstitutional.  And the idea that buying health care coverage does not amount to “economic activity” seems preposterous on its face.  But the decision that just came down from the federal judgment in Virginia …

Richard Holbrooke Has Died  —  ABC News has learned that Richard Holbrooke, the US Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan, has died.  —  On Friday, Holbrooke was rushed to the hospital with a torn aorta.  He went through more than 20 hours of surgery.

Strong American Voice in Diplomacy and Crisis  —  Richard C. Holbrooke, the Obama administration's special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan since 2009 and a diplomatic troubleshooter who worked for every Democratic president since the late 1960s and oversaw the negotiations that ended …

Family members said his last words before he headed into surgery were: “You've got to stop this war in Afghanistan,” according to the Washington Post.  —  President Obama was at a dinner in the East Room of the White House when the news came, said a senior administration official.

Holbrooke dies days after aorta tear  —  (CNN) — Richard C. Holbrooke, the high-octane diplomat who spearheaded the end of the Bosnian war and most recently served as the Obama administration's point man in the volatile Afghan-Pakistani war zone, has died, officials said.

TRENDING: Steele admits stumbles, announces re-election bid  —  Washington (CNN) - Michael Steele broke a weeks-long silence Monday night and announced that he will seek a second term as chairman of the Republican National Committee.  —  Steele revealed his intentions in a lengthy private conference call …