The War on Logic  —  My wife and I were thinking of going out for an inexpensive dinner tonight.  But John Boehner, the speaker of the House, says that no matter how cheap the meal may seem, it will cost thousands of dollars once you take our monthly mortgage payments into account.

George Allen launches early campaign - Loughner trial in San Diego — JDA Frontline grows — West Wing stars come out for Marissa Hopkins — First lady b'day  —  EXCLUSIVE: George Allen, the former U.S. senator and Virginia governor, plans to tell supporters within a week that he is mounting …

Giffords's condition upgraded  —  TUCSON - Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was upgraded from critical to serious condition Sunday after doctors determined that there were no complications from having her ventilator removed a day earlier.  —  In a statement released Sunday afternoon …

A Former Dictator Reappears in Haiti  —  MEXICO CITY — Haiti's exiled former dictator, Jean-Claude Duvalier, returned unexpectedly to his homeland Sunday for the first time since he was deposed in a coup in 1986.  —  Although the reason was not immediately clear, his return …

Seahawks fall to climate of hate in Chicago  —  You should have known something like this was going to happen.  The vitriol and anger in our nation's sports talk has never been harsher - and we may as well face it: most of it is coming from Chicago Bears Fans.

Apple Says Steve Jobs Will Take a New Medical Leave  —  Steven P. Jobs, the co-founder and chief executive of Apple, is taking a medical leave of absence, a year and a half after his return from a liver transplant, the company said on Monday.  —  Mr. Jobs announced his leave in a letter to employees …

Correcting our record  —  We've removed an explosive 2005 report by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about autism and vaccines.  Here's why  —  In 2005, Salon published online an exclusive story by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that offered an explosive premise: that the mercury-based thimerosal compound present …

Dupnik's Confession  —  Even the sheriff knows Loughner is crazy, per this long New York Times piece on the killer: … There's also this detail on Loughner:

New Call Not to Raise Debt Cap  —  WASHINGTON—Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty, a likely GOP White House hopeful, called on congressional Republicans to block an increase in the limit on federal borrowing, and he proposed legislation that he said would prevent a U.S. default on its loans.

the blindspot (updated)  —  I'm sorry, but I feel compelled.  —  The last week has seen an endless discussion, within the political blogosphere, about the meaning of rhetoric, extremism, and what is acceptable discourse.  I'm on break now, so I've been more attentive than usual.

Ehud Barak splits from Labor Party  —  Defense minister filed urgent request with Knesset's House Committee to discuss his plan to quit party, set up new faction along with four other Labor MKs  —  Latest Update:  —  Ehud Barak and four other Labor faction members asked the Knesset's House Committee …