BREAKING: Wisconsin Dems Hiding At Best Western in Rockford, IL ...Update: TEA PARTY WINS!  Chases WI Dems Out of Rockford ...Update: WI Dem Says They're Still in IL (Video)  —  The Wisconsin senate democrats fled the state today rather than vote on a budget repair bill.

Palin talks 2012, mocks Michelle Obama  —  Woodbury, New York (CNN) - Sarah Palin addressed a variety of issues Thursday at a gathering of business officials in Long Island, New York including her 2012 plans, first lady Michelle Obama, President Obama's proposed budget, the crisis in Egypt, and her feelings on the media.

GOP votes to defund Obama's policy ‘czars’  —  The House GOP approved an amendment to a government-spending bill that would block funding for the Obama administration's so-called policy “czars,” appointed advisers to the president that have been much-criticized by Republicans.  —  The vote was 249-171.

One More Thing About Wisconsin  —  A common theme of the union demonstrators in Madison today was that Governor Walker is a “dictator.”  This showed up on sign after sign.  It sheds light, I think, on how public union members in particular, and liberals in general, think.

Kaine to decide on Senate run by early next month  —  Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine won't make a decision on a bid for the seat of retiring Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) until later this month or early next.  —  Kaine is speaking Saturday at the Virginia Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson dinner …

GOP activists in Iowa divided on whether Palin can carry 2012 banner  —  WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - A group of Republican activists was sorting out the field of prospective 2012 presidential candidates on a cold night here recently when talk turned to Sarah Palin.

Willie Sutton Wept  —  There are three things you need to know about the current budget debate.  First, it's essentially fraudulent.  Second, most people posing as deficit hawks are faking it.  Third, while President Obama hasn't fully avoided the fraudulence, he's less bad than his opponents …

Dem Rep Receives Threat Over NASCAR Proposal (DOCUMENT)  —  Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) alerted Capitol Police Thursday after a threatening fax arrived at her office attacking her proposal to strip Pentagon sponsorship from NASCAR teams.  —  McCollum's staff tells TPM this is the first time they've alerted …

Mmilitary to secure Qaradawi's access to Tahrir Square  —  Banned Qaradawi returns to lead Friday prayers in Egypt  —  For the first time since he was banned from leading weekly friday prayers in Egypt 30 years ago, prominent Muslim scholar Yusuf al-Qaradawi will lead thousands in the weekly prayers …

Facebook Adds ‘Civil Union,’ ‘Domestic Partnership’ To Relationship Status Options … Facebook has added two new relationship status options users can include in their online profiles: “in a civil union” and “in a domestic partnership.”  —  The new fields are being rolled out in the U.S …

Bahrain protests: Angry mourners bury clashes victims  —  The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Manama: “I saw men with tears in their eyes”  —  Thousands of people have been voicing anger against Bahrain's authorities at the funerals of victims of Thursday's clashes which left four dead.

Rand Paul on Sarah Palin, Dostoevsky and dad  —  Rand Paul may still be green to the ways of the U.S. Senate (he only assumed office in January) but he's got a lot to say about the political state of the country.  Most of his new book, “The Tea Party Goes to Washington,” …