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.

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 …

Karl Rove: Birther rumors discredit GOP  —  Former Bush adviser Karl Rove is calling on GOP politicians to avoid falling into the “birther” movement trap and to stop fueling rumors that President Barack Obama was not born in the United States.  —  “Within our party, we've got to be very careful …

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 …

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 …

Jihadist attorney takes aim at the Jawa Report, the Jawas go to federal court seeking protective order  —  ***Sticky until Saturday.  Please scroll down for more recent updates.  Back in September we reported that blogger Pamela Geller of Atlas Shrugs and attorney John Stemberger had been sued …

Labor Unions Seen as Good for Workers, Not U.S. Competitiveness  —  Unions' Favorability Still Low, But Mirrors Business Rating  —  The favorability ratings for labor unions remain at nearly their lowest level in a quarter century with 45% expressing a positive view.

Out of Control in the House  —  Are there any adults in charge of the House?  Watching this week's frenzied slash-and-burn budget contest, we had to conclude the answer to that is no.  —  First Speaker John Boehner's Republican leadership proposed cutting the rest of the 2011 budget by $32 billion.

Chris Christie's Idea of “Doing Big Things”  —  I continue to be baffled by all the love New Jersey's Republican governor Chris Christie's getting among the chattering class.  Here's a typically fawning piece about his speech at AEI yesterday. … “Big things” to Christie simply means less money …

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,” …

Alaska gov. refusing to enact health care law  —  Parnell says Fla. judge's decision to strike down overhaul extends to Alaska  —  Below:  —  updated less than 1 minute ago  —  JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell said Thursday that he will not implement the federal health care overhaul passed …