What's at Stake in Wisconsin's Budget Battle  —  Who's in charge of our political system—voters or unions?  —  This week President Obama was roundly criticized, even by many of his allies, for submitting a federal budget that actually increases our already crushing deficit.

Delirious Joy in Bahrain  —  BAHRAIN — There's delirious joy in the center of Bahrain right now.  People power has prevailed, at least temporarily, over a regime that repeatedly used deadly force to try to crush a democracy movement.  Pro-democracy protesters have retaken the Pearl Roundabout …

House Votes to Cut $60 Billion, Setting Up Clash  —  WASHINGTON — The House voted early Saturday to slash more than $60 billion from the federal budget over the next seven months, showing how powerfully the grass-roots, antispending fervor of the November elections is driving …

Rep. David Wu's staff confronted him over concerns about his mental health  —  WASHINGTON — Three days before the Nov. 2 election, U.S. Rep. David Wu's most loyal and senior staffers were so alarmed by his erratic behavior that they demanded he enter a hospital for psychiatric treatment.

Union Brothers and Sisters: Seize Opportunity to Show True Solidarity  —  The union-led school closures and demonstrations in Madison have left most ordinary Americans shaking their heads in disbelief.  Months ago, I penned a message to my fellow union brothers and sisters when I found myself …

Bloggers For Peace Flotilla Arrived In Madison...SITUATION TENSE...UPDATE: Thousands of Walker's Supporters Are Here!  —  This is an update from Jim.  He's on the ground and in the thick of things.  He will be phoning in updates throughout the day.  —  (Pygalgia)

House votes 244-179 to kill U.S. funding of IPCC  —  Just before 2 a.m. on February 19, the war on climate science showed its grip on the U.S. House of Representatives as it voted to eliminate U.S. funding for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  The Republican majority …

Opinion: What Does Government Do? … Pop quiz.  What's the biggest single job the federal government undertakes?  —  National defense?  Nope.  —  Homeland security?  Wrong.  —  Transportation?  Not even close.  —  Law enforcement?  No way.  —  Education?  Getting colder.  —  Foreign aid?

Libya protests: 84 killed in growing unrest, says HRW  —  Former UK envoy to Libya: “The most exciting question is what happens in Tripoli” (Footage from Libyan TV and amateur sources)  —  The number of people killed in three days of protests in Libya has risen to 84, according to the New York-based group Human Rights Watch.

U.S.-TALIBAN TALKS  —  On August 22, 1998, Mullah Omar, the emir of Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, made a cold call to the State Department.  The United States had just lobbed cruise missiles at Al Qaeda camps in his nation.  Omar got a mid-level diplomat on the line and spoke calmly.