Fake Doctors' Notes Being Handed Out at Wisconsin Gov. Union Rally  —  [Madison, WI] As tens of thousands of public employees skipped work this week to attend protest rallies outside the Wisconsin State Capitol, many wondered if they would face any disciplinary action for unexcused absences.

Tea Party Descends on Madison Protests  —  Wisconsin Tea Party Activists Are Now Weighing In on the Ongoing State Worker Protests and Exploring Measures to Recall the Missing Democratic Senators  —  Wisconsin tea party activists are now weighing in on the ongoing state worker protests …

I Stand with Scott Walker  —  Governor Scott Walker is making the tough choices needed to avoid financial ruin in Wisconsin.  Like most states, Wisconsin is facing a budget deficit caused in part by excessive pay and benefits for public employees.  Governor Walker is tackling this problem head on …

Bloggers For Peace Flotilla Arrives In Madison...SITUATION TENSE ...Update: Thousands of Walker 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.  —  There were thousands of tea party patriots at the Wisconsin capitol today.

Libya protests: Reports of intense Benghazi violence  —  A former UK envoy to Libya says a key question is what happens in the capital Tripoli (Footage from Libyan TV and amateur sources)  —  Intense violence has been reported in Libya's second city, Benghazi, with troops said to have opened fire again on anti-government protesters.

Florida threatens to shred 2012 calendar  —  A deepening standoff between national Republicans and top party leaders in Florida has the potential to blow up the 2012 presidential primary calendar — and do lasting damage to the GOP in the nation's largest swing state.

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.

Getting to a Wisconsin Senate Quorum  —  Wisconsin Senate rules require a 3/5 quorum in the Senate.  There are currently 19 Republican senators, and 14 Democrat senators.  —  The GOP needs one more to get to 20.  —  The Democrat senators have apparently said they will stay away for weeks if necessary.

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?

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 …

Michelle Obama in Vail for weekend  —  VAIL, Colorado — First lady Michelle Obama is among the Presidents Day weekend crowd.  —  Obama arrived Friday night for a weekend of skiing in Vail and Beaver Creek, according to local sources.  —  A motorcade of about a dozen vehicles …

Will the hunger strike in Venezuela lead to another Egypt?  #OperacionLibertad #HuelgaDeHambre  —  While the US goes broke and the Middle East bursts in riots, students have gone on hunger strike in Venezuela protesting human rights conditions in the country.