Democrats trigger Statehouse showdown over anti-union legislation  —  House Democrats are leaving the state rather than vote on anti-union legislation, The Indianapolis Star has learned.  —  A source said Democrats are headed to Illinois, though it was possible some also might go to Kentucky.

Rahm Emanuel declares victory in Chicago mayor's race  —  Posted by Kristen Mack, David Heinzmann, Jeff Coen and Antonio Olivo at 6:45 p.m.; last updated at 9:33 p.m. (Our Twitter feed can be found: here.)  —  Rahm Emanuel declared victory in the Chicago mayor's race tonight.

Wisconsin's Walker Signs Bill Requiring 2/3 Majority for Tax Increases  —  How Wisconsin becomes California.  (photo: FredR on Flickr)  —  I got a sense from Sen. Chris Larson and some others in Wisconsin that the Governor and his Republican allies had run amok in the Capitol before attention …

› - Statement from John and Kimberley Thune  —  For months now, my wife Kimberley and I have received encouragement from family, friends, colleagues, and supporters from across South Dakota and the country to run for the presidency of the United States.

Federal judge rules for health care law  —  The perfect partisan streak in health care rulings continues, with D.C. federal district judge Gladys Kessler, a Clinton appointee, ruling the Affordable Care Act constitutional.  She's the third Democratic judge to do so; two Republicans have found it unconstitutional.

Live Blog - Libya Feb 22  —  on February 22nd, 2011.  —  Alleged mercenaries deployed by Gaddafi in Tripoli, the Libyan capital.  —  As the uprising in Libya enters its ninth day, we keep you updated on the developing situation from our headquarters in Doha, Qatar.

BREAKING PHOTOS!!  Wisconsin “Fleebagger” Spotted In Illinois UPDATE: Police Called To “Fleebag” Hotel  —  Spotted in the wild, south of the Illinois-Wisconsin border!  —  More details coming.  —  UPDATE: Is this Chris Larson?  —  UPDATE: We are receiving reports that the police …

Are Wisconsin Public Employees Underpaid?  —  Ezra Klein and a variety of other thoughtful liberal bloggers have been pointing to an Economic Policy Institute analysis that they claim demonstrates that Wisconsin's public employees, even after adjusting for benefits and hours worked, face a …

Paychecks to be withheld from absent Wis. senators  —  14 Democratic senators fled to Illinois, stalling vote on budget repair bill  —  State senators who miss two or more session days will no longer get paid through direct deposit.  They'll have to pick up their checks in person on the Senate floor during a session.

Wisconsin senate committee passes new rule: Senators must collect their paychecks in person  —  A nice first step.  The next step, after the “fleebaggers” (as they're now being called on Twitter) have come home, should be to pass a law retroactively docking their pay for the days they missed.

Sarah Palin Has Secret ‘Lou Sarah’ Facebook Account To Praise Other Sarah Palin Facebook Account  —  Sarah Palin has apparently created a second Facebook account with her Gmail address so that this fake “Lou Sarah” person can praise the other Sarah Palin on Facebook.

It's the Inequality, Stupid  —  Post Comment  —  HOW RICH ARE THE SUPERRICH? … WINNERS TAKE ALL  —  The superrich have grabbed the bulk of the past three decades' gains.  —  OUT OF BALANCE

4 Americans on hijacked yacht dead off Somalia  —  U.S. Navy warship shadowing seized vessel takes action after gunshots are heard; 4 hostages apparently killed by captors, some pirates dead  —  The four Americans aboard a yacht hijacked by pirates off the coast of Somalia are dead.

GAY BLACK TEA PARTYER Attacked By Racist SEIU Activists at Denver Tea Party (Videos)  —  A pro-public union SEIU rally turned ugly today outside the Colorado Capitol in Denver.  —  The Colorado union supporters started out the day chanting, “Tax the rich!”  —  But later the unhinged SEIU thugs accosted a gay black tea partyer.

Online Poll - Drawing Arrest … - HOT TOPICS - Carmelo Trade - Boy Arrested Over Drawing - Find Low Gas Prices - Libya Violence - E-470 Crash - ‘Heaven Is Real’

Madison Labor Group Prepares For General Strike  —  Group Says It Needs To Educate Public First  —  MADISON, Wis. — If Gov. Scott Walker and Republican legislators pass a union bill that restricts collective bargaining rights, some labor groups in Madison said they would endorse the entire …