Scientists Project Path of Radiation Plume  —  A United Nations forecast of the possible movement of the radioactive plume coming from crippled Japanese reactors shows it churning across the Pacific and touching the Aleutian Islands on Thursday before hitting Southern California late Friday.

Palin trails Sheen with independents  —  We've found a lot of brutal poll numbers for Sarah Palin so far in 2011: down in South Dakota, down in South Carolina, down in Arizona, only up by 1 point in Texas, only up by 1 point in Nebraska to name a few.  But this has to be the worst- independent voters …

Trump Would Spend $600M on Presidential Bid  —  “I don't like the crying,” he said of Boehner.  “I do not like it.  I don't understand it.  I really like him as a person.  I think the crying is an emotional thing that frankly, probably makes him a very nice man.  But you know, I don't like to see it in a leader.”

Two Charged in Tea Party Election Fraud  —  Men were officials in Oakland Co. Democratic Party  —  PONTIAC, Mich. (WJBK) - Two former leaders of the Oakland County Democratic Party are facing a total of nine felonies for allegedly forging election paperwork to get fake Tea Party candidates on November's ballot.

Why I am an amoral, family-hating monster...and Newt Gingrich isn't  —  Today is my wedding anniversary.  I've been married to the same woman for 31 years, without ever straying.  Newt Gingrich has been married 3 times, divorced one wife while she was recovering from surgery, and has had extra-marital affairs.

NPR Sting: Edited Video Makes Schiller, O'Keefe Look Bad  —  On March 9, the list of radio jobs lost to video got a little longer.  NPR, under siege by conservatives who want to zero out public-media funding, ousted its CEO after a video sting by a group run by conservative provocateur James O'Keefe.

Authorise Libya air strikes, UN urged  —  Washington's ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, says new resolution would authorise aerial bombing of Gaddafi's tanks  —  The US is pushing the UN to authorise not just a no-fly zone over Libya, but also the use of air strikes to stop the advance of forces loyal to Muammar Gaddafi.

A Letter to Our Readers About Digital Subscriptions  —  Today marks a significant transition for The New York Times as we introduce digital subscriptions.  It's an important step that we hope you will see as an investment in The Times, one that will strengthen our ability to provide high-quality journalism …

Washington Post suspends reporter for plagiarizing stories on Tucson shooting  —  The Washington Post suspended one of its most seasoned reporters Wednesday after editors determined that “substantial” parts of two recent news articles were taken without attribution from another newspaper.

Anthony Weiner: Obama Is ‘Not A Values Guy’ … WASHINGTON — Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-N.Y.) and a handful of other House Democrats expressed deep frustration with President Barack Obama's leadership on Wednesday, saying he needs to do more to set the direction for the progressive movement.

The Limits of Common Sense  —  Why toleration of outrageous speech is necessary for political freedom.  —  Our Monday column on union thuggery prompts this response from reader John Benjamin: … Let's begin by rehearsing the Leiter statement in question.

Obama's indecision on Libya has pushed Clinton over the edge  —  Fed up with a president “who can't make his mind up” as Libyan rebels are on the brink of defeat, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is looking to the exits.  —  At the tail end of her mission to bolster the Libyan opposition …

Mitt's backers: ‘RomneyCare’ overblown  —  Mitt Romney's supporters on Capitol Hill are giving him political cover for the healthcare plan he signed into law as governor, even as his competitors for the GOP presidential nomination ramp up their attacks on “RomneyCare.”

Tax Plan Aims for 25% Cap  —  Republican Ways and Means Chief Also Would End or Trim Popular Deductions  —  The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee wants to cut the top U.S. tax rate to 25% for individuals and corporations, and cut or eliminate many popular deductions.

Rep. David Wu crashed car in Northwest Portland last year, says he fell asleep  —  U.S. Rep. David Wu crashed his vehicle into a parked car in Northwest Portland last year, but passed a police field sobriety test and the incident never showed up in a police report.  —  No one was injured after the Feb. 19, 2010 incident.

Conservatives: We Are Being Outworked And Out-Organized In Wisconsin Recall Campaigns … WASHINGTON — Both national and Wisconsin-based Republican operatives tell the Huffington Post the party is being dramatically outworked and out-organized by Democrats in the recall campaigns being launched against state Senators.

Republican lawmaker blames 11-year-old victim of alleged gang rape  —  Elected officials should know better than to blame the victim of a sex crime.  —  While it's a common tactic of abusers, it's something no one expected of Republican Florida state Rep. Kathleen Passidomo.

Inhofe vows to try, try again on block-EPA amendments  —  Sen. James Inhofe (R-Okla.) vowed Wednesday that he will offer his plan to block EPA climate change rules as an amendment to future bills if a pending effort is squelched.  —  Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) …

U.S. Debt Jumped $72 Billion Same Day U.S. House Voted to Cut Spending $6 Billion  —  (CNSNews.com) - The national debt jumped by $72 billion on Tuesday even as the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives passed a continuing resolution to fund the government for just three weeks that will cut $6 billion from government spending.

IDF, settlers save Arab baby  —  Saving life after massacre: IDF troops, paramedics save life of Palestinian woman giving birth in settlement where Fogel relatives sitting Shiva.  Soldier: It felt amazing to hold girl in my arms, know we did something good  —  Latest Update:

WHEN COMPETING CONSERVATIVE PRIORITIES COLLIDE.... The House GOP effort to redefine rape generated the bulk of the attention about the bill, but the rest of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortions Act” is still a mess.  —  Of particular interest today, is the fact that the Republican legislation appears to (cue scary music) raise taxes.