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.

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.”

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 …

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.

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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.

Trump torches GOP presidential field  —  Businessman Donald Trump took shots at the field of potential Republican presidential candidates and also fired one at House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) as he contemplates a 2012 bid.  —  Trump said he could put up as much as $600 billion …

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.

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.

Palin to make first visit to Israel this weekend  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) will make a two-day visit to Israel this weekend, according to multiple media reports Thursday.  —  During her visit, the potential 2012 presidential candidate will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyhau …

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 …

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.

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.”

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.

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.

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.) …

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.

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.

During NPR Funding Debate, Rep. Jim McGovern Proposes No Federal Funding Should End Up At Fox News  —  Today, the House of Representatives will vote on a bill that would strip all federal funds from NPR.  Conservatives have long targeted NPR because they believe it has a liberal bias …

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.