A Very Liberal Intervention  —  In its month-long crab walk toward a military confrontation with Libya's Muammar el-Qaddafi, the Obama administration has delivered a clinic in the liberal way of war.  —  Just a week ago, as the tide began to turn against the anti-Qaddafi rebellion …

Now it's time to defund NPR  —  Even after they fired me, called me a bigot and publicly advised me to only share my thoughts with a psychiatrist, I did not call for defunding NPR.  I am a journalist and NPR is an important platform for journalism.  —  But last week my line of defense for NPR ran into harsh political realities.

How Dumb Are We?  —  NEWSWEEK gave 1,000 Americans the U.S. Citizenship Test—38 percent failed.  The country's future is imperiled by our ignorance.  —  What Don't You Know?  Take the Quiz.  —  They're the sort of scores that drive high-school history teachers to drink.

Senators Who Want Deficit Reduction Can Reduce the Deficit By Refusing to Vote in Favor of Deficit-Increasing Measures  —  No legislative body in the world can match the United States Senate for preening self-regard, and I think only the Senate could produce a document similar to the one Lori Montgomery profiles here:

Hey, NPR: Fund your own lame liberal humor — and leave my family alone  —  If the obscure and has-been comedians who appear on National Public Radio want to mock conservatives and spread left-wing propaganda, they should do it on their own damned dime.  —  The government-sponsored radio …

Tim Pawlenty to announce presidential committee  —  Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty plans to announce Monday afternoon that he is forming a presidential exploratory committee, CBS News has learned - the likely precursor to a full-blown run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2012.

Analysis: Emails favored Walker 2-1  —  One-third of positive emails from out of state … By Kate Golden  —  Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism  —  Gov. Scott Walker was right: The angry crowds in Madison didn't tell the whole story of how Wisconsinites felt.

Trump: I “screwed” Gadhafi  —  A priceless moment from Donald Trump on Fox & Friends this morning.

Pelosi hospitalised in Rome after feeling unwell  —  ROME — US Democratic House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi was hospitalised on Monday after feeling unwell during a visit to Rome, Italian news agencies said.  —  Pelosi, in Italy to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Italian nation …

US army's ‘kill team’ in Afghanistan  —  Commanders brace for backlash of anti-US sentiment that could be more damaging than after the Abu Ghraib scandal  —  Commanders in Afghanistan are bracing themselves for possible riots and public fury triggered by the publication of “trophy” …

First family has ‘an awful lot to think about’  —  A weekly look at Gov. Mitch Daniels' activities as he weighs a run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2012.  —  National pundits are speculating that one person is standing between Mitch Daniels and the White House, and it's not Barack Obama.

The War on Warren  —  Last week, at a House hearing on financial institutions and consumer credit, Republicans lined up to grill and attack Elizabeth Warren, the law professor and bankruptcy expert who is in charge of setting up the new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The Beefy Crunch Burrito incident  —  Man upset by price gets in shootout with police; no one hurt.  —  mmondo@express-news.net  —  Members of the SAPD SWAT team work the scene of a standoff at the Rodeway Inn.  Photo: EDWARD A. ORNELAS/eaornelas@express-news.net / SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS NFS

VIDEO: Dan Ellsberg Handcuffed at White House for Protesting Obama's Torture of Bradley Manning  —  Eighty year-old Daniel Ellsberg was arrested on Saturday in front of the White House when he refused to leave at the request of police.  He was one of 113 people who were arrested …

False Confessions  —  Douglas Warney, a person of limited mental capabilities who has been diagnosed with AIDS and AIDS dementia, served nine years in New York State prisons for a murder he did not commit.  Now the state is seeking to compound the injustice by denying Mr. Warney compensation …

Japan Nuclear Crisis ‘On Verge of Stabilizing,’ U.S. Official Says  —  Power Restoration at Fukushima Plant Reactors Seen as Optimistic Sign  —  A top U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission official today said the nuclear crisis in Japan is “on the verge of stabilizing,” even as Japanese workers …

Scott Walker Touts His Union-Busting Agenda As ‘Progressive’  —  Late last week, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R) spoke with conservative radio show host Jason Lewis about winning his union-busting fight.  First, Lewis repeated the falsehood that Walker wasn't against collective bargaining …

Unable to Restrain Themselves  —  Last week I noticed a bevy of conservative commentators, such as Glenn Beck, piously lowering their voices and paying tribute to the calm and resilience of the Japanese people in their time of trauma, emphasizing that there had been “no looting” in the aftermath of so much destruction and disarray.

Uncivil disobedience  —  Just a couple of months ago, in the wake of Jared Loughner's shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, simple talk of “targeting” a political opponent for defeat was treated as beyond the pale.  But let's look at some more recent language — and conduct …

MI6 puts gun to generals' heads: Our spies phone Gaddafi's men direct to warn: Defect or die  —  British intelligence is warning Colonel Gaddafi's generals that it could be fatal to remain loyal to the Libyan leader.  —  MI6 spies and military officials are contacting commanders in Tripoli trying …

Republicans vote to nominate candidates by mail to sidestep ‘top-two primary’ system  —  California Republicans vote to enact a sweeping end-run around the spirit of the “top-two primary” system adopted by voters as Proposition 14.  The party decides to conduct a mail-in nominating process …

One-year anniversary this week - North Dakota applies for a waiver - Faith group runs health ads - New Mexico's exchange bill on gov's desk  —  **With reporting contributions from J. Lester Feder and Kate Nocera  —  DRIVING THE WEEK: THE ONE-YEAR ANNIVERSARY— Pro-reform groups are hosting …