The GOP Path to Prosperity  —  Our budget cuts $6.2 trillion in spending from the president's budget over the next 10 years and puts the nation on track to pay off our national debt.  —  Congress is currently embroiled in a funding fight over how much to spend on less than one-fifth of the federal budget for the next six months.

Budget Deal Would Give Pentagon Extra Funds In Exchange For Social Program Cuts … WASHINGTON — While media attention focuses on the cuts to government spending demanded by House Republicans and broadly accepted by Democrats, the Pentagon is poised to reap billions more in federal funds, according to sources close to the discussions.

Bloody pig's foot sent to Rep. Peter King  —  Authorities intercepted a parcel this morning addressed to Rep. Peter King (R-N.Y.) containing a bloody pig's foot and a derogatory message, a source has confirmed to CBS News.  —  The parcel was intercepted at the Congressional mail facility in Landover …

Graham Responds to Steyn, Stuttaford  —  In response to the criticism by Mark Steyn and Andrew Stuttaford about his weekend comments on free speech and Koran burning, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.) called me this afternoon to flesh out his thoughts on the matter.  —  Here is the transcript:

Warning Signs Among the GOP  —  It's not inconceivable that Republicans might start seeing things go against them in the court of public opinion, starting with the current spending debate.  —  Until recently, Republicans were taking solace in a number of things as they looked forward to 2012.

Maine Mural Controversy: U.S. Labor Department Says Put It Back Up Or Repay The Money … Department Of Labor , Department Of Labor Maine , Labor Mural , Labor Protests , Maine Mural , Paul Lepage , Paul Lepage Maine , Paul Lepage Maine Governor , Paul Lepage Mural , Politics News

ElBaradei: We'll fight back if Israel attacks Gaza  —  In interview with Arab newspaper, former IAEA chief says if elected as Egypt's next president he will open Rafah crossing in case of an Israeli attack  —  Former International Atomic Energy Agency chief Mohamed ElBaradei …

Mitch Daniels to give education speech in Washington  —  Mitch Daniels has been mostly tethered to Indianapolis during a contentious legislative session, but he's planning a trip to Washington next month to deliver what's sure to be a high-profile speech on education.

Campaign to recall Wirch says it has enough signatures  —  The head of the campaign to recall Sen. Robert Wirch (D-Pleasant Prairie) says the group has gathered enough signatures to force a recall election.  —  Dan Hunt, chairman of Taxpayers to Recall Robert Wirch, says his organization has …

Racial slur led to fight with Illinois trooper, student says  —  CARLINVILLE  • The politically connected head of Gov. Pat Quinn's Southern Illinois security detail used a racial slur against a black college student in a Carlinville bar, starting a fight that preceded the officer's resignation, the student says.

Ivory Coast: Presidential residence ‘taken’ in Abidjan  —  The BBC's Andrew Harding watched pro-Ouattara fighters head into Abidjan  —  Forces loyal to Ivory Coast's UN-recognised president say they have captured the besieged incumbent's residence in the main city of Abidjan.

History will rue US and Europe debt woes  —  Will 23rd-century historians look back on today's fiscal follies with the same mixture of bemusement and disdain with which we now view the financial affairs of 18th-century French kings?  Policymakers throughout the world are trying to find ways …

Unrest in Yemen Seen as Opening to Qaeda Branch  —  WASHINGTON — Counterterrorism operations in Yemen have ground to a halt, allowing Al Qaeda's deadliest branch outside of Pakistan to operate more freely inside the country and to increase plotting for possible attacks against Europe and the United States …

Singer Elected Haiti's President  —  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — One of Haiti's most popular entertainers, a provocative Carnival singer previously best known for disrobing and swearing on stage, was elected president in a landslide, according to results announced Monday, placing him at the helm …

Google Said to Be Possible Target of U.S. FTC Antitrust Probe  —  Google Inc. (GOOG)'s dominance of the Internet-search industry is being considered for a broad antitrust investigation by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, two people familiar with the matter said.

John Adler, Former New Jersey Congressman, Dies at 51  —  TRENTON (AP) — John Adler, a New Jersey politician who worked his way up from town councilman to a term in Congress, died on Monday.  He was 51.  —  A spokeswoman for Mr. Adler, a Democrat, confirmed the death.

Sanders: Rich ‘Have Not Contributed One Nickel To Deficit Reduction’  —  Bernie, put down the bong!  —  On Cenk Uygur's MSNBC show this evening, Bernie Sanders, the socialist senator from Vermont who caucuses with the Dems, claimed that rich Americans “have not contributed one nickel to deficit reduction.”

Anti-Fracking Enviros Attempt to Silence NY State's Top Staff Geologist  —  Claiming that hydro-fracking harms aquifers, environmental activist groups have managed to scare New York State legisiators and regulators into a moratorium on using the technology that enables the production …