“Best Wishes, Donald Trump”: A Future President's Letter to Vanity Fair  —  The Donald has inveighed (in Sharpie!) against our intrepid blogger.  We found his comments so delightful, we had to share.  —  It was with great delight and a sense of kinship that we at Vanity Fair read Donald Trump's letter …

A Debt Ceiling Hostage Rescue Strategy  —  As Jon Chait and Josh Marshall write this morning, the way the tax cut deal and the appropriations deal went down makes it clear that the White House needs a better hostage rescue strategy heading into the debt ceiling fight.  Fortunately, I think one is available.

Chicago school bans some lunches brought from home  —  To encourage healthful eating, Chicago school doesn't allow kids to bring lunches or certain snacks from home — and some parents, and many students, aren't fans of the policy  —  A Little Village Academy student cringes at an enchilada dish served at his school.

Statement & Account of Ramona Kitzinger, Waukesha Board of Canvassers member since 2004:  —  (Waukesha County Democratic Party)On Tuesday night, I received a voice message from someone in the office of Clerk Kathy Nickolaus informing me of a Wednesday canvass meeting, which I returned …

Appeals court upholds Justice challenge on Ariz. immigration law  —  A federal appeals court on Monday upheld a lower court decision that blocked the most contested provisions of Arizona's immigration law from taking effect.  —  A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals …

Mitt Romney Announces 2012 Presidential Exploratory Committee: 'Obama's Policies Have Failed'  —  ABC News' Michael Falcone reports:  —  UPDATED: Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney formally launched his 2012 presidential exploratory committee on Monday in a Web video, declaring that “President Obama's policies have failed.”

REPORT: U.S. Military Spending Has Almost Doubled Since 2001  —  A new report released today by SIPRI, a Swedish-based think tank, reveals that U.S. military spending has almost doubled since 2001.  The U.S. spent an astounding $698 billion on the military last year, an 81% increase over the last decade.

The President Is Missing  —  What have they done with President Obama?  What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected?  Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn't seem to stand for anything in particular?  —  I realize that with hostile Republicans controlling the House …

WHAT PAUL RYAN'S CONSTITUENTS THINK, AND WHY IT MATTERS.... Rep. Paul Ryan's (R) Wisconsin district isn't competitive.  Over the last decade, his most competitive race was the one he won by “only” 26 points.  Last year, the margin was 38 points.  —  But when the Associated Press checked …

Revolver  —  Why do some of the most capable public servants in America, people like economist Peter Orszag, keep circling back from Washington to Wall Street?  One guess.  —  When Peter Orszag left his post as White House budget director last summer, it made perfect sense, on several levels …

Private Manning's Humiliation  —  Bruce Ackerman and Yochai Benkler  —  Bradley Manning is the soldier charged with leaking US government documents to Wikileaks.  He is currently detained under degrading and inhumane conditions that are illegal and immoral.

WE'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO OFFER THE LOW-WAGE WORKFORCE FOR FOREIGN COMPANIES.... Ikea's labor dispute in Southern Virginia should be a bigger story. … It's quite an ordeal.  Workers are forced to work overtime, often with little notice, and those who don't go along face disciplinary action.

The Ayers campaign  —  There's an oft-broken rule of self-effacement among political staffers, one Nick Ayers and the Pawlenty campaign smashed it resolutely this morning with an email that was rather more about Ayers than his candidate, and an item suggesting his move was a death knell for Haley Barbour, his former boss.

In Iowa, Bachmann blasts GOP on budget deal  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) told voters in Iowa on Monday that Congressional Republicans backed down too easily in the recent budget fight, saying, “We will never win if we don't fight.”  —  Bachmann has been an outspoken critic …

Republican lawmakers sour on 2012 field  —  A presidential primary favorite is emerging among the ranks of congressional Republicans: none of the above.  —  The dissatisfaction with the likely GOP field — long whispered among party activists, operatives and elected officials — is growing more audible in the House and Senate.

What's Really Going On With Gabby Giffords?  —  The untold story of the congresswoman's struggle, her husband's faith, and their long, hard road to recovery.  —  PHOTOS: According to doctors, Sen. Gabrielle Giffords has made significant advances.  But they caution that injuries to the brain …

Where Hippie Punching Gets You  —  Jonathan Cohn makes the good point that Obama's speech on Wednesday is unfortunately going to be seen as the left most position in the debate which makes a compromise between his plan and Ryan's the “juuust right” sweet spot.

Egypt Sentences Blogger to 3 Years  —  CAIRO — An Egyptian blogger was sentenced Monday to three years in prison for criticizing the military in what human rights advocates called one of the more alarming violations of freedom of expression since a popular uprising led to the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak two months ago.