Obama: GOP tried to “sneak” agenda into budget  —  In what he thought was a private chat with campaign donors Thursday evening, President Obama offered the most revealing behind-the-scenes account to date of his budget negotiations with GOP leaders last week.

Obama Exclusive: I Was Born in Hawaii and I Don't ‘Have Horns’  —  I thought the president would take a pass when I asked him about Donald Trump's rise to the top of the Republican field in my exclusive interview today.  —  Far from it.  —  He grabbed at the chance with a big smile …

OLBERMANN: S.E. CUPP SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN BORN, PROVES ‘NECESSITY’ OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD  —  Keith Olbermann is not known for his candor.  In a sense, it's what's made him a popular figure on the left.  And sure, he makes off-the-wall comments sometimes in order to evoke a response.

Then They Came for Dana Milbank  —  For the past 20 years, as the U.S. middle class has quietly collapsed, Dana Milbank has made a great living as a media liberal who constantly ridicules liberals.  But recently it seemed as though he'd suddenly noticed something was going on.  Why?

Scott Walker Admits Union-Busting Provision 'Doesn't Save Any' Money For The State Of Wisconsin  —  Today, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform called Govs. Scott Walker (R-WI) and Peter Shumlin (D-VT) to testify in a hearing titled “State and Municipal Debt: Tough Choices Ahead.”

Who's Serious Now?  —  Paul Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee, sounds upset.  And you can see why: President Obama, to the great relief of progressives, has called his bluff.  —  Last week, Mr. Ryan unveiled his budget proposal, and the initial reaction of much of the punditocracy …

Backers tell Iowa Republicans: Stay true to Huckabee  —  Until Mike Huckabee decides whether to run for president, Iowans loyal to the Arkansas Republican are trying to keep passions burning with an off-the-official-grid campaign.  —  A new “Stuck on Huck” online live radio show …

Libya's Pathway to Peace  —  Together with our NATO allies and coalition partners, the United States, France and Britain have been united from the start in responding to the crisis in Libya, and we are united on what needs to happen in order to end it.  —  Even as we continue …

Trump/West 2012?  Allen West not closed to idea of being Donald Trump's VP  —  Florida Congressman and Tea Party favorite Allen West isn't opposed to the idea of joining possible presidential contender Donald Trump, West told The Daily Caller Thursday.  —  When pressed repeatedly …

Arizona lawmakers OK requiring proof of citizenship to run for president  —  The Arizona Legislature has become the first in the nation to pass a measure requiring presidential candidates to provide proof of citizenship in order to get on the state's ballot.  —  House Bill 2177 got final approval Thursday night from the House.

The Ryan Plan's Political Problem  —  I have been meaning to write about the Ryan Plan for days, but have not gotten around to it (although, in general, I think that both James Fallows and Michael Kinsely are largely on target).  This post is less about the plan itself than about the politics of the plan.

The rise and rise of the princelings, the country's revolutionary aristocracy  —  “THERE are some sour and smelly literati these days who are utterly abominable,” a retired military officer reportedly told a recent gathering in Beijing.  “They attack Chairman Mao and practise de-Maoification.

Righteous Indignation: Andrew Breitbart is out to save the world (and he just might)  —  You won't find too many people who are indifferent toward Andrew Breitbart.  But love him or hate him, you can't ignore him.  With his ever-growing collection of “Big” websites (Big Government …

Afghan mullahs push peaceful protest in wake of Quran-burning violence  —  More Qurans were inadvertently burned during recent Afghan protests than by the US pastor Terry Jones.  Spiritual leaders in Kandahar called a meeting to teach Afghans how to channel their passions peacefully.

Barack Obama reelect's first job: Reconnect  —  CHICAGO — President Barack Obama's fledgling reelection campaign is building a volunteer network with the audacious goal of contacting every single person who voted for him in 2008, as part of a reinvented voter outreach that will be as focused …

U.S., allies see Libyan rebels in hopeless disarray  —  (Reuters) - Too little is known about Libya's rebels and they remain too fragmented for the United States to get seriously involved in organizing or training them, let alone arming them, U.S. and European officials say.

Romney makes the most of funding rules  —  WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney kicked off his presidential exploratory committee this week in an enviable position.  —  Since his defeat in the 2008 GOP presidential primary, a few political friends have given generously to Romney's political operation …