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.

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 …

Atlas Shrugged  —  I feel like my arm is all warmed up and I don't have a game to pitch.  I was primed to review “Atlas Shrugged.”  I figured it might provide a parable of Ayn Rand's philosophy that I could discuss.  For me, that philosophy reduces itself to: “I'm on board; pull up the lifeline.”

Arizona birther bill in Gov. Jan Brewer's hands  —  Arizona's birther bill has cleared the state legislature and is headed to Republican Gov. Jan Brewer's desk.  —  After it easily cleared the state Senate Wednesday, the Arizona House on Thursday night voted 40-16 in favor …

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.

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 …

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?

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 …

Tim Pawlenty: Obama gives ‘false choice’ on debt limit  —  NASHUA, N.H. — Tim Pawlenty endeared himself to enthused Republican activists here Thursday with an impassioned attack against President Barack Obama's rhetoric on the looming debt-ceiling fight, accusing him of misleading on the issue.

Trump defends Democratic donations  —  On Fox last night, Donald Trump defended his history of substantial donations to prominent Democrats. … Open Secrets notes that Trump has given more to Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) since the 1990 election cycle than he has any other politician.

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.

This Lady Liberty Is a Las Vegas Teenager  —  As if further proof were needed that New York is not the center of the universe.  —  The United States Postal Service has issued a new stamp featuring the Statue of Liberty.  Only the statue it features is not the one in the harbor …

How the Ice in Your Drink is Imperiling the Planet  —  Want to save the Earth?  Easy, just buy a couple of ice trays.  To the long list of human inventions that are wrecking global climate—the internal combustion engine, the industrial era factory—add the automatic ice maker.

RANT: VegNews is putting the MEAT into vegan issues  —  Do you like looking at pictures of meat?  How about a juicy beef burger, covered in egg mayonnaise with cow fat dripping off?  Perhaps some soft, meaty chunks of chicken breast in chicken stock and cream?

2012 U.S. Senate Announcement  —  After serious consideration and many discussions with friends and supporters, Diane and I have made the decision that I will not be a candidate for the United States Senate in 2012.  This was an extremely difficult decision for us to make as we saw strong points both for and against running.

Another one of Ron Paul's children may run for Congress  —  First it was just Ron Paul.  —  An obstetrician-gynecologist and libertarian-leaning Republican from Lake Jackson, Paul was elected to the U.S. House more than 20 years ago and maintains a devout following of those who share his anti-war, anti-tax, limited-government beliefs.