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.

Ultimate Spoiler Alert  —  President Obama and Paul Ryan are two of the smartest, most admirable and most genial men in Washington.  It is sad, although not strange, that in today's Washington they have never had a serious private conversation.  The president has never invited Ryan over even for lunch.

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.”

Jon Huntsman's love letters  —  Jon Huntsman, President Obama's outgoing ambassador to China, is considering running against his boss in 2012 as a Republican.  —  But two handwritten letters from Huntsman obtained by The Daily Caller raise the question of why he's not campaigning for Obama instead.

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.

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?

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.

Trump takes the lead  —  Only 38% of Republican primary voters say they're willing to support a candidate for President next year who firmly rejects the birther theory and those folks want Mitt Romney to be their nominee for President next year.  With the other 62% of Republicans- 23% of whom …

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 …

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 …

Obama Is Likely to Lose  —  But Republican unseriousness may be his trump card.  —  Suppose everything we think we know about the president's political position is wrong?  That's what I think became clear this week.  —  You know the conventional wisdom.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

Obama Disappointed With Lack of ‘Cool’ Phone in Oval Office  —  WASHINGTON — Turns out President Obama would like a phone upgrade.  —  The president, in an unscripted moment with donors in Chicago, was talking about the need to innovate in technology.  —  “The Oval Office …

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.

The GOP Proposes ‘Obamacare’ For Seniors — Just Don't Tell Democrats Or Republicans That  —  If I told you that the chairman of the Republican senators' reelection committee wanted to phase out the existing Medicare system and slowly replace it with Obamacare, would you believe me?

Jordan to try Danish artist over Mohammed cartoon  —  AMMAN — A Jordanian court will begin this month the trial of Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard over a controversial caricature of the Muslim Prophet Mohammed, but it was unclear if he will attend.  —  Zakarya Sheikh, spokesman for a group …