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 …

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 …

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.”

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.

Obama Job Approval at 41%, Tying His Low  —  Independents' approval rating down to 35%  —  PRINCETON, NJ - The latest Gallup Daily tracking three-day average shows 41% of Americans approving of the job Barack Obama is doing as president.  That ties his low as president …

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.

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.

House passes Ryan's '12 budget; conservatives want more cuts  —  The House on Friday approved a fiscal year 2012 budget resolution from Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) that seeks to drastically limit government spending next year and in years to follow.

Security griping a red flag for TSA  —  Washington (CNN) — Don't like the way airport screeners are doing their job?  You might not want to complain too much while standing in line.  —  Arrogant complaining about airport security is one indicator Transportation Security Administration officers consider …

FBI: Samir Khan Inspired Homegrown Jihadis “Most Serious Threat to Homeland”; Will Democrats Apologize to Rep. King?  —  An image made by AQAP's Samir Khan for The Jawa Report  —  In an official “statement for the record” to the The Washington Institute for Near East Policy yesterday …

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.

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 …

Not yet time to worry about inflation  —  SHOULD the Fed be worried about rising inflation?  With new consumer price figures out, a handful of Fed officials are arguing that the central bank is at risk of falling behind the curve.  Tim Duy discusses comments from Richmond Fed President Jeffrey Lacker here …