School District Employee Disciplined for Political Phone Call  —  A Sheboygan gas station owner is baffled after a mystery caller tells a clerk it's a bad idea to do business with a Sheboygan-area state senator.  —  It started Tuesday when a woman called Dick Hiers's Northeast Standard gas station …

Syria unrest: ‘Bloodiest day’ as troops fire on rallies  —  Amateur video purportedly showing large protests across the country  —  Protesters in Syria report 60 people killed by security forces - the highest death toll in five weeks of unrest against President Bashar al-Assad.

Obama: No ‘silver bullet’ to bring down gas prices  —  President Obama said Saturday there are no easy answers for lowering gas prices, which are hovering above $4 a gallon, and criticized politicians who push plans to immediately reduce the price of gas.  —  “You see people trying …

Paul Krugman says “So, let's try another shot to the head.”  —  I realize he's talking about a misconception, and he has designated the misconception a “zombie,” and according to zombie lore, zombies are destroyed by shooting them in the head.  But still.  That's quite a violent way to talk …

MCCAIN RETURNS TO LIBYA — UNDER VERY DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES.... Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) yesterday became the highest profile U.S. official to visit Libya since international military intervention began, and gave a hearty endorsement to the rebels fighting the Gadhafi government.

Derek Fenton, Koran-burning transit worker fired from his job after Ground Zero protest, re-hired  —  A Koran-burning New Jersey Transit worker, fired for his protest near Ground Zero last Sept. 11, is getting his job back - along with an extra $25,000 for his troubles.

John Ensign bolted to avoid more public embarrassment  —  Sen. John Ensign abruptly announced his resignation after it grew increasingly clear to him that he would not be able to avoid a public review of the sordid allegations surrounding his sex scandal, including the open airing of details …

Collins is first GOP senator to oppose Ryan budget proposal  —  Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine.) said Friday that she will not support the 2012 budget passed by the House last week.  —  “I don't happen to support Congressman Ryan's plan but at least he had the courage to put forth a plan …

Franklin Graham: Trump Might be Candidate of Choice  —  The Rev. Franklin Graham, whose family has served as spiritual advisers to numerous prominent political figures, told “This Week” anchor Christiane Amanpour that businessman Donald Trump might be his candidate of choice in 2012 …

Shutter Fraternities for Young Women's Good  —  In the fall of 1984, a 17-year-old freshman at the University of Virginia named Liz Securro was invited to a fraternity party.  While there, she was given a tour of the historic house and offered a cup of the dark green cocktail that was its specialty.

Tim Pawlenty's Big Chill  —  How the GOP presidential contender left a famed Arctic explorer in the cold on global warming.  —  Post Comment  —  When Will Steger was 15 years old, he and his brother piloted an old motorboat down the Mississippi River from Minnesota to New Orleans.

Video of beating in a Baltimore County McDonald's goes viral  —  A video of a vicious beating at a Baltimore County McDonald's restaurant went viral Friday, garnering hundreds of thousands of views on various websites and prompting the fast food giant to issue a statement condemning the incident.

The ‘Green Dragon’ Slayers: How the Religious Right and the Corporate Right are Joining Forces to Fight Environmental Protection  —  TABLE OF CONTENTS  —  Introduction  —  As Republican officials accelerate their efforts to weaken environmental regulations and attack climate scientists …

Trump to Salon: “You will be very surprised”  —  Donald Trump has written me a personal note promising that he will release information about his net worth — and that he'll even do it earlier than is required by federal election law.  —  Trump's assistant sent me an email earlier today with the heading …