Shameful U.S. inaction on Syria's massacres  —  FOR THE PAST five weeks, growing numbers of Syrians have been gathering in cities and towns across the country to demand political freedom — and the security forces of dictator Bashar al-Assad have been responding by opening fire on them.

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 …

Of Donald, Dunces and Dogma  —  I told myself that I wouldn't be dragged into Donald Trump's “birther” cesspool, yet here I am.  —  It became too much to ignore when he climbed to the top of the Republicans' admittedly weak field of presidential contenders and serious minds began to suggest …

Florida Pastor says protest at Islamic Center will go on  —  Controversial Florida Pastor Terry Jones said he will follow through on his plan to protest outside an Islamic center in Michigan next week despite a judge's order to stay away from the mosque for three years, according to a report from the Detroit Free Press.

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 …

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.

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 …

China's train wreck  —  Video: Is China's high-speed rail a model for U.S. transportation?  Based on his travels in China, Washington Post editorial writer Charles Lane thinks not.  —  For the past eight years, Liu Zhijun was one of the most influential people in China.

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.

Voting is indeed a right, Zellers agrees after radio show error  —  House Speaker Kurt Zellers found himself in a constitutional bind on Thursday after saying that voting was a privilege, not a right.  —  The Maple Grove Republican made the comment Wednesday night during a local radio show, “The Late Debate.”

Builders of New Homes Seeing No Sign of Recovery  —  RICHMOND, Ill. — In this distant Chicago suburb, a builder has finally found a way to persuade people to buy a new house: he throws in a car.  —  Kim Meier's spring promotion, which includes a $17,000 credit at a nearby General Motors dealer …

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 …