Trump claims Obama birth certificate ‘missing’  —  Washington (CNN) - Real estate mogul Donald Trump's latest claim about President Obama's birth certificate is that it's missing.  —  “Well I've been told very recently, Anderson, that the birth certificate is missing,” Trump told CNN's Anderson Cooper Monday.

High gas prices cut into driving habits — and Obama's approval rating  —  Soaring gasoline prices are biting into household incomes and nibbling at Americans' fuel consumption — and support for President Obama, according to a Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Why Haley Barbour pulled the plug  —  Haley Barbour had his presidential announcement plan lined up: A May 2 launch, followed by a fly-around to Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Nevada and Florida, before winding up in in Jackson on Saturday the 7th for a big home-state fundraising bash.

The Left Politicizes the Practice of Law  —  One of the saddest stories in the news today is King & Spalding's withdrawal, after only a week, from its representation of the U.S. House of Representatives in connection with the Defense of Marriage Act.  —  In February, Barack Obama's Department …

Ron Paul Launches Presidential Campaign  —  Rep. Ron Paul's long-held advocacy of smaller government and less taxes has made him a tea party hero.  —  Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, whose outspoken libertarian views and folksy style made him a cult hero during two previous presidential campaigns …

Allen West: Liberal Women Are ‘Neutering American Men’  —  Last week, Tea Party favorite Rep. Allen West (R-FL) addressed his base at a Women Impacting Nation (WIN) meeting in Boca Raton, FL.  WIN's mission is to “educate and equip women with knowledge of God's truth” and …

Financiers Switch to GOP  —  Hedge-Fund Titans Who Backed Democrats Open Their Wallets for Republicans  —  Hedge-fund managers made a big bet on Barack Obama and other Democrats in 2008.  Now, with the 2012 contest gearing up, some prominent fund managers have turned their backs on the party and are actively supporting Republicans.

Rachel Maddow: 'I'm definitely not an autocutie'  —  The top US news anchor on why she prefers jokes to anger and why she is proud to be gay  —  It's 10.05pm on a rainy Tuesday night in the MSNBC studio in the now famous New York address, 30 Rock, and Rachel Maddow - one of the highest profile news anchors …

House Republicans question Google, Apple on consumer privacy  —  House Republicans on the Energy and Commerce Committee raised concerns about consumer privacy policies at major technology companies in the aftermath of reports that smart phones collect, store, and sometimes even transmit data about users' whereabouts.

WikiLeaks: Guantánamo Bay terrorists radicalised in London to attack Western targets  —  At least 35 terrorists incarcerated at Guantánamo Bay were sent to fight against the West after being indoctrinated by extremist preachers in Britain, secret files obtained by The Daily Telegraph disclose.

Arizona governor: ‘Birther’ sentiment ‘leading our country down a path of destruction’  —  Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R), who vetoed a bill last week that would have required presidential candidates to prove they were born in the U.S. to get on the state's ballot, implored members of her party Monday to move on.

Messina: Obama 2012 will be run as ‘an insurgent campaign’ — Barbour feared race about race that GOP couldn't win - Boehner to Obama: ‘Grow up’ — Marc Short joins Team Koch - Rob Collins free agent  —  Good Tuesday morning.  Mississippi Gov. HALEY BARBOUR's decision not to seek …

DCCC chairman: Targeting Republicans on Ryan plan will win back seniors and independents  —  House Democrats' campaign chief said the targeting of Republicans who voted for the Paul Ryan budget plan will help his party win back two key constituencies it lost in 2010: seniors and independents.

Wikileaks: British aid budget funded key aide to al-Qaeda  —  An Afghan politician identified as a key aide to al-Qaeda terrorists was funded by the British aid budget, according to documents released by WikiLeaks.  —  Mullan Haji Rohullah, who was subsequently transported to Guantánamo …

Robertson: Left Backs Abortion Rights To Make Straight Women More Like Lesbians  —  Pat Robertson has figured out why President Obama supports the funding of Planned Parenthood and believes in a woman's right to choose: because progressives want women to have abortions as a way to achieve equality for lesbians.

Judge ends lockout; owners file appeal  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Seven weeks into the NFL lockout, players have an early triumph over the owners in court.  —  U.S. District Judge Susan Richard Nelson ordered an immediate end to the lockout Monday, siding with the players in their bitter fight …

Mike Huckabee leads in South Carolina polls  —  Mike Huckabee holds an edge in two new polls of South Carolina Republicans, despite maintaining a low public profile in the early-voting state.  —  New polls from Winthrop University and American Research Group have the former Arkansas governor holding …

White House to Franklin Graham: You're “Preposterous”  —  After the evangelist (and son of legendary Billy Graham) played the birther card on ABC, Jay Carney curtly notes that he abused Easter Sunday.  —  Post Comment  —  The day after Easter, the Obama White House took a shot …

Romney: Unemployment will get Obama ‘tossed from ofice’  —  If voters toss President Obama from office in 2012, it will be due to high unemployment, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) said Monday night.  —  Romney, one of the top contenders for the Republican presidential nomination …

The end of the line: Last typewriter factory left in the world closes its doors  —  It's an invention that revolutionised the way we work, becoming an essential piece of office equipment for the best part of a century.  —  But after years of sterling service, that bane for secretaries has reached the end of the line.

Syrian tanks, soldiers lay siege to southern towns  —  View Photo Gallery — Funeral for Lt. Fadi Ismail in Jableh, coastal city on the Mediterranean, following days of unrest.  Demonstrations are part of recent shows of political strength throughout North Africa and the Middle East.  (Getty Images).