Newt Gingrich apologizes to Paul Ryan  —  Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich apologized in a telephone call to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) on Tuesday afternoon for his remarks on “Meet the Press,” where the presidential candidate referred to Ryan's Medicare proposal as “radical change.”

Ben Stein Watch, DSK edition  —  Without further ado, the top ten lines from Ben Stein's article on Dominique Strauss-Kahn:  — If he is such a womanizer and violent guy with women, why didn't he ever get charged until now?  — This is a case about the hatred of the have-nots for the haves, and that's what it's all about.

White House shuts out Herald scribe  —  The White House Press Office has refused to give the Boston Herald full access to President Obama's Boston fund-raiser today, in e-mails objecting to the newspaper's front page placement of a Mitt Romney op-ed, saying pool reporters are chosen based on whether they cover the news “fairly.”

Democrats' Oil Subsidy Repeal Bill Is Actually Unconstitutional  —  Republicans may have a point that Democrats are playing politics with oil subsidies.  To understand why, look no further than the fact that the bill Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will bring to the floor for a vote Tuesday evening …

GOP elite see Mitch Daniels as 2012 savior  —  Top Republicans are increasingly convinced that President Barack Obama will be easily reelected if stronger GOP contenders do not emerge, and some are virtually begging Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels to add some excitement to the slow-starting nomination race.

Thomas defends ideals of court  —  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas told a packed dinner crowd of Augusta's judges, lawyers and politicians Tuesday that while discourse in American society seems to be growing coarser and angrier, the Supreme Court remains a bastion of respectful disagreement …

Catholic Church Investigation Says Hippies Made Catholic Priests Sexually Abuse Children  —  Laurie Goodstein reports on the release of an inquiry by American bishops into sex abuse scandals: … This hippie-blaming strategy seems unlikely to persuade anyone.

‘Gang of Six’ on verge of collapse as Republican Sen. Coburn withdraws  —  View Photo Gallery —  "You've got to have Republicans and Democrats talking and trying to find common ground," says Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.).  But in these immoderate times, his aisle-reaching is politcially dangerous.

State Department snubs the Elders  —  Former President Jimmy Carter and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari were hoping to visit the State Department this week to brief officials on their recent trip to North Korea, but nobody at the State Department was available to meet with them.

With Huckabee Out, No Clear GOP Front-Runner  —  Bachmann and Cain generate high positive intensity among those who know them  —  PRINCETON, NJ — With Mike Huckabee out of the race for the 2012 GOP presidential nomination, three well-known politicians, Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin …

Obama: “My People, You Continue to Have My Blessing.”  —  What kind of political leader tells his supporters this? … President Obama does.  That's what he said toward the end a speech at a campaign fundraiser last night in Washington to a relatively youthful crowd of supporters …

Ron Paul fears US will invade Pakistan next  —  GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul is worried the U.S. could invade Pakistan after Osama bin Laden's death.  —  “I am absolutely afraid we will be in Pakistan trying to occupy that country,” Paul, a congressman from Texas and a critic of the wars …

Fewer Emergency Rooms Available as Need Rises  —  Hospital emergency rooms, particularly those serving the urban poor, are closing at an alarming rate even as emergency visits are rising, according to a report published on Tuesday.  —  Urban and suburban areas have lost a quarter …

Rick Perry Presidential Push Quietly Gains Steam  —  As many grass-roots Republicans remain in search of a conservative candidate with the pizazz to go toe-to-toe against President Obama, a man from deep in the heart of Texas who was tea party before the tea party was cool, appears to be giving the presidential race some thought.

Healthcare reform waivers part of ‘crony politics,’ Pawlenty says  —  Likely GOP presidential candidate Tim Pawlenty on Tuesday added to already widespread criticism of healthcare reform law waivers, calling the practice an example of “crony politics.”  —  Pawlenty, the former Minnesota governor …

CIA flew stealth drones into Pakistan to monitor bin Laden house  —  The CIA employed sophisticated new stealth drone aircraft to fly dozens of secret missions deep into Pakistani airspace and monitor the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed, current and former U.S. officials said.

Darrell Issa's recess included trip to Puerto Rico  —  House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, who as the House GOP's lead watchdog has questioned the legitimacy of some Obama administration travel, jetted to Puerto Rico during the recess on a taxpayer-funded trip that included work …

What CNN's story on political sex scandals left out: Eliot Spitzer  —  A TVNewser reader Tweeted at us today: … The answer: yes it did.  —  Suzanne Malveaux's story, which aired at 2:30pmET, made mention or showed images of politicians ranging from John F. Kennedy to John Edwards …

Clinton says Obama believes 8 years is enough  —  WASHINGTON - Eight years as president is enough, thank you.  At least that's what Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton says President Barack Obama told her the other day.  —  Clinton said Tuesday that she and Obama often marvel …