Obama ‘disrespected’ Israel, threw it ‘under the bus,’ says Romney  —  President Obama “disrespected” Israel and threw it “under the bus” in a wide-ranging speech on the Middle East on Thursday, GOP presidential contender Mitt Romney charged.  —  Romney strongly criticized Obama, who …

Willie Nelson Retracts Gary Johnson Endorsement  —  Having written quite a few items about Gary Johnson's presidential bid, it saddens me that this is easily the most coverage I've ever seen of it.  The co-founder of Nelson's Teapot Party explains: … Kucinich might be screwed out of his seat …

Cornyn: Democrats To Blame For Republican Filibuster Of Goodwin Liu  —  Republicans just filibustered President Barack Obama's judicial nominee Goodwin Liu, and Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) says Democrats should take the blame.  —  “I argued that everyone should get an up-or-down vote but we lost that battle …

Gingrich: I Wasn't Talking About Ryan's Plan on ‘Meet the Press’  —  Newt Gingrich said today that he wasn't referring to Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wisc.)  Medicare plan when he uttered the words “right-wing social engineering” last Sunday — a comment that has earned the former House speaker …

Sarah Palin's Son Track Gets Married!  —  Duane and Elizabeth Hanson, Britta Hanson, Track Palin, Sarah and Todd Palin  —  The Palin family is growing!  —  Sarah Palin's eldest son, Track, 22, recently married his high school sweetheart, Britta Hanson, 21, in a small ceremony in Hatcher Pass, Alaska.

Armstrong Accused of Drug Use by Ex-Teammate  —  The cyclist Tyler Hamilton, one of Lance Armstrong's former teammates on the United States Postal Service team, said he saw Armstrong inject himself with the banned performance-enhancing drug EPO “many, many times” to win the Tour de France …

Huntsman thronged in N.H. debut  —  HANOVER, N.H. — Jon Huntsman's first stop on the New Hampshire campaign trail Thursday was billed as a cozy meet-and-greet at a small-town restaurant.  —  It ended up as a big media circus.  —  TV cameras and dozens of writers and photographers …

China Gives Pakistan 50 Fighter Jets  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — China has agreed to immediately provide 50 JF-17 fighter jets to Pakistan, a major outcome of a visit by Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani to Beijing this week, Pakistani officials said Thursday.

No Pink Slip for Ronald McDonald  —  McDonald's Corp. is standing by its clown.  —  The 48-year-old, red-haired mascot has come under fire from health-care professionals and consumer groups who, in recent days, have asked the fast-food chain to retire Ronald McDonald.

Judge overturns Miller decision on open special election … CARSON CITY — A District Court judge on Thursday overruled a decision by Secretary of State Ross Miller to allow any qualified candidate to run in a Sept. 13 special election to fill a U.S. House vacancy in Nevada.

Palestinian Facebook group urges rushing of Israel's borders  —  New pro-Palestinian group on social media site urges Arabs to march on Israel's borders following coming Friday's prayers  —  Pro-Palestinian activists have formed a new Facebook group calling for mass marches on Israel's borders this coming Friday.

Stephen Colbert's Free Speech Problem  —  The comedian runs up against campaign-finance law in an attempt to lampoon the Supreme Court.  —  Comedy Central funnyman Stephen Colbert, like most of his friends and allies on the left, thinks that last year's Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United v. FEC is, literally, ridiculous.