Dominique Strauss-Kahn Resigns From I.M.F.  —  Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned Wednesday as head of the International Monetary Fund after explosive allegations that he had sexually attacked a cleaning lady in a midtown Manhattan hotel room.  —  “It is with infinite sadness that I feel compelled today …

Arab Spring Spurs Israel to Ice Peace Plan Before Obama Meeting  —  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been preparing to greet President Barack Obama at the White House tomorrow with a proposal to resurrect Middle East peace talks, advisers said.  —  That was until Palestinian …

Jon Huntsman's hype faces New Hampshire test  —  Jon Huntsman's days as an international man of mystery are about to come to an end.  —  The former ambassador to China is embarking on a five-day campaign swing through New Hampshire, a trip that will put him in the center …

NBC's David Gregory Defends Medicare Question As Newt Gingrich Spokesman Blasts Media ‘Minions’ … NEW YORK — When Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) sits down on “Meet the Press” this Sunday, he can expect to be asked about former House Speaker Newt Gingrich comparing his Medicare voucher plan to “right-wing social engineering.”

Cornel West on Obama is no better than a birther  —  Anyone who knows me, and knows me well, knows that I have little patience for the “Blacker than thou” crowd.  These are the self-appointed guardians of what it means to be black — a decidedly limited and ignorant perspective …

The Year of Living Adulterously  —  What is it with Republicans lately?  —  Nobody wants to run for the presidential nomination.  Mike Huckabee said God told him to stay on Fox News.  NBC told Donald Trump to stay on “Celebrity Apprentice.”  —  Whatever happened to putting your country first?

McConnell leaves House GOP budget twisting in the wind  —  Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) is leaving Rep. Paul Ryan's (R-Wis.) budget plan to its own fate in the Senate by not whipping his GOP colleagues on the vote.  —  Republican senators say McConnell has made it clear …

Senate rejects GOP bill to expand, speed up offshore drilling  —  The Senate on Wednesday rejected Republican-backed legislation intended to speed up and expand offshore oil and gas drilling.  —  In a 42-57 vote, the Senate failed to move forward with the bill, which was opposed by the White House and most Senate Democrats.

Dick Cheney memoir set for Aug. 30 release  —  Clear a spot on those summer reading lists: Dick Cheney's memoir will be in stores Aug. 30.  —  And expectations are running high for the 544-page book, finished earlier this month.  —  “As his vice presidency was novel, Dick Cheney's memoir is unique …

Peter Fonda calls Obama ‘traitor’ at Cannes  —  CANNES, France — Peter Fonda launched a four-letter attack on US President Barack Obama at the Cannes film festival on Wednesday, calling him a traitor over the handling of the aftermath of the Gulf oil spill.

Maria Shriver Hires a Divorce Attorney  —  Maria Shriver, who has split from husband Arnold Schwarzenegger amid a love-child scandal, has hired a divorce lawyer, sources tell PEOPLE.  —  Prominent Los Angeles family law attorney Laura Wasser is now representing California's former first lady, according to sources close to Shriver.

Rogue tweet by Secret Service!  —  How embarrassing, Secret Service!  (Gawker image)  —  Courtesy  —  Oh, the dangers of social media!  Those instant, regrettable outbursts of unvarnished truth and scantily clad photos.  Today's victim: the Secret Service!

The Debt Ceiling Fiasco  —  Fights over the budget are normal and proper in a democracy.  But threatening to default could have dire consequences for the dollar, interest rates and the economy.  —  The debt ceiling “crisis” started on Monday when the U.S. government reached the legal limit …

Gary Johnson's rough start  —  There's sometimes a cheerful lightness to the low expectations that come with being a no-hope minor candidate, but Gary Johnson appears not even to be meeting those.  First Ron Paul, whose space he was primed to take refused to leave.

Many With New College Degree Find the Job Market Humbling  —  The individual stories are familiar.  The chemistry major tending bar.  The classics major answering phones.  The Italian studies major sweeping aisles at Wal-Mart.  —  Now evidence is emerging that the damage wrought …

The Hidden State Financial Crisis  —  My latest research into opaque state financial statements suggests taxpayers will be surprised by how much pensions are underfunded.  —  Next month will be pivotal for most states, as it marks the fiscal year end and is when balanced budgets are due.