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 Endorses Gary Johnson for President  —  Country music legend and avid pot smoker Willie Nelson has a horse in the 2012 race: former New Mexico governor Gary Johnson (R), the most prominent marijuana-legalization candidate in the field.  —  From a press release put out Tuesday by Nelson's Teapot Party:

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Deal Reached on Extension of Patriot Act  —  WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders on Thursday reached a deal to extend by four years several statutes that expanded the Federal Bureau of Investigation's counterterrorism and surveillance powers after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, aides said.

DeMint won't rule out backing Romney  —  Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) isn't ready yet to cut Mitt Romney loose following the Republican presidential candidate's defense of his Massachusetts healthcare plan last week.  —  DeMint, the conservative kingmaker who had endorsed Romney for the nomination in 2008 …

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.

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.