Romney, Palin Lead Reduced GOP Field for 2012  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Mitt Romney (17%) and Sarah Palin (15%) now lead a smaller field of potential Republican presidential candidates in rank-and-file Republicans' preferences for the party's 2012 nominee.  Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich …

Palin's “Exploratory” Campaign: A Nationwide Bus Tour  —  DES MOINES, Iowa — In a move designed to propel her closer to a presidential run, former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin will set out on a bus tour of the country on Sunday, making stops at symbolic sites along the way.

Dick Cheney: Arab uprisings unlikely to disrupt oil flows for long  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney says he doesn't think the “Arab Spring” will significantly cut the flow of oil to world markets, but the Middle East is far different when he sought cooperation for the liberation of Kuwait in 1991.

Dane County judge strikes down collective bargaining law  —  By Jason Stein and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel  —  Madison - A Dane County judge has struck down Gov. Scott Walker's legislation repealing most collective bargaining for public employees.

‘Business death penalty’ for hiring illegal workers is upheld by Supreme Court  —  The 5-3 decision gives states more authority to act against illegal immigrants.  Justices rule that states can take away the business licenses of companies that knowingly hire illegal immigrants.

In Britain Obama repeats his error on Israel  —  President Obama is in Europe, supposedly trying to dissuade the Europeans from participating in the Palestinians' attempt to gain statehood without offering peace to Israel.  At his press conference he, no surprise to his critics …

The Dreamer Goes Down For The Count  —  I had never thought there were many similarities between the pleasure-loving Charles II of England and the more upright Barack Obama until this week.  Listening to his speeches on the Middle East at the State Department, US-Israel relations …

Sen. Rand Paul Delays Renewal of Patriot Act Provisions  —  Sen. Rand Paul has single-handedly stopped the extension of three key provisions of the Patriot Act until after they expire at midnight Thursday.  Unless he folds. … The Senate voted to end debate on the measure, but Sen. Paul …

Who would you rather have lunch with - Obama, Palin or Romney?  —  A new Sachs/Mason Dixon poll gets to the heart of the presidential choices in front of us.  Who would you rather have lunch with?  More than three times as many Americans - 53 percent - would choose to have a one-on-one lunch chat …

Two New York City Police Officers Acquitted of Rape  —  Two New York City police officers were acquitted on Thursday of the most serious charges in the rape of a drunken woman who had been helped into her apartment by the officers while on patrol.  —  The verdict provides some measure …

Gov. Christie announces N.J. pulling out of regional environmental initiative  —  TRENTON — In a blow to clean energy advocates throughout the Northeast, Gov. Chris Christie said this morning that the state will pull out of the region's cap-and-trade program by the end of the year.

DNC chief attacks GOP field on American ‘exceptionalism’  —  Democratic National Committee (DNC) Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz attacked the GOP presidential contenders on their own terms Thursday.  —  The Florida representative questioned just how dedicated they were to “American exceptionalism.”

A 62% Top Tax Rate?  —  Democrats have said they only intend to restore the tax rates that existed during the Clinton years.  In reality they're proposing rates like those under President Carter.  —  Media reports in recent weeks say that Senate Democrats are considering a 3% surtax on income …

CIA to search bin Laden compound  —  Pakistan has agreed to allow the CIA to send a forensics team to examine the compound where Osama bin Laden was killed, giving the agency permission to use sophisticated equipment in a search for al-Qaeda materials that might have been hidden inside walls or buried at the site, U.S. officials said.

Where Are the Obama Scandals?  —  One of the least remarked upon aspects of the Obama presidency has been the lack of scandals.  Since Watergate, presidential and executive branch scandal has been an inescapable feature of the American presidency, but the current administration has not yet suffered …

Think Again: The Times' Frank Bruni, or How to Succeed in Journalism Without Really Caring (About Issues)  —  New York Times editorial page editor Andrew Rosenthal announced the appointment of Frank Bruni to the august position of op-ed page columnist this week.

BREAKING: Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin Makes History By Signing Into Law Single Payer Health Care  —  Last month, the Vermont Senate passed legislation, approved earlier by the House, that would establish a single payer health care system in the state.  The legislation would make Vermont …