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 …

Pawlenty Says If He Were President He Would Sign Paul Ryan's Budget  —  ABC News' Matthew Jaffe (@JaffeMatt) reports:  —  After facing criticism in recent days for sidestepping the issue, Tim Pawlenty today in New Hampshire said if he were president and Rep. Paul Ryan's budget proposal came to his desk, he would sign it.

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.

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 …

‘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.

Why the Republican Lost in NY-26  —  The Ryan Medicare plan needs a clearer and more populist defense.  —  Five and a half weeks after House Republicans passed their budget, Democrats and liberal pundits have decided it is political kryptonite that will fatally weaken the GOP.

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 …

Barney Frank Mae have to find new friends  —  Please, try not to let what I'm about to tell you destroy your faith in the integrity of Rep. Barney Frank (D-Newton).  —  It appears that back in 1991, Barney went to the mat in obtaining a six-figure hack job for his then-boyfriend, Herbie Moses, at, of all places, Fannie Mae.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Walt Disney Surrenders to Navy's SEAL Team 6  —  Less than a month after a daring raid on Osama bin Laden's secret hideout, the U.S. Navy's SEAL Team 6 notched a victory over the Magic Kingdom.  —  Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it would pull an application with the U.S. Patent …

Exclusive: Battered Libya sues for peace  —  As President Obama vows ‘We will not relent until the shadow of tyranny is lifted’, Gaddafi's Prime Minister offers Nato a ceasefire, amnesty for rebels, reconciliation, constitutional government - and an exit strategy