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 …

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 …

Electoral Consequences of the Rapture  —  Voters nationally are evenly divided on Barack Obama's job performance at 48% approving and 48% disapproving.  Despite the mixed feelings toward him he leads Mitt Romney by 7 at 49-42, Newt Gingrich by 14 at 51-37, and Sarah Palin by 17 at 54-37 in hypothetical match ups.

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 …

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.

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 …

‘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.

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 …

Mark Zuckerberg's new challenge: Eating only what he kills (and yes, we do mean literally...)  —  Last year Mark Zuckerberg set out to learn Chinese.  Now he's determined to get in touch with his food.  If the goats, lobsters and chickens of Silicon Valley aren't trembling, they should be.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 Greatest Achievement of the Settlers  —  The settlers of the West Bank have accomplished a great many things: They have built entire towns on previously-barren hilltops; they have created a network of schools, religious institutions and cultural centers that rival their counterparts in Israel proper.

NYSE Tries to Body Slam TPM!  —  If you're a news editor you'll want to hear this.  —  The New York Stock Exchange now claims that you have to get their permission (express or implicit) before you use images connected to the New York Stock Exchange.  So if you find a wire photo …

Iraq, Iran ...  A trail goof for Pawlenty, who fielded a question on Iran policy with an answer on Iraq policy in a video sent over by the new Democratic group American Bridge, in what seems to be its first tracking hit:  —  REPORTER: U.S. foreign policy towards Iran [unintelligible] how would you address contradictions in the U.S?