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 …

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.

Joe Walsh's ongoing struggles with reality  —  Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.), one of Congress' more notable right-wing freshmen, has an angry column in the Daily Caller today on U.S. policy towards Israel.  Take a wild guess what the Republican lawmaker argued. … It pains me to say this, but Rep. Joe Walsh is not smart.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Stubborn Jobless Claims Still Keep On Climbing Higher  —  New U.S. claims for unemployment benefits unexpectedly climbed to 424,000 last week from a revised 414,000 in the prior week, pointing to a painfully slow improvement in the nation's job markets.  —  The Labor Department on Thursday revised …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.”

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

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 …

Fed Gave Banks Crisis Gains on Secretive Loans  —  Credit Suisse Group AG (CS), Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (GS) and Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc (RBS) each borrowed at least $30 billion in 2008 from a Federal Reserve emergency lending program whose details weren't revealed to shareholders, members of Congress or the public.

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 …

From the Yearbook to the White House: The 2012 Republicans in High School  —  One of these former teens will probably win the GOP's White House nomination in 2012.  Since the press will inevitably rifle through their histories with astonishing thirst and thoroughness, we may as well take …

Obama Gets Big Bump In Florida, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Nelson Leads Gop Challengers, With No Clear Leader  —  President Barack Obama's job approval rating in Florida is 51 - 43 percent approve, a jump from his negative 44 - 52 percent score April 7, before the killing of Osama bin Laden …