Appeals court rules against Obama healthcare law  —  (Reuters) - An appeals court ruled on Friday that President Barack Obama's healthcare law requiring Americans to buy healthcare insurance or face a penalty was unconstitutional, a blow to the White House.  —  The Appeals Court for the 11th Circuit …

8 From G.O.P. Trade Attacks at Iowa Debate  —  AMES, Iowa — A withering critique of President Obama's handling of the economy was overshadowed by a burst of incivility among the Republican presidential candidates who, in a debate here Thursday night, fought to stay alive in the party's increasingly competitive nominating race.

Rick Perry on the Record  —  From scrapping Social Security and Medicare to immigration to Constitutional amendments, Texas Governor Rick Perry spoke openly last fall with Andrew Romano.  —  In Fed Up!, you criticize the progressive era and the changes it produced: the 16th and 17th Amendments, Social Security, Medicare, and so on.

Email rendezvous entangles state Rep. Phillip Hinkle  —  Lawmaker calls encounter set up with young man on Craigslist a ‘shakedown’  —  State Rep. Phillip Hinkle, shown speaking on a motion during the recent session, said he is “aware of a shakedown taking place.”  / Charlie Nye / 2011 Star file photo

Debate Showcases Pandering That Repels Voters  —  If you really want to know why voters keep dumping incumbents of both parties and registering an alarming disdain for Washington generally, then go back and watch a scene from Thursday night's Republican debate in Iowa.

Democrats Enjoy Slight Edge on 2012 Congressional Ballot  —  Twice as many voters say Tea Party endorsements are a negative rather than a positive  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Gallup's first measure of the 2012 congressional elections shows Democrats leading Republicans, 51% to 44% …

G.O.P. on Defensive as Analysts Question Party's Fiscal Policy  —  WASHINGTON — The boasts of Congressional Republicans about their cost-cutting victories are ringing hollow to some well-known economists, financial analysts and corporate leaders, including some Republicans …

Gay Man Challenges Pawlenty On Opposition To Marriage Equality: 'Do You Think I'm A Second Class Citizen?'  —  A gay man challenged Tim Pawlenty on his opposition to same-sex marriage this afternoon, as the candidate was speaking on the ‘Soap Box’ at the Iowa State Fair.

The Case for Calling Them Nitwits  —  They blow each other up by mistake.  They bungle even simple schemes.  They get intimate with cows and donkeys.  Our terrorist enemies trade on the perception that they're well trained and religiously devout, but in fact, many are fools and perverts …

The Hijacked Crisis  —  Has market turmoil left you feeling afraid?  Well, it should.  Clearly, the economic crisis that began in 2008 is by no means over.  —  But there's another emotion you should feel: anger.  For what we're seeing now is what happens when influential people exploit a crisis rather than try to solve it.

The Mystery of Herman Cain and the Donna Summer Lyrics  —  One of the weirdest moments of last night's Republican debate probably slipped completely under the radar for most viewers.  This moment occurred in Herman Cain's closing statement, when the former pizza-chain CEO recited a favorite inspirational quote:

GOP Rep. Louis Gohmert: Pelosi's face on golf balls will put ‘oomph’ into your game  —  Oh, what fun!  —  GOP Rep. Louis Gohmert told a conservative talk show host earlier this week that having Nancy Pelosi's face on golf balls would put “oomph” into your game, and joked with the host …