Book: Treasury Secretary ignored Obama directive  —  NEW YORK (AP) — A new book offering an insider's account of the White House's response to the financial crisis says that U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner ignored an order from President Barack Obama calling for reconstruction of major banks.

Free to Die  —  Back in 1980, just as America was making its political turn to the right, Milton Friedman lent his voice to the change with the famous TV series “Free to Choose.”  In episode after episode, the genial economist identified laissez-faire economics with personal choice and empowerment …

Clinton Popularity Prompts Buyer's Remorse  —  The most popular national political figure in America today is one who was rejected by her own party three years ago: Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.  —  Nearly two-thirds of Americans hold a favorable view of her and one-third are suffering …

Perry “Ponzi Scheme” Remark Doesn't Faze Most Republicans  —  Solid majority believe Social Security should be preserved  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Texas Gov. and presidential candidate Rick Perry's comments on Social Security, which include calling it a “Ponzi scheme,” appear to be a non-issue for most Republicans.

General Reported He Was Pressured on Testimony About White House-Backed Project, Sources Say  —  Gen. William Shelton, head of the Air Force Space Command, told House members in a classified briefing earlier this month that he was pressured to change prepared congressional testimony …

White House works to quell Dem dissent  —  Senior administration officials met with Senate Democrats for an hour and a half on Thursday to answer their complaints about President Obama's jobs bill.  —  Democratic lawmakers voiced objections to several of the president's proposals to pay …

Tom Ridge to endorse Huntsman at St. Anselm  —  CONCORD — Republican presidential hopeful Jon Huntsman will announce the endorsement of former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Gov. Tom Ridge Friday in an event at St. Anselm College in Goffstown.  —  Ridge, a former governor of Pennsylvania …

Approval of Congress Matches Record Low  —  Congress faces historically low approval ratings as it wades into the debate over the $447 billion jobs package proposed by President Obama, with just 12 percent of Americans now approving of the way Congress is handling its job, matching its all-time low …

Weiner gets 'brush'off  —  By S.A. MILLER in Washington and CARL CAMPANILE in NY  —  Scrub out the stench of Weiner!  —  Newly sworn-in Republican Rep. Bob Turner's family ordered a thorough cleaning of the House office space he inherited from his disgraced predecessor, Anthony Weiner …

Dakota Meyer Is Awarded Medal of Honor  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama awarded the Medal of Honor on Thursday to a young former Marine who ignored orders to stay put and fought his way five times into an ambush in an Afghan ravine, helping to rescue three dozen comrades and to recover the remains of four dead American servicemen.

Ford TV Ad Slams Obama Auto Bailouts  —  America is still fighting over President Obama's costly bailout of Chrysler and General Motors.  Especially the owners of Ford, the only member of Detroit's “Big Three” who rejected the government dole and emerged perfectly healthy.

The U.S. Must Support Israel At the U.N.  —  Obama policies have encouraged the Palestinians to avoid direct negotiations with Israel.  —  The historic friendship between the United States and Israel stretches from the founding of the Jewish state in 1948 to the present day.

Axelrod insists Obama in strong shape to win reelection in 2012  —  Despite a growing storm cloud hovering over his presidency and reelection hopes, President Obama is in strong shape and Americans stand by his plan for jobs, Obama's top campaign adviser said Friday.

Resurgent Republic poll shows soft Hispanic support for Obama—Supreme Court stays execution—Bachmann won't answer for HPV claims—Perry pounces on study that says Romneycare cost 18K jobs  —  SNEAK PEEK - HISPANIC SUPPORT FOR OBAMA SOFTENS: President Obama is underperforming with Hispanics …

Boehner gives the government too much credit  —  If you listened to Speaker John Boehner's speech before the D.C. Economic Club today, you heard a very specific story explaining why unemployment is stuck at 9 percent: “it's not because the American people have lost their way,” he said.

Silicon Valley gives conservative Christians a boost  —  A group of venture capitalists is backing United in Purpose, an ambitious project that seeks to affect the 2012 election by registering 5 million new conservative Christians to vote.  —  Reporting from Washington— Silicon Valley …

Koch May Test His Political Voice on National Stage  —  Former Mayor Edward I. Koch's strategy seemed almost nutty at first: ask Jewish residents in Brooklyn and Queens to vote against an Israel-loving observant Jew for Congress to send a message to President Obama.

Dallas + Austin + Houston + San Antonio = ‘Texas Miracle’  —  The entry of Rick Perry, swashbuckling Texas governor, into the contest for the Republican presidential nomination focused the country's attention on his state's strikingly anomalous labor market.