The due-process-free assassination of U.S. citizens is now reality  —  (updated below)  —  It was first reported in January of last year that the Obama administration had compiled a hit list of American citizens whom the President had ordered assassinated without any due process, and one of those Americans was Anwar al-Awlaki.

Requiem for a Governor Before He's in the Ring  —  Look, I'm sorry, but New Jersey Governor Chris Christie cannot be president: He is just too fat.  Maybe, if he runs for president and we get to know him, we will overlook this awkward issue because we are so impressed with the way he stands up to teachers' unions.

Huckabee looks again at Republican presidential bid  —  (Reuters) - Mike Huckabee has been approached by Republican and conservative activists unhappy with the current crop of presidential hopefuls and he is considering entering the fray, two sources who have spoken with Huckabee told Reuters.

Did Congress Kill the Debit Card?  —  Some Americans are outraged that Bank of America intends to charge its customers a $5 fee for using their debit card.  And simply switching banks might not help: others are expected to follow.  While frustration over yet another bank fee is understandable, this one should surprise no one.

Warren Buffett sparks firestorm over millionaires' tax-rate hike  —  Investment guru Warren Buffett set off a political firestorm Friday with a series of interviews in which he appeared to distance himself from the tax policy proposal President Obama introduced under the billionaire's name.

A Thin Line on Skirts  —  Note to women in the South Park Slope and surrounding Brooklyn: You might want to think twice before wearing shorts or skirts when you walk home alone at night.  —  That's the message some women say police officers are spreading as they step up patrols in the area …

Gilkes to leave Walker's staff to head campaign for expected recall attempt  —  By Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel  —  Madison - In the latest sign Gov. Scott Walker is preparing for a recall effort, his chief of staff is leaving the governor's office to work on his campaign.

90 percent of Americans say economy stinks  —  New York (CNNMoney) - Three years after a financial crisis pushed the country deep into recession, an overwhelming number of Americans - 90% - say that economic conditions remain poor.  —  The number, reported Friday in a new CNN/ORC International Poll …

Radiohead Is Playing for Wall Street Protesters Today  —  The Occupy Wall Street protesters camped out in Lower Manhattan's Zuccotti Park are buzzing over a big secret musical guest scheduled to play this afternoon at around 4pm.  We hear that it's Radiohead, who are in New York for a couple concerts.

Connecticut a Toss Up?  —  Connecticut isn't a place that would go on anybody's list of swing states but Barack Obama is in a statistical tie with Mitt Romney there, leading only 47-45.  —  Obama's poor showing in Connecticut is mostly a function of his own unpopularity.

U.S. Economy Tipping into Recession  —  Early last week, ECRI notified clients that the U.S. economy is indeed tipping into a new recession.  And there's nothing that policy makers can do to head it off.  —  ECRI's recession call isn't based on just one or two leading indexes …

NEIN, NEIN, NEIN, and the death of EU Fiscal Union  —  Judging by the commentary, there has been a colossal misunderstanding around the world of what has just has happened in Germany.  The significance of yesterday's vote by the Bundestag to make the EU's €440bn rescue fund (EFSF) more flexible is not that the outcome was a “Yes”.

The Limits of Empathy  —  We are surrounded by people trying to make the world a better place.  Peace activists bring enemies together so they can get to know one another and feel each other's pain.  School leaders try to attract a diverse set of students so each can understand what it's like to walk in the others' shoes.

Gingrich: Same-sex marriage is a ‘temporary aberration’  —  Gingrich today in Fort Dodge.  Fort Dodge, Ia.  - Same-sex marriage is a temporary aberration that will dissipate, Newt Gingrich said here today.  —  “I believe that marriage is between a man and woman,” Gingrich said.