Why Ron Paul May Cut a Deal With Mitt Romney  —  Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Ron Paul shake hands before the start of the first 2012 Republican presidential debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, June 13, 2011.  —  For Ron Paul, victory is finally in sight.

Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs  —  TODAY is my last day at Goldman Sachs.  After almost 12 years at the firm — first as a summer intern while at Stanford, then in New York for 10 years, and now in London — I believe I have worked here long enough to understand the trajectory of its culture, its people and its identity.

House Republican Leaders Plan To Renege On Debt Ceiling Deal  —  Last week, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) signaled during an interview with Fox Business that he was open to reneging on the budget deal the GOP crafted with Democrats last year during the debacle over raising the nation's debt ceiling.

How Romney Gave Rick Santorum An Opening In Illinois  —  The frontrunner took his foot off Santorum's neck, and let him on the ballot.  An “unnecessary problem” for the frontrunner, created by his ambitious state chairman.  —  Illinois State Treasurer Dan Rutherford.  —  (AP / M. Spencer Green)

Republicans Losing on Birth Control as 77% in Poll Spurn Debate  —  Americans overwhelmingly regard the debate over President Barack Obama's policy on employer-provided contraceptive coverage as a matter of women's health, not religious freedom, rejecting Republicans' rationale for opposing the rule.

Times nixes anti-Islam ad, runs anti-Catholic ad  —  Executives at The New York Times have rejected a full-page anti-Islam advertisement that mimicked a controversial anti-Catholic advertisement they published on March 9.  —  According to a Mar. 13 letter sent by the Times to the ad's sponsor …

The Villain  —  The left hates him.  The right hates him even more.  But Ben Bernanke saved the economy—and has navigated masterfully through the most trying of times.  —  THE U.S. FEDERAL RESERVE was founded 99 years ago, as a bulwark to the banking system and an antidote to its frequent runs and panics.

Company Puts Obama's, Pelosi's Faces On ‘BastardBlaster’ Shooting Targets  —  Barack Obama , Nancy Pelosi , Sarah Palin , Video , Obama Shooting Target , Palin Shooting Target , Pelosi Shooting Target , Yipe Media , Yipe Media Shooting Targets , Politics News

EXCLUSIVE: CHRIS ROCK ATTACKS CONSERVATIVE AUTHOR OVER TEA PARTY QUESTION  —  The New York Times bestselling author of the explosive new book, Hollywood Hypocrites: The Devastating Truth About Obama's Biggest Backers, Jason Mattera, had his crew's camera snatched and hurled by comedian Chris Rock …

Democrats Accuse Conservative News Outlet Of “Blackmail”  —  The Caller was, perhaps, leaning into the story a bit.  Boyle stands by his warning.  —  The Democratic National Committee is at odds with the conservative Daily Caller over a reporter's threat as to how he would interpret an unreturned email.

U.N. to Investigate Voter I.D. Laws  —  This is really the last straw.  It is time to get out of the United Nations: “UN rights council delves into US voter I.D. laws.” … That isn't treason, but it is disloyal; disgracefully so. … This is hilarious, in a black comedy sort of way:

Exclusive: secret Bashar al-Assad emails lift lid on life of leader's inner circle  —  • Messages show Bashar al-Assad took advice from Iran  —  • Leader made light of promised reforms  —  • Wife spent thousands on jewellery and furniture  —  Bashar al-Assad took advice …

DNC slams Romney pledge to ‘get rid of’ Planned Parenthood funding  —  The DNC released a new Web ad Wednesday blasting Mitt Romney for saying he would “get rid of” federal funding for Planned Parenthood if elected president.  —  “Mitt Romney will say and do anything in his continued race to the far-right …