Ann Romney's Birthday Party to Be Hosted by a Dude Arrested for Barbecuing a Dog [Mitt Romney]  —  Presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who once strapped his dog to the roof of the family station wagon before embarking on a road trip, has again chosen to thumb his nose at the all-important dog vote …

Americans Favor “Buffett Rule” by 60% to 37%  —  Majorities of Democrats, independents in favor; Republicans opposed  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Six in 10 Americans favor Congress' passing the so-called “Buffett Rule,” which would mandate a minimum 30% tax rate for Americans with a household income of $1 million or more per year.

“I Despise These People”  —  Some of you may recall that two years ago Republican U.S. Sen. Bob Bennett of Utah was unceremoniously dumped at a state GOP convention, not even qualifying for his party's primary.  This was in many respects the high point of Tea Party Fever in 2010 …

If Health Insurance Mandates Are Unconstitutional, Why Did the Founding Fathers Back Them?  —  In making the legal case against Obamacare's individual mandate, challengers have argued that the framers of our Constitution would certainly have found such a measure to be unconstitutional.

U.S. Secret Service agents recalled from Colombia  —  The U.S. Secret Service is investigating allegations of misconduct by agents who had been sent to Cartagena, Colombia, to provide security for President Obama's trip to a summit that began there Friday.  —  Edwin Donovan, an agency spokesman …

Romney no straight shooter on NRA  —  When it comes to gun rights, Mitt Romney is anything but a straight shooter.  And when the presumptive Republican nominee speaks to the National Rifle Association's annual convention on Friday, he's going to have a tough time explaining …

Morning Jay: Obama's Troubled Reelection Strategy  —  Karl Rove had a spot-on column in the Wall Street Journal yesterday.  He wrote, in part: … Exactly.  If I had to offer a brief summary of Obama's campaign strategy this year, it would be this:  —  Clearly, this is not an ideal strategy, for any candidate.

Where's the ‘Probable Cause’?  —  The charges brought against George Zimmerman sure look like prosecutorial misconduct.  The case as put forward by the prosecutor in the “affidavit of probable cause” is startlingly weak.  As a former chief economist at the U.S. Sentencing Commission …

The “War on Women” Is Over  —  The life cycle of a political talking point, from birth to adolescence to death.  —  A moment of silence, please, for a talking point that was taken too soon.  The “war on women” began its life in a February 2011 House speech about abortion.

GSA official to take the Fifth  —  The General Services Administration official tasked with organizing a now-infamous $822,000 Las Vegas conference plans to invoke his Fifth Amendment rights ahead of a scheduled Monday grilling on the Hill.  —  On Thursday, House Oversight …

Newark Mayor Cory Booker taken to hospital after rescuing woman from house fire  —  NEWARK — Newark Mayor Cory Booker was taken to a hospital tonight for treatment of smoke inhalation he suffered trying to rescue his next-door neighbors from their burning house.

Tennessee Senate Approves Bill To Warn Students That Hand-Holding Is A ‘Gateway Sexual Activity’  —  Like any state legislature dealing with 8 percent unemployment and thousands of its residents facing disenfranchisement, the Tennessee Senate is targeting the menace of underage hand-holding.

Shovel Ready in San Fran: $205,075 to ‘Translocate’ One Shrub from Path of Stimulus Project  —  (CNSNews.com) — The government spent at least $205,075 in 2010 to “translocate” a single bush in San Francisco that stood in the path of a $1.045-billion highway-renovation project that was partially funded …

Six Rules for Dining Out  —  How a frugal economist finds the perfect lunch  —  A BAD OR MEDIOCRE meal is more than just an unpleasant taste, it is an unnecessary negation of one of life's pleasures—a wasted chance to refine our palates, learn about the world, and share a rewarding experience.

Mystery donor gives $10 million to Crossroads GPS group to run anti-Obama ads  —  An anonymous donor has given $10 million to run ads attacking President Obama and his policies, escalating the money race that is defining the 2012 presidential campaign.  And in the new, free-wheeling environment …