Mitt Romney's 'Obama Isn't Working' Banner Evokes Racial Stereotypes  —  Presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney rolled out a new accessory at a speech in Ohio today, delivering his remarks in front of a black banner that said “Obama Isn't Working,” which is also the name …

Secret Service supervisors involved in Colombia scandal identified  —  One of the Secret Service supervisors who was forced out of the agency this week for his involvement in the Colombia prostitution scandal made light of his official protective work on his Facebook page …

Brian Schweitzer: Mitt Romney's ‘Family Came From a Polygamy Commune in Mexico’  —  Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer says Mitt Romney's roots in Mexico will hurt him with female voters.  —  The Daily Beast contacted the office of Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer today to talk about whether his state …

Democrats Joining G.O.P. on Pipeline  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama is finding himself increasingly boxed in on the Keystone pipeline fight as more Congressional Democrats are joining Republicans in backing the project, which has strong labor support and could generate significant numbers of jobs in economically hard-hit states.

Romney meets with RNC leaders, campaign finance reports due, plus more to watch for this weekend in politics  —  Mitt Romney speaks in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Friday at the Republican National Committee meeting of state party chairmen.  He also is meeting privately with RNC members before the speech.

CAMPAIGN AGAINST JON STEWART BEGINS  —  Catholic League president Bill Donohue comments as follows:  —  Jon Stewart refused to apologize last night for the unprecedented assault on Christian sensibilities he launched on April 16.  In that episode, “The Daily Show” featured a naked woman …

Pelosi: Amend the First Amendment  —  (CNSNews.com) - House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday endorsed a movement announced by other congressional Democrats on Wednesday to ratify an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would allow Congress to regulate political speech when it is engaged …

Fears Rise That Recovery May Falter in the Spring  —  WASHINGTON — Some of the same spoilers that interrupted the recovery in 2010 and 2011 have emerged again, raising fears that the winter's economic strength might dissipate in the spring.  —  In recent weeks, European bond yields have started climbing.

Democrats expressing buyers' remorse on Obama's healthcare law  —  An increasing number of Democrats are taking potshots at President Obama's healthcare law ahead of a Supreme Court decision that could overturn it.  —  The public grievances have come from centrists and liberals and reflect rising anxiety ahead of November's elections.

Manchin on the Fence About Obama Vote  —  Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., who has done more than any other Democrat up for reelection this year to distance himself from President Obama, said he does not know if he will vote for Obama or presumptive GOP nominee Mitt Romney in November.

The Questionable Prosecution of  —  John Edwards  —  John Edwards, the Dorian Gray of the Democratic party, is one of the most loathsome characters in American politics, corrupt himself and a source of corruption in others, a preening, moralizing fraud who went so far as to have a staffer claim paternity …

Ted Nugent booted from Fort Knox concert line up  —  Fort Knox  —  The artist lineup for the Fort Knox annual summer concert scheduled for June 23 no longer includes right-wing rocker Ted Nugent.  —  Co-headliners REO Speedwagon and Styx remain scheduled to perform.

Levon Helm, Drummer and Rough-Throated Singer for the Band, Dies at 71  —  Levon Helm, who helped to forge a deep-rooted American music as the drummer and singer for the Band, died on Thursday in Manhattan.  He was 71 and lived in Woodstock, N.Y.  —  His death, at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center …

Cameron and the civil service coup  —  We thought CoffeeHousers might care to read James's political column from this week's magazine (on sale today), so here it is:  —  There is a split in the Cameron circle.  The divide is between those who think that the problems of the past few weeks have been a blip …

Misinformation campaign targets USA TODAY reporter, editor  —  WASHINGTON - A USA TODAY reporter and editor investigating Pentagon propaganda contractors have themselves been subjected to a propaganda campaign of sorts, waged on the Internet through a series of bogus websites.  —  Sponsored Links

Crossroads groups raise $100M  —  American Crossroads, the pro-Republican super PAC co-founded by Karl Rove, and its nonprofit affiliate Crossroads GPS, will announce $100 million raised for both so far through the 2012 cycle, officials told POLITICO.  —  The cash haul runs through all of 2011 …

From Hope to Hardball  —  How Barack Obama became Bill Clinton.  —  Though it was obvious to almost no one at the time, Thursday, April 5, may have certified a momentous change in contemporary politics.  It was that day when Republican National Committee (RNC) Chairman Reince Priebus …