Half of Americans Support Legal Gay Marriage  —  Democrats and independents in favor; Republicans opposed  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Fifty percent of Americans believe same-sex marriages should be recognized by law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages — down slightly from 53% last year …

Low student loan interest rates in limbo after Democrats' bill stalls in Senate  —  In a 52-45 vote, the Senate on Tuesday rejected a motion to proceed to legislation that would keep interest rates on federal student loans from doubling.  —  Sixty votes were needed to move to a debate on the legislation …

Cruel irony in Elizabeth Warren's Cherokee saga  —  Throughout her career and political campaign, Elizabeth Warren has found victims everywhere she looked, including when she looked in the mirror and saw an alleged descendant of one of the most historically victimized groups, Native Americans.

TPMDC  —  Awkward!  Republicans Who Opposed Auto Bailout Stumped By Romney Claiming Credit For It  —  As long as Mitt Romney publicly claims credit for the auto industry's recovery, he's going to put his fellow Republicans on Capitol Hill in an awkward position.

Maurice Sendak, Children's Author Who Upended Tradition, Dies at 83  —  Maurice Sendak, widely considered the most important children's book artist of the 20th century, who wrenched the picture book out of the safe, sanitized world of the nursery and plunged it into the dark …

RNC official: Romney still deciding position on immigration reform  —  The Republican National Committee attempted to walk back a potentially bruising botched response Tuesday after an official said Mitt Romney is still making up his mind on immigration.  —  “As a candidate, to my understanding …

Presidential Perks: Paying for Carter's postage, Bush's bills, and Clinton's rent  —  Spinners and Winners  —  You could call it welfare for former Presidents.  —  It's a little-noticed part of the federal budget: Each year U.S. taxpayers pick up the tab for the expenses of our former Presidents.

Bank of America Begins “Pay Settlement With Other People's Money” Scheme  —  Bank of America, Charlotte NC (Wikipedia)  —  Bank of America says they have begun mailing notices to their borrowers about principal reduction opportunities under the foreclosure fraud settlement.

International sting operation brought down underwear bomb plot  —  WASHINGTON — The successful blocking of an ambitious Al Qaeda plot to bomb a U.S.-bound airliner was an international sting operation worthy of Hollywood, with spies tricking terrorists into showing their cards.

Mob on the Quad  —  Late last night, in a shameful example of editorial cowardice, the Chronicle of Higher Education fired Naomi Schaefer Riley.  Naomi is a good friend of mine, a sometimes contributor to THE WEEKLY STANDARD, and a fine writer.  And the story of what happened to her is highly instructive.

Three-Way Race: Romney 44%, Obama 39%, Ron Paul 13%  —  Texas Congressman Ron Paul appears more interested in influencing the direction of the Republican Party than in running as an independent presidential candidate.  But perhaps Democrats should be careful what they wish for …

Mitt Romney's new hero: Bill Clinton  —  LANSING, Mich. — Mitt Romney has a new hero on the stump and it's Bill Clinton.  —  In seeking to drive a wedge between centrist and liberal Democrats, Romney spoke here on Tuesday in glowing terms of the Clinton era's balanced budgets and rosy economy.

Unemployment Rate Without Government Cuts: 7.1%  —  One reason the unemployment rate may have remained persistently high: The sharp cuts in state and local government spending in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, and the layoffs those cuts wrought.  —  The Labor Department's establishment survey …

Stephens: To the Class of 2012  —  Attention graduates: Tone down your egos, shape up your minds.  —  Dear Class of 2012:  —  Allow me to be the first one not to congratulate you.  Through exertions that—let's be honest—were probably less than heroic, most of you have spent …

VIDEO: Sacha Baron Cohen's dictator likes Mitt Romney  —  Sacha Baron Cohen, who plays a dictator in his upcoming movie, dressed in character yesterday and told reporters at a press conference that he liked “Mitchell Romney.” … If Santorum were running, though, Cohen …

John Edwards trial: Donor warned Obama campaign  —  GREENSBORO, N.C. — Former Sen. John Edwards's defense suggested Tuesday that he was simply seeking to cover up his extramarital affair and out-of-wedlock child when he told associates and advisers in 2008 that he hoped to be the Democrats …

Coroner: Artist Kinkade death an accident, from overdose of alcohol, Valium  —  Thomas Kinkade's death was an accident and the cause was an overdose of alcohol and Valium, according to an autopsy report issued by the Santa Clara County Medical Examiner's Office.