Dukakis, Kerry ... Romney?  —  Remember Michael Dukakis (1988) and John Kerry (2004)?  It's possible to lose a winnable presidential election to a vulnerable incumbent in the White House (or in the case of 1988, a sitting vice president).  So, speaking of losing candidates from Massachusetts …

Obamacare Is A Major Tax Cut For Middle Class Families  —  Following the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act ruling, Republicans — including Mitt Romney — have vigorously insisted that the Affordable Care Act is a tax on the American people.  But instead of being a tax increase …

Alabama Pastor Holds ‘Whites Only’ Conference  —  All loving Christians are invited to celebrate the word of God at Rev. William Collier's annual conference — that is, as long and they are white.  —  Collier's Alabama town is outraged over the flyer for his pastors' conference, which specifies “All White Christians Invited.”

Obama: Health care law ‘is here to stay’  —  MAUMEE, Ohio — President Obama said that repealing his signature health care law is not an option.  —  “I'll work with anybody who wants to work with me to continue to improve our health care system and our health care laws …

Why the Soda Ban Won't Work  —  Michael Bloomberg , Childhood Obesity , New York Politics , Bloomberg Soda Ban , Soda Ban , New York News  —  There are few who would criticize Mayor Bloomberg for working towards the goal of a healthier New York.  Unfortunately, there are many who would …

Office says Rep. Jackson being treated for ‘physical and emotional ailments’ … Staff report  —  A week after U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. announced he was taking a leave of absence, his office released a statement today saying his condition is “more serious than initially believed” and he is being treated in an “in-patient facility.”

What This Higgs Boson Thing Really Means  —  As you may have heard, there is now strong evidence that a particle called the Higgs boson, whose existence has long been predicted on theoretical grounds, actually exists.  —  Let me explain to you what the Higgs boson is.  —  Just kidding!

Americans See More Economic Harm Than Good in Health Law  —  Independents help tilt the balance to the negative  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans are more likely to say the 2010 healthcare law upheld by the Supreme Court last week will hurt the national economy (46%) rather than help it (37%) …

UPDATED: Brad Pitt's Mother DID Write Anti-Gay Letter  —  UPDATE (4:30 PM): The Springfield News-Leader has changed its story again, including deleting the Opinion Page editor's previous comment.  According to a new editorial note posted on the letter:

Agents stir outcry by detaining former Arizona Gov. Raul Castro, 96  —  Ex-governor had trace of medical radiation  —  The wife and a friend of former Arizona Gov. Raul Castro are calling for changes in Border Patrol procedures after agents recently detained the frail 96-year-old in 100-degree heat for more than a half-hour.

Libya elections: Muslim Brotherhood set to lead government  —  Libya's top politicians have hatched a deal that would see the Muslim Brotherhood lead the government after the country's first free elections in almost five decades takes place on Sunday.  —  Jamie Dettmer in Tripoli

Judge: George Zimmerman's new bond $1 million  —  A Sanford judge today ordered George Zimmerman, the Neighborhood Watch volunteer who shot and killed Trayvon Martin, an unarmed 17-year-old, released on $1 million bail.  —  It was not immediately clear how long it would take the 28-year-old Zimmerman to arrange his release.

Allen West Called a “Bought Mother F*cker”  —  After finishing his recitation of the Declaration of Independence during the city of Delray Beach's Independence Day festivities, Congressman Allen West was verbally accosted in front of a small group of constituents and media.

In California, immigration bill designed as the “anti-Arizona”  —  (Reuters) - While America's debate over immigration has been dominated recently by crackdowns in states like Arizona and Alabama, California legislators are trying to turn that tide with a bill to protect illegal immigrants that they dub the “anti-Arizona.”

HBO Not Proceeding With Fox News' Roger Ailes TV Movie Produced By MSNBC Rivals: “CNN Affiliation” Cited As The Reason  —  EXCLUSIVE: I scooped yesterday that HBO had done a secret deal for an Untitled Roger Ailes Project being eecutive produced by Fox News rivals from MSNBC.

John Stossel Panhandles To Prove 'You Really Shouldn't Give To These Street People'  —  Fox Business Network host John Stossel appeared on Fox & Friends on Thursday to promote an upcoming segment on his program where he dresses like a homeless man and panhandles on the streets of New York.

The Most Sensible Tax of All  —  ON Sunday, the best climate policy in the world got even better: British Columbia's carbon tax — a tax on the carbon content of all fossil fuels burned in the province — increased from $25 to $30 per metric ton of carbon dioxide, making it more expensive to pollute.

Romney's VP Short List: It May Be Down to Four  —  Mitt Romney may be tight-lipped about his vice presidential short list, warning that only he and longtime aide Beth Myers know who is on it, but a close examination of the campaign's activity suggests four contenders have risen through the ranks …