White House warns of $1,600 tax hike on 114M middle-class families  —  The White House has launched a new offensive in its fight with congressional Republicans over taxes, arguing 114 million middle-class families will see their taxes rise without action by Congress.

Feinstein: Someone at White House is behind recent intel leaks  —  Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Monday that someone at the White House was responsible for the recent leaks of classified information.  —  “I think the White House …

The Divine Miss M  —  What I find most fascinating about Michele Bachmann — and there are many, many more where she came from — is that she presents herself as a godly woman, humbly devoted to her Christian faith.  I'd like to meet that god, and I'd like to understand that Christianity.

First Female U.S. Astronaut, Sally Ride, Comes Out In Obituary  —  “I hope it makes it easier for kids growing up gay that they know that another one of their heroes was like them,” Sally Ride's sister, Bear Ride, said.  —  Astronaut Sally Ride, mission specialist on STS-7 …

If the first six months don't count...  Mitt Romney sat down with CNBC's Larry Kudlow, and made a curious observation.  He said voters who want a strong economy should vote for him, but Americans “ought to give, whichever president is going to be elected, at least six months or a year to get those policies in place.”

I Know the Congressional Culture of Corruption  —  Congressmen accept donations and solemnly recite their oath of office: My vote is not for sale for a mere contribution.  They are wrong.  —  Though democracy is not perfect, it is certainly the most effective polity; as Winston Churchill averred …

TPMMuckraker  —  Ahead Of Voter ID Trial, Pennsylvania Admits There's No In-Person Voter Fraud  —  As the Justice Department investigates Pennsylvania's voter ID law on the federal level, a coalition of civil rights groups is gearing up for a state trial starting Wednesday examining whether …

How super PACs are saving Mitt Romney  —  Republican-aligned super PACs and other outside conservative groups have spent more than $144 million on general election ads in swing presidential states, a huge outlay of cash that has allowed former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney to not only combat …

Governor Romney: “The Context Is Worse Than The Quote”  —  Location  —  “This is an ideology which says hey, we're all the same here, we ought to take from all and give to one another and that achievement, individual initiative and risk-taking and success are not to be rewarded as they have in the past.

Actor slaps and fells female host, denounces Israelis, in Egyptian TV ‘prank’ gone wrong  —  Second guest in Al-Nahar candid camera fiasco declares he ‘hates the Jews to death’  —  Two Egyptian actors, “pranked” by an Egyptian TV station over the weekend into thinking that they were being interviewed …

Ice-T Defends Gun Rights: “The Last Form Of Defense Against Tyranny”  —  Ice-T: Well, I'll give up my gun when everybody does.  Doesn't that make sense?  If there were guns here, would you want to be the only person without one?  —  Krishnan Guru-Murthy, anchor, Channel 4 News: So do you carry guns routinely at home?

Obama Fights Back Against 'You Didn't Build That' Attacks  —  Ten days after Mitt Romney turned President Obama's remarks about public investment in infrastructure into an attack on the president's support for American free enterprise system, Team Obama is finally pushing back.

Philadelphia Church Official Sentenced to at Least 3 Years in Prison  —  PHILADELPHIA — Msgr.  William J. Lynn, the first Roman Catholic official in the United States to be convicted of covering up sexual abuses by priests under his supervision, was sentenced to three to six years in prison on Tuesday.

Rep. Jackson Lee will seek meeting with NRA about response to Colo. shootings  —  Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) said late Monday that she would seek a meeting with the National Rifle Association (NRA) to see if there are any ways to find an agreement on how to prevent tragedies …

Mindy Meyer's ‘State Senate Campaign’ Website Explodes On Twitter, Is Truly Awful  —  On Monday afternoon, the Twitter-verse came alive after a campaign website by Republican state senate candidate in New York's 21st district went viral.  Her site, complete with sparkly letters that let visitors know …

Legislator pulled gun during road incident  —  Shea charged with having a loaded pistol  —  A Spokane Valley legislator pulled a gun during a confrontation with another motorist last November in what police reports describe as a road rage incident.  He was cited for two violations of state firearms law.

George and Laura Bush Drop by Romney HQ  —  Mitt Romney's campaign staff in Boston got an unexpected pep talk this morning when former President George W. Bush and his wife Laura stopped by.  —  In Boston visiting a charter school, the Bushes were introduced by Ann Romney and greeted …

Cuomo Is Editing His Years as State Attorney General  —  ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration, already drawing attention for its focus on secrecy, has now begun editing his record as New York attorney general, sending aides to the state archives to remove key documents from public view.