President Obama Won't Balance Budget ‘Just for the Sake of Balance’  —  In an exclusive interview with ABC News, President Obama rejected calls to balance the federal budget in the next ten years and instead argued that his primary economic concern was not balancing the budget, but rather growing the economy.

Senate Democrats pepper Obama with questions on entitlements  —  Liberal Democrats challenged President Obama on Tuesday over his willingness to cut Social Security benefits.  —  At a meeting that lasted just less than 90 minutes, Obama was peppered by questions from Sens. Tom Harkin …

George P. Bush running for Texas land commissioner  —  AUSTIN — George Prescott Bush filed the official paperwork Tuesday to run for Texas land commissioner next year, hoping to use a little-known but powerful post to continue his family's political dynasty in one of the country's most-conservative states.

The troubling things I learned when I re-reported Bob Woodward's book on John Belushi.  —  John Belushi in Animal House, 1978 Courtesy of Universal Pictures  —  A little more than a week ago, during an interview with Politico, Bob Woodward came forward to claim he'd been threatened in an email by a …

Ukrainian Attack Dolphins on the Loose  —  If you're swimming in the Black Sea, beware dolphins with weapons strapped to their heads.  —  flickr/mr_t_in_dc  —  Dolphin scientist Justin Gregg brings us this slightly disturbing, if hilarious, bit of Delphic news.

Sources: NRA won't oppose background check deal - if Democrats cede tough records fight  —  Senators negotiating a bill mandating background checks for all gun buyers are privately expecting the National Rifle Association not to fight the measure — provided the legislation does …

See the Adams Morgan Sinkhole  —  The message from AlertDC was pretty ominous: “MPD reports a large sink hole in the 1900 block of Biltmore Street NW.  The sink hole is described as 25 feet deep and expanding from east to west.  Biltmore Street is closed between 19th Street and Cliffbourne Pl NW.

Corbett in dire shape for reelection  —  Tom Corbett- already among the country's most unpopular Governors- has seen his position worsen considerably over the last two months.  Only 33% of voters now approve of his job performance, compared to 58% who disapprove.

Ayotte in middle of Paul-McCain fight  —  Ayotte has quickly gained prominence partnering on defense issues with Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), replacing former Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) in a group commonly referred to as “The Three Amigos.”

FRC: No Right to Have Sex Outside of Marriage, Society Should ‘Punish It’  —  Family Research Council senior fellow Pat Fagan appeared alongside Tony Perkins, the head of FRC, on Washington Watch yesterday to discuss his article which claims that Eisenstadt v. Baird, the 1972 case that overturned …

Are the Koch Brothers Trying to Buy the Los Angeles Times?  —  The latest rumor about the next owner of the L.A. Times, which is for sale, is a doozy.  A bombshell.  It's a doozy wrapped in a bombshell exploding inside a Drudge siren.  —  Multiple sources tell L.A. Weekly that Charles and David Koch …

How Bill Clinton Inspired The 47 Percent Filmmaker  —  WASHINGTON — Bill Clinton won the presidential election for Barack Obama.  But it wasn't his masterful Democratic National Convention speech or the advice he offered the president's reelection campaign.

chris huhne ridiculed on his first day in wandsworth jail  —  Shamed MP Huhne mocked by warder in jail Tannoy prank  —  DISGRACED MP Chris Huhne was ridiculed on his first day in Wandsworth jail yesterday — when a warder called him to breakfast by yelling: “Order!  Order!”

State Rep. Says Robocalls About Taking ‘Homosexual Money’ Are Offensive  —  CHICAGO — A conservative Chicago-based political action committee is telling Downstate voters to ask a legislator to vote against the proposed marriage equality bill, saying children raised by same-sex couples will “never know their real parents.”

Anger at ‘U-turn’ over minimum alcohol pricing  —  The minimum pricing plan is aimed at heavily discounted drinks sold in shops and supermarkets  —  Health campaigners have reacted angrily to reports that plans for minimum pricing of alcohol in England and Wales may be dropped.

Politics by Intimidation  —  Three days before the December massacre in Newtown, Conn., a 22-year-old gunman named Jacob Tyler Roberts opened fire at the Clackamas Town Center, a suburban shopping mall in Portland, Ore. He killed two people before killing himself, though it could have been much worse.