Paul Ryan's Tax Math Just Became More Magical  —  Paul Ryan's latest budget relies on even bigger unnamed savings  —  There's something breathtaking about any Paul Ryan budget.  There are the savage cuts to healthcare and safety-net spending for the young and poor.  The deep cuts to education, research, and infrastructure.

Transcript: President Obama's Exclusive Interview With George Stephanopoulos  —  GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:  —  Mr. President, thank you for doing this.  —  PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA:  —  It's great to be here.  —  GEORGE STEPHANOPOULOS:  —  So, you've done all meetings on Capitol Hill …

CPAC muddle mirrors GOP mess  —  It's not hard to make fun of CPAC.  From the presence of Donald Trump to a meaningless straw poll to a cavalcade of fringe-dwelling book merchants, the event has become more carnival than conservative salon.  —  What is more notable about this year's rendition …

House Republicans offer bill to withhold Obama's salary when budget is late  —  House Republicans introduced legislation on Tuesday that would withhold President Obama's salary any time he's late submitting a budget proposal to Congress.  —  The bill from Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) …

Florida Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll resigns  —  Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll has resigned.  —  The resignation comes two days after Florida Department of Law Enforcement officers interviewed Carroll about her involvement with Allied Veterans of the World, a non-profit that operates internet cafes in Florida.

2016 Hillary-Michelle ‘Dream Ticket’ floated … Hillary Clinton hasn't stepped into the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries yet and there's already buzz growing for the ultimate grrl power ticket: Clinton and first lady Michelle Obama.  —  “All due respect for President Obama and Vice President Biden …

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.

Where the Sun Don't Shine  —  President Obama promised transparency and open government.  He failed miserably.  So why do Washington watchdog groups look the other way?  —  President Obama has failed to deliver on few promises as miserably as his vow to create a more transparent and open government.

Mitt Romney's niece latest to study run for Levin's seat after Scott Romney bows out  —  Washington — A Romney could be on the ticket for the 2014 Senate race, but it won't be Mitt's brother.  —  Ronna Romney McDaniel, granddaughter of former Michigan Gov. George Romney, said she's …

Missed chance: Obama's tax problem  —  President Obama faces huge, and probably insurmountable, obstacles to reviving a grand bargain — none higher and more difficult to overcome than his decision to increase taxes by $600 billion in December.  —  At the time, Obama claimed victory …

Obama's approval drops as Americans take a dimmer view of his economic policies  —  The afterglow of President Obama's reelection and inauguration appears to have vanished as increasingly negative views among Americans about his stewardship of the economy have forced his public approval rating …

AP Exclusive: Applying for health care not easy  —  Associated Press/J. David Ake - A draft copy of the 21-page of a Health and Human Services Department form proposed for use to apply for low-cost insurance from Medicaid or the Children's Health Insurance Program ...more

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!”

Source: Keith Olbermann Settling $50 Million Current TV Lawsuit (Exclusive)  —  A deal is said to have been reached during a private mediation session in San Francisco on Tuesday.  Terms will not be released.  —  Keith Olbermann  —  Keith Olbermann has resolved the $50 million legal dispute …

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 …

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.

The Law Graduate Debt Disaster Goes Critical  —  Last year I wrote about the quickly exploding law graduate debt disaster.  It is getting worse, much worse.  In 2010, only 4 law schools had graduates with average debt in excess of $135,000; in 2011, 17 law schools did.

The United States' Long-Term Debt Problem Isn't as Bad as You Thought  —  In recent years we have been repeatedly warned that the federal government is on track to accumulate an unsustainable amount of debt over the next several decades.  This debt, we've been told, will eventually crush …