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.

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 …

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.

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

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.

Obama looking for way to resume White House tours for school groups  —  President Obama said his administration was looking at ways to resume White House tours for school groups.  —  “This was not a decision that went up to the White House,” noted Obama in an ABC News interview aired on Wednesday …

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.

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!”

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.”

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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.”