Candy Crowley Oozes Sympathy for Steubenville Rapists  —  Shortly after the guilty verdict in the Steubenville rape case was announced, Candy Crowley took to the airwaves to report it and connect with their reporter on the ground for more details.  Her lead-in to the remote shot was shameful.

Karl Rove Swipes Sarah Palin For Leaving Office Mid-Term  —  On “Fox News Sunday,” Karl Rove responded to Sarah Palin's declaration at CPAC that Republican consultants who “keep losing elections” need to either “buck up” and run for office or “stay in the truck.”

Carson seen as fresh face among conservative leaders  —  (CNN) - Neurosurgeon Ben Carson, a new favorite in conservative circles, wouldn't say Sunday where he stood on the political spectrum, but said his opinions resonate with both parties.  —  “I think basically what I've been talking about …

Sen. Rand Paul introduces ‘fetal personhood’ bill to outlaw abortion  —  Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) on Friday introduced so-called “fetal personhood” legislation that would completely outlaw abortion in the United States.  —  The Life at Conception Act would declare that human life began at conception …

10 years later, many see Iraq War as costly mistake  —  The U.S. suffered more than 4,480 deaths and 32,000 wounded during the Iraq War, which opened 10 years ago this week.  —  WASHINGTON — A U.S.-led coalition attacked Iraq with “shock and awe” 10 years ago this week …

In defense of GOP consultants: It's the candidates' fault … If there was any villain at the just-completed Conservative Political Action Conference, it was the generic figure of the Republican political consultant.  Overpaid, unprincipled, always on the lookout for the next client …

States to feds: Hands off our guns  —  A growing number of states are moving forward with legislation to exempt them from new federal gun controls and, in some cases, brand as criminals anyone who tries to enforce them.  —  While many of the bills are considered symbolic or appear doomed to fail …

GOP Senator: Republicans Are Open To Tax Increases In Grand Bargain  —  Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) believes Senate Republicans would be open to increasing revenue through tax reform as part of a “grand bargain” to reduce the deficit.  During an appearance on Fox News Sunday …

When The GOP Told Whitey I Aint Gonna Take It No More  —  Yesterday, a CPAC breakout session on reaching out to black voters broke down in shouting and acrimony as a handful of ‘disenfranchised whites’ attacked the premise of the session (along with black complaints about slaveholders) …

Venezuela's Maduro urges Obama to halt “plot” against rival  —  * Maduro faces opposition rival in April 14 election  —  Venezuela's acting president urged U.S. leader Barack Obama to stop what he called a plot by the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency to kill his opposition rival …

Cops: Pa. Guard Shot Finger Trying to Remove Wedding Ring During Fight  —  PITTSBURGH (AP) — A federal prison guard has been charged with shooting his own finger in a drunken attempt to remove his wedding ring during an argument with his wife at their northwestern Pennsylvania home, police said.

The Internet is a surveillance state  —  Editor's note: Bruce Schneier is a security technologist and author of “Liars and Outliers: Enabling the Trust Society Needs to Survive.”  —  (CNN) — I'm going to start with three data points.  —  One: Some of the Chinese military hackers …

Cyprus' savers bear brunt of unprecedented bailout  —  (Reuters) - The euro zone agreed on Saturday to hand Cyprus a bailout worth 10 billion euros ($13 billion), but demanded depositors in its banks forfeit some money to stave off bankruptcy despite the risk of a wider run on savings.

Americans' Sympathies for Israel Match All-Time High  —  Republicans, conservatives, older Americans most likely to voice sympathy for Israel  —  PRINCETON, NJ — As President Barack Obama prepares to visit Israel, the Palestinian West Bank, and Jordan next week — his first trip to the region …