Robert Menendez donor courted President Obama, Harry Reid  —  Salomon Melgen had a knack for going straight to the top.  —  He posed for pictures with President Barack Obama, flew Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on his private jet and sought advice on a port security deal from an ex-CIA agent …

Religious Right Could Be Left Behind By New Republican Plan  —  Abandoned by the Establishment, beset by libertarians, the base is playing defense.  —  When the great Republican resurrection comes to pass, will conservative Christians be left behind?  —  Some leaders of the religious right …

Sanford advances to GOP runoff in SC House race  —  CHARLESTON, S.C. — Former South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford advanced Tuesday to a runoff in the Republican contest for an open congressional seat, taking a step toward reviving a political career that was derailed by an extramarital affair while he was governor.

Assassination ‘Joke’ Sheriff Doubles Down, Compares Critics To Nazis  —  Plymouth County, MA Sheriff Joe McDonald (R)  —  A day after ThinkProgress and others reported that Joseph D. McDonald, Jr. (R), Sheriff of Plymouth County, Massachusetts, told a “joke” at a Republican St. Patrick's …

Clinton courts alternative to Judd  —  Democratic heavy hitters — including Bill Clinton — are quietly trying to woo a new candidate to jump into the race to unseat Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, even as actress Ashley Judd is taking steps toward launching a star-studded campaign of her own.

G.O.P. Opposition to Immigration Law Is Falling Away  —  WASHINGTON — Republican opposition to legalizing the status of millions of illegal immigrants is crumbling in the nation's capital as leading lawmakers in the party scramble to halt eroding support among Hispanic voters …

South Korea raises alert after hackers attack broadcasters, banks  —  (Reuters) - South Korean authorities were investigating a hacking attack that brought down the servers of three broadcasters and two major banks on Wednesday, and the army raised its alert level due to concerns of North Korean involvement.

Sugary Drinks Linked To 180,000 Annual Deaths Around The World  —  New research finds that the consumption of sugary drinks and sodas contributes to about 180,000 obesity-related deaths around the world — including the deaths of about 25,000 adult Americans — each year.

Bachmann's claim that 70 percent of food stamps go to ‘bureaucrats’  —  “Here's the truth that the president won't tell you.  Of every dollar that you hold in your hands, 70 cents of that dollar that's supposed to go to the poor doesn't.  It actually goes to benefit the bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. — 70 cents on the dollar.

Issa video slams Obama over canceled White House tours  —  House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) is hammering President Obama over cancelled White House tours, with a new video accusing him of failing to take responsibility for the decision.

Angry man takes microphone from KC mayor at speech  —  Mayor Sly James of Kansas City was delivering an upbeat State of the City speech Tuesday when an irate man commandeered the microphone at the Gem Theater.  —  The man was quickly tackled on the stage by bodyguard Marlon Buie and taken to a back area …

Photos contradict Syria's claim of chemical weapon attack, expert says  —  (CNN) — As accusations fly over who may have unleashed chemical weapons in Syria, some are skeptical about whether a chemical assault happened at all.  —  The ruckus centers on an attack Tuesday in Khan al-Asal, in the northern province of Aleppo.

American Withdrawal and Global Disorder  —  As Obama ends U.S. security guarantees, nuclear weapons and violence will spread.  —  Since the days of the Monroe Doctrine, American foreign policy has rested on a global system of explicit or implicit commitments to use military power to guarantee the interests of the U.S. and its allies.

Cyprus's bad haircut day  —  Cyprus has said χι to the idea of taxing deposits: good for them.  And the parliament did so decisively, as well: 36 “no” votes, 19 abstentions, and zero “yes” votes.  Even the president, who initially said that Cyprus had no choice but to say yes …

Family's Home Raided over Facebook Photo of Child's Rifle  —  New Jersey police and Dept. of Children and Families officials raided the home of a firearms instructor and demanded to see his guns after he posted a Facebook photo of his 11-year-old son holding a rifle.  —  FOLLOW TODD ON FACEBOOK FOR CULTURE WAR NEWS.

Bill to legalize, tax marijuana scheduled for legislative hearing  —  SALEM — Marijuana would become legal, and the state would regulate and tax it under a bill under consideration in the Oregon Legislature.  —  House Bill 3371 would allow the production, processing and sale of marijuana and marijuana-infused products.

Westboro Equality House: Aaron Jackson Paints Rainbow Home Across From Anti-Gay Church  —  The Westboro Baptist Church is about to get a big surprise in the form of a new neighbor who plans to give the notoriously anti-gay group a taste of its own medicine.  —  Aaron Jackson …

Pope Francis' Old Colleagues Recall Pragmatic Streak  —  BUENOS AIRES — The very idea was anathema to many of the bishops in the room.  —  Argentina was on the verge of approving gay marriage, and the Roman Catholic Church was desperate to stop that from happening.

Medicare Cost Slowdown Could Close U.S. Budget Gap  —  New evidence that the slowdown in health care costs over the past five years is happening not only because of a weak economy comes from the Economic Report of the President, released last week by the President's Council of Economic Advisers.