Edward Snowden leaves airport and enters Russia after authorities grant him temporary asylum  —  MOSCOW — National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden left transit zone of a Moscow airport and entered Russia after authorities granted him temporary asylum, his lawyer said Thursday.

Why Rand Paul and Chris Christie went to war  —  Well, that was a splendid little war.  —  Over the last week, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul took the GOP's intra-party bickering to a new level, openly savaging each other on issues of national security, privacy and government spending.

GOP's Long-Predicted Comeuppance Has Arrived  —  Republicans have dealt with some embarrassing moments on the House floor over the past year, but none so revealing or damning as today's snafu, when they yanked a bill to fund the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development.

Bob Filner's attorney says San Diego is at fault for mayor's behavior  —  Revelation found in newly released document  —  SAN DIEGO - The attorney for San Diego Mayor Bob Filner placed “some responsibility and potential liability on the City of San Diego” for accusations of sexual harassment …

Democrats Using Voting Rights Issues to Protect Senate Majority  —  To hold Southern Senate seats, Democrats need blacks to show up and vote without Obama on the ballot.  Enter Eric Holder.  —  Without President Obama's name on the ballot, Democrats and civil rights leaders increasingly view voting rights …

Detroit's death by democracy  —  In 1860, an uneasy Charles Darwin confided in a letter to a friend: “I had no intention to write atheistically” but “I cannot persuade myself that a beneficent and omnipotent God would have designedly created the Ichneumonidae with the express intention …

Hillary Clinton's 2008 slaps still sting President Obama  —  “Friendship” was the main course during Hillary Clinton's lunch with President Barack Obama this week, according to an Obama spokesman, but no one could have blamed Clinton for ordering a small side of I-told-you-so.

Alison Lundergan Grimes holds slim lead over Mitch McConnell, according to Democratic pollster ***UPDATED***  —  For what may be the first time in U.S. Sen. Mitch McConnell's long Senate career, a Democratic poll shows him trailing a challenger.  —  The poll, conducted by Public Policy Polling …

MLB prepared to ban A-Rod for life, suspend eight others  —  Commissioner Bud Selig is prepared to levy a lifetime suspension on New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez, while suspending about eight others before the weekend, two people with knowledge of the negotiations told USA TODAY Sports.

Apple's Next iPad Mini Will Likely Have ‘Retina’ Display From Samsung  —  TAIPEI—Apple Inc.'s suppliers are gearing up for mass production of a new iPad mini in the fourth quarter that will likely feature a high-resolution screen from Samsung, people familiar with the matter say …

Obama says poor relatives keep his kids grounded  —  (CNN) - Their home has its own bowling alley, movie theatre, and chef.  —  But while living in the White House could leave Sasha and Malia Obama with a distorted sense of how Americans live, their father says he's always conveying …

R.I.P. DOGHOUSE RILEY.  —  As Lance Mannion said today, “Weird this internet world we've built.  Didn't know Doghouse but feel like we've lost a old colleague with an office just down the hall.”  After I got over the shock of hearing Doghouse Riley, aka Douglas Case of Indiana, was dead …

All This Inequality Talk Does Nothing for the Poor  —  Like any immigrant, I'm optimistic about the U.S. The crash will recede, confidence will come back and stronger growth will resume.  The zeal of ordinary Americans to work hard and prosper will prevail over the weary incompetence of the political class.

Old Glory daze stings  —  His name is Billy Eisengrein, better known as the third firefighter on the right.  —  On Sept. 11, 2001, Billy stood amid the wreckage of Ground Zero when he spotted two firefighters.  One held in his hand a miracle: a large, unscathed American flag.

In Surprise Move, NRA Remains Neutral On Nomination Of ATF Director  —  The National Rifle Association confirmed Tuesday that it would remain neutral in the confirmation of Todd Jones to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, giving Jones a big boost in winning Senate approval …