Federal judge voids Texas' gay marriage ban, though he delays order from taking effect immediately  —  Mark Phariss of Plano, left, held the hand of partner Victor Holmes, center, as they left the U.S. Federal Courthouse in San Antonio after a hearing earlier this month.

Americans know there's no GOP ‘alternative’ to Obamacare  —  Obamacare is a disaster for Democrats, and a certain winner for Republicans.  That's what we keep hearing, anyway.  —  So why does it look as if the percentage of Americans who favor repeal may have actually shrunk since its rollout problems began?

U.S. REP. CORY GARDNER TO ENTER U.S. SENATE RACE AGAINST MARK UDALL  —  Republican Congressman Cory Gardner is planning to drop his re-election bid and run for the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Udall, a political bombshell that is expected to alter Colorado's political landscape.

Dave Camp: How to Fix Our Appalling Tax Code  —  Every year Americans spend more than six billion hours and $168 billion to file their returns.  —  There have been so many changes to the tax code over the past decade that it is now 10 times the size of the Bible, but with none of the Good News.

Va. GOP official apologizes for genital slang “error”  —  UPDATE: In an email, FitzSimmonds said he thought the word he used had the same meaning as “twaddle,” which is defined as foolish speech.  —  “The minute I found out my error, I deleted the post and apologized,” he told Pilot on Politics.

Despite Rifts, G.O.P. Has Election Edge, Poll Finds  —  Republicans are in a stronger position than Democrats for this year's midterm elections, benefiting from the support of self-described independents, even though the party itself is deeply divided and most Americans agree …

AZ Gov Brewer In Emergency Meetings Over Anti-Gay Bill  —  PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer was holding a series of private meetings Wednesday with opponents and proponents of legislation adding protections for people who assert their religious beliefs in refusing service to gays …

For Marriage Equality, Religious Liberty, and the Freedom of Association  —  Even though I'm for marriage equality - next week I'll be filing a brief supporting the challenge to the marriage laws of Oklahoma and Utah in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit - I have no problem with Arizona's SB 1062.

Rand Paul Blocks Surgeon General Nominee For Saying Gun Violence Is A Public Health Threat  —  On Wednesday — two years to the day after George Zimmerman shot and killed Trayvon Martin — Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) placed a hold on President Barack Obama's nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy …

Adidas to stop selling Brazil World Cup T-shirts that ‘encourage sexual tourism’  —  Sportswear maker to stop selling T-shirts before World Cup after Brazil's ministry of women's affairs said shirts were offensive  —  Adidas agreed on Tuesday to stop selling two raunchy T-shirts months ahead …

Soldier flagrantly avoids flag salute, sets off online outrage  —  A soldier who hid in her car to avoid saluting the flag — and then flaunted it on Instagram — is the latest service member to come under attack via social media and be accused of dishonoring her service.

Planned Parenthood reveals big 2014 game plan  —  The political arm of Planned Parenthood is preparing to launch its largest campaign offensive ever, targeting more than a dozen states and some of the cycle's top Senate and gubernatorial races to raise the alarm about the stakes …

Eric Holder: Actually, somebody does have to defend gay marriage bans  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL GAY MARRIAGE ERIC HOLDER ATTORNEY GENERAL GAY RIGHTS LAW  —  Attorney General Eric Holder stunned and disappointed many conservative lawyers with his decree that state attorneys general …

Stretch run for Obamacare  —  Four million down.  Two million to go.  Five weeks to get it done.  —  Obamacare enrollment in a nutshell.  —  The White House announced late Tuesday that sign-ups in the federal- and state-run Obamacare insurance exchanges had surpassed the psychologically significant 4 million mark.

In Mississippi, 72% of the Babies Aborted Are Black  —  (CNSNews.com) - Although whites outnumber blacks in Mississippi by nearly 2-to-1, 71.67% of the babies aborted in Mississippi are black, while 26.6% are white.  —  Based on data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention …

Concealed-weapons laws have changed America regardless of national debate on gun control  —  BELTWAY CONFIDENTIAL GUN CONTROL SUPREME COURT  —  Over the last 25 years, we have had related national debates over proposed federal gun-control laws designed to restrict access to certain firearms.

“Just a Flesh Wound”  —  I wish I had a better story to tell you about why I am typing this with one hand (and some help from Dragon Dictate).  —  A shark attack would be interesting.  An assassination attempt would be intriguing.  Skydiving mishaps always make for good copy.

Bring back the real neoconservatives  —  Confessions of a bona fide neocon, circa 1976  —  I  —  n recent weeks, readers have asked me a cluster of questions about the positions I've staked out in my recent columns.  The questions go something like this: How can you think that Lyndon Johnson …