Obama quietly tries to shore up Senate support for public option  —  The president has backed off from vocally supporting the idea of government-run healthcare, but he's working to build a coalition of supporters.  The challenge: Find a version that can pass.

Barack Obama furious at General Stanley McChrystal speech on Afghanistan  —  The relationship between President Barack Obama and the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan has been put under severe strain by Gen Stanley McChrystal's comments on strategy for the war.

GOP leaders to Steele: Back off  —  GOP leaders, in a private meeting last month, delivered a blunt and at times heated message to RNC Chairman Michael Steele: quit meddling in policy.  —  The plea was made during what was supposed to be a routine discussion about polling matters …

The Politics of Spite  —  There was what President Obama likes to call a teachable moment last week, when the International Olympic Committee rejected Chicago's bid to be host of the 2016 Summer Games.  —  “Cheers erupted” at the headquarters of the conservative Weekly Standard …

The story of the stimulus  —  I read the Ryan Lizza piece on Larry Summers with a great sense of relief.  It turns out that in talking to Ryan, I managed to say almost nothing worth quoting — which is, in these circumstances, very much the goal.  (If I have something controversial to say …

Petraeus For President!  (12 Months Late)  —  It's certainly true that Washington was abuzz with the idea of the GOP trying to recruit General David Petraeus as a 2012 presidential candidate, but as I recall that was 12-18 months ago so I'm a bit puzzled to see it put at the heart …

ROVE FOR RUBIO  —  From NBC's Chuck Todd  —  Over the past few weeks, Florida GOP Gov. Charlie Crist has found himself being put on the defensive more and more in the primary thanks to the challenge by ex-state House Speaker Marco Rubio.  While Crist has financially overwhelmed Rubio to date …

Criminalizing everyone  —  Needed: A ‘clean line’ to determine lawfulness  —  “You don't need to know.  You can't know.”  That's what Kathy Norris, a 60-year-old grandmother of eight, was told when she tried to ask court officials why, the day before, federal agents had subjected her home to a furious search.

Why Rupert Murdoch Will Fire Glenn Beck  —  Rupert Murdoch is a smart man.  In the U.K, Murdoch aligns his newspapers with the popular political party and helps them enact their policies by giving them favorable coverage.  For the past 12 years, he supported the Labour Party.

FTC Publishes Final Guides Governing Endorsements, Testimonials  —  Changes Affect Testimonial Advertisements, Bloggers, Celebrity Endorsements  —  The Federal Trade Commission today announced that it has approved final revisions to the guidance it gives to advertisers on how to keep …

Ahmadinejad has no Jewish roots  —  Rumours that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's family converted to Islam from Judaism are false.  In fact, they are proud Shias  —  In June 2005, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's meteoric rise from mayor of Tehran to president of one of the most influential countries in the Middle East took everyone by surprise.

You Can't Say That  —  At the UN, the Obama administration backs limits on free speech.  —  The Obama administration has marked its first foray into the UN human rights establishment by backing calls for limits on freedom of expression.  The newly-minted American policy was rolled …

Some Republican Ideas for Health Care Reform  —  A majority of so-called Republican strategists believe that health care is a Democratic issue.  They are wrong; health care is an American issue, and the Republican Party has an opportunity to demonstrate that conservative principles work when applied to real-world problems.

Obama to Address Gay Rights Organization  —  President Obama will speak to a gathering of gay rights activists this weekend, a day before thousands of people are expected to march on Washington in a demonstration calling for greater legal protections for gays, lesbians and transgendered Americans.

SHEILA JOHNSON'S PARTY FOUL  —  At a rally for Bob McDonnell's campaign, Sheila Johnson mock-stutters when talking about Bob's “o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-opponent” Creigh Deeds.  When Bob comes up to speak he says nothing.  —  Pathetic.  We deserve more class than this in the Governor's mansion.

Red Eye Resurgence: More Demo Viewers Watch Fox At 3am Than CNN at 8pm  —  Fox News' 3amET comedy/news hybrid Red Eye is in a league of its own when it comes to cable news shows.  But that doesn't mean it isn't a player in the ratings.  —  Despite its late (or early, depending on your sleep habits) …

He's Back, Hat in Hand  —  Chastened by Reaction To His Rutgers Women's Basketball Team Comments, an ‘Older And Wiser’ Don Imus Returns to TV on the Fox Business Network  —  After holding forth for hours behind the mike on everything from Roman Polanski to Afghanistan …

Government Admits Guantánamo Detainee Mohammed al Qahtani's Torture Videotaped  —  CCR Blasts Government for Failing to Disclose Existence of Videotapes for Seven Years  —  The Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR) learned today of the existence of video and audio tapes …

Apple Resigns From Chamber Over Climate  —  Apple has become the latest company to resign from the United States Chamber of Commerce over climate policy.  —  “We strongly object to the chamber's recent comments opposing the E.P.A.'s effort to limit greenhouse gases,” wrote Catherine A. Novelli …

Election 2010: Kentucky Senate  —  2010 Kentucky Senate: Early Match-ups Suggest Tight Race for GOP Vacancy  —  Republicans look like they're in for a tough fight in Kentucky to maintain the seat of retiring U.S. Senator Jim Bunning.  —  The first Rasmussen Reports Election 2010 survey …