With Regrets  —  I concur with the following response from my agent to Helen Thomas' lamentable remarks about Israel, and will no longer be working with Helen on our book projects.  — Craig Crawford

To Avoid Voter Rage, Democrats Skip Town Halls  —  BEL AIR, Md. — The reception that Representative Frank Kratovil Jr., a Democrat, received here one night last week as he faced a small group of constituents was far more pleasant than his encounters during a Congressional recess last summer.

OBAMA OFF TO THE THEATER  —  Reception in the East Room prior to performance at Ford's Theatre  —  Print pool only was ushered into the East Room about 5:20 p.m. where many elegant ladies in long dresses and men in tuxedos were standing sipping drinks and eating small finger food.

Excelsior!  Upwards of Eight Thousand Protest 911 Mega Mosque on D Day!  —  Despite weather forecasts of thunderstorms and rain, the skies were clear and beautiful — but not as beautiful as this patriotic crowd of great Americans and Europeans.  It was a real cross section of humanity . …

Haley Staying Strong  —  Nikki Haley hasn't suffered any damage whatsoever after accusations of multiple extramarital affairs and is headed for an easy first place finish in Tuesday's Republican primary for Governor of South Carolina.  —  Haley has a 20 point lead, getting 43% of the vote.

Damage Will Go On After Well Is Plugged, Admiral Says  —  HOUSTON — The Coast Guard commander in charge of the federal response to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico warned on Sunday that even if the flow of crude was stopped by summer, it could take well into autumn — and maybe much longer …

Higher education's bubble is about to burst  —  SUNDAY REFLECTIONS CONTRIBUTOR — It's a story of an industry that may sound familiar.  —  The buyers think what they're buying will appreciate in value, making them rich in the future.  The product grows more and more elaborate …

Iran Revolutionary Guards ready to escort Gaza ships  —  Source: Reuters  —  Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards are ready to provide a military escort to cargo ships trying to break Israel's blockade of Gaza, a representative of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Sunday.

Alleged plotters' words: 'I wanna, like, be the world's known terrorist.'  —  BARRY PADDOCK, HENRICK KAROLISZYN, KEVIN DEUTSCH, ERIN DURKIN AND HELEN KENNEDY  —  Two young men from the New Jersey suburbs who converted to radical Islam were busted at Kennedy Airport Saturday night, allegedly on their way to wage jihad in Africa.

The International Solidarity Movement and the Rachel Corrie Death Cult  —  Back in 2003, when Charles Johnson was still able to maintain some semblance of sanity, a commenter at Little Green Footballs - no doubt long since banished - responded to the death of Rachel Corrie by dubbing her “St. Pancake.”

Did Reuters Crop a Photo to Remove a Peace Activist's Weapon?  —  A Turkish newpaper has released photos taken by the “peace activists” aboard the Mavi Marmara, showing them attempting to take injured Israeli soldiers hostage.  —  Here's one of the pictures; notice the knife held by a “peace activist” in the lower right corner:

Civil servants feared inquiry into 7/7 bombings would focus negatively on Muslims  —  Senior civil servants warned ministers that if they ordered a public inquiry into the July 7 suicide bombings it could “focus negatively” on Britain's Muslim community, it can be revealed.

Rep. Peter King Leads on Flotilla  —  I spoke on the phone with Rep. Peter King today.  I asked whether he was surprised that the Obama team went along with a UN resolution on the flotilla, even a watered-down one, rather than vetoing it, as past administrations have done in similar situations to hold back the tide of Israel bashing.