McClellan: President Can Declassify Information at Any Time  —  President Bush's chief spokesman said today the president has the right to declassify sensitive information whenever he chooses and that when he does, it is effective immediately.  —  In an often testy exchange with the White House media …

Immigration Deal Falls Short in Senate  —  WASHINGTON, April 7 — A carefully constructed compromise on immigration reform apparently fell apart in the Senate today after Democrats fended off conservative Republican efforts to amend the agreement and an effort to cut off debate failed by a lopsided vote.

The billionaire, the Post and the $220G shakedown  —  Page Six writer wanted $$$ to stop inaccurate coverage  —  A New York Post Page Six staffer solicited $220,000 from a high-profile billionaire in return for a year's "protection" against inaccurate and unflattering items about him in the gossip page, the Daily News has learned.

At Least 71 Die as Bombers Hit Mosque in Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, April 7 — Three suicide bombers, including at least one woman, exploded in a sea of Friday worshippers at the main mosque of the most powerful Shiite political party in Iraq, killing at least 71 people and injuring at least 140.

Mayor: City would ignore legislation if it were to pass  —  SAN FRANCISCO - Mayor Gavin Newsom said Thursday that The City will not comply with any federal legislation that criminalizes efforts to help illegal immigrants.  —  The mayor also denounced a bipartisan congressional proposal …

First a Wall — Then Amnesty  —  Every sensible immigration policy has two objectives: (1) to regain control of our borders so that it is we who decide who enters and (2) to find a way to normalize and legalize the situation of the 11 million illegals among us.  —  Start with the second.

Joseph Wilson Reveals Himself  —  One of the posters at Daily Kos saw former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson III speak at Florida State University in March, quoting him fairly extensively at the Kiddie Blog.  —  After reading these quotes made at a public event, how can anyone continue to take this guy seriously?

Race Baiting  —  From AP: NASCAR: Dateline NBC Plan 'Outrageous' … This cartoon is based on a combination of ideas by three Michelle Malkin readers: Chris S., Steve B. and Uncle Jack.

Washington Post searching for bloggers from the right and left  —  This time around the Washington Post plans to hire two bloggers for its Web site.  —  The paper's ombudsman, Deborah Howell, has informed RAW STORY that Jim Brady, executive editor of washingtonpost.com, is looking for a liberal blogger …

Employers Boost March Payrolls by 211,000  —  Employers, in a springtime hiring burst, boosted payrolls by a sizable 211,000 in March and pushed the nation's unemployment rate down to 4.7 percent.  —  The latest snapshot, released by the Labor Department on Friday, suggested …

Not as Lame as You Think  —  Democrats learn the art of opposition.  —  The first week of March should have been a bright spot for Democrats in an otherwise bleak five years.  With the president's approval numbers reaching Nixon-esque lows, and Democrats outpolling Republicans by 15 points …

Health Care Plan Gives Romney Boost in GOP Field  —  Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney's chances in the presidential sweepstakes have just gone from "decent" to "excellent."  By successfully brokering legislation that promises to "solve" the health care problem in Massachusetts …

Jobs Americans Won't Do  —  Want to make the country poorer?  Close the borders.  —  President Bush is taking knocks from all sides in the immigration debate over his argument that the U.S. needs foreign workers to fill "jobs Americans don't want."  Economists on both the left and right …

Iran ready for high-level talks, US resists  —  Iran has prepared a high-level delegation to hold wide-ranging talks with the US, but the Bush administration is resisting the agenda suggested by Tehran despite pressure from European allies to engage the Islamic republic, Iranian politicians have told the Financial Times.