Richard Poplawski: Was Pittsburgh shooter driven by right-wing gun paranoia about Obama?  —  Some of the early reports out of Pittsburgh indicate the man who shot three cops today was fearful that the Obama administration was going to “take away his guns.” … He feared an Obama gun grab?

Pitchforks and Pistols  —  Lately I've been consuming as much conservative media as possible (interspersed with shots of Pepto-Bismol) to get a better sense of the mind and mood of the right.  My read: They're apocalyptic.  They feel isolated, angry, betrayed and besieged.

Larry Summers, Tim Geithner and Wall Street's ownership of government  —  White House officials yesterday released their personal financial disclosure forms, and included in the millions of dollars which top Obama economics adviser Larry Summers made from Wall Street in 2008 is this detail:

Europeans Offer Few New Troops for Afghanistan  —  STRASBOURG, France — European leaders offered few extra troops on Saturday for President Obama's intensified effort in Afghanistan, with most of the soldiers only on temporary security assignment, underlining deep divisions within the alliance over the war.

Taliban Chief Claims Responsibility for N.Y. Shooting Massacre  —  A Pakistani Taliban militant leader has claimed responsibility for the attack on a U.S. immigration center in New York state in which 13 people were killed, Reuters reported.  —  “I accept responsibility.  They were my men.

Who is Jiverly Voong?  Conflicting picture of Binghamton gunman emerges  —  The maniac who shot 13 people dead in a Binghamton immigration center before killing himself was described Friday as an angry loner who loved guns, hated America and talked about assassinating the President.

Commoner Captures Princess, Blog Version  —  CONSIDER the erotic potential between blogger and commenters.  —  The blogger is boss, a salon host with wit and whip.  Certainly a blogger thrives on commenters — who wants to declaim to an empty e-room?  But let's be clear: blogger, sovereign; commenters, courtiers.

Churchill $1 award result of one juror  —  Five on the six-person jury wanted to give the fired professor more.  —  Five of six jurors favored awarding fired University of Colorado professor Ward Churchill as much as $110,000 or more — while a single juror insisted he get nothing, a juror and Churchill's attorney said Friday.

It Really Is All Greenspan's Fault  —  Ask John Taylor ...  It's been quite a spectacle for those who have followed Alan Greenspan's career for decades.  Gone is the financial rock star or even the statesman testifying before Congress in a measured baritone.

U.S to Lift Some Curbs on Travel to Cuba  —  WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama plans to lift longstanding U.S. restrictions on Cuba, a senior administration official said, allowing Cuban-Americans to visit families there as often as they like and to send them unlimited funds.

Israel on Trial  —  CHILLING testimony by Israeli soldiers substantiates charges that Israel's Gaza Strip assault entailed grave violations of international law.  The emergence of a predominantly right-wing, nationalist government in Israel suggests that there may be more violations to come.