GOP to rebrand Dems as ‘socialists’  —  A member of the Republican National Committee told me Tuesday that when the RNC meets in an extraordinary special session next week, it will approve a resolution rebranding Democrats as the “Democrat Socialist Party.”  —  When I asked if such a resolution …

Officials Knew of AIG Bonuses Months Before Firestorm  —  As American International Group chief executive Edward M. Liddy returns to Washington to face Congress today, new details are emerging about how long federal officials were aware of the company's recent bonus payments to its executives …

Barack Obama, Wanda Sykes and the Politics of Humorlessness  —  There's nothing un-funnier than Saturday night's jokes reviewed by the caffeinated light of Monday morning.  —  Which is why we probably shouldn't quarterback a comedian over coffee when she was performing for a crowd primed on cocktails.

Source: Aide told Pelosi about waterboarding  —  CNN Congressional Producer  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A source close to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi now confirms that Pelosi was told in February 2003 by her intelligence aide, Michael Sheehy, that waterboarding was actually used on CIA detainee Abu Zubaydah.

Dick Cheney: Why So Chatty All of a Sudden?  —  Former Vice President Dick Cheney on CBS's Face the Nation on May 10  —  In the past few days, former Vice President Dick Cheney has appeared on CBS's Face the Nation and Fox News to defend the Bush team's harsh interrogation practices.

Foreclosures: ‘April was a shocker’  —  A record number of foreclosure filings took place during April, but the number of repossessions fell 11%.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Foreclosures in April exceeded even March's blistering pace with a record 342,000 homes receiving notices of default …

Not one dime to the NRSC  —  If you have Facebook, I encourage you to join the group.  —  You know, I can slightly understand the NRSC getting into the Chaffee race, though it was a stupid waste and mismanagement of funds.  —  I can kind of understand them getting behind Specter.

Chrysler and the Rule of Law  —  The Founders put the contracts clause in the Constitution for a reason.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The rule of law, not of men — an ideal tracing back to the ancient Greeks and well-known to our Founding Fathers — is the animating principle of the American experiment.

Whoops: Utah official accidentally tweets Senate bid  —  Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff (R) inadvertently tipped his hand Tuesday that he'll enter the primary against Sen. Bob Bennett (R-Utah) in 2010, falling victim to the very technology another primary candidate used to enter the race on purpose.

Waxman, Markey Announce Breakthrough on Climate Change Bill  —  Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have reached a deal on the most contentious aspects of cap-and-trade legislation for carbon emissions and plan to unveil the bill on Thursday, Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.) said Tuesday night.

Reid: Johnsen Doesn't Have Votes for DOJ Post  —  As Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) moves to ease a backlog of executive branch nominations, he suggested on Tuesday that he does not have the votes to bring up President Barack Obama's pick to run the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel.

N.Y. Assembly Passes Gay Marriage Bill  —  ALBANY — The State Assembly approved legislation on Tuesday night that would make New York the sixth state to allow same-sex marriage — a pivotal vote that shifts the debate to the State Senate, where gay rights advocates and conservative groups alike are redoubling their efforts.

Ire Over a Columnist, an Author of Torture Memos  —  When The Philadelphia Inquirer hired as its new opinion columnist, John C. Yoo, an author of the Bush administration's widely criticized legal memos on harsh interrogation techniques, it was probably inevitable that the decision would draw complaints.

Palin has book deal, memoir to come next year  —  NEW YORK - You knew it was coming: Sarah Palin is ready to tell her side, agreeing to publish a memoir with HarperCollins.  The book comes out in Spring 2010 — the year she is up for re-election.  —  “There's been so much written …

The massive expansion of America's “Hard Left”  —  Jesse Ventura was on CNN with Larry King on Monday night and this exchange occurred, illustrating how simple, clear and definitively non-partisan is the case for investigations and prosecutions for those who ordered torture (video below):

Obama Official Expected to be rejected by Senate Wednesday  —  WASHINGTON (CNN)- The Senate Democratic leadership is preparing to lose a vote Wednesday morning on the confirmation of David Hayes as Deputy Secretary of Interior.  If that happens, it would be the first time Congress votes to reject one of President Obama's nominees.

Small Settings Update  —  We've updated the Notices section of Settings to better reflect how folks are using Twitter regarding replies.  Based on usage patterns and feedback, we've learned most people want to see when someone they follow replies to another person they follow—it's a good way to stay in the loop.

FDA Blasts General Mills Over Cheerios Claim  —  Cereal Makers Scolded Because Claim Of Lowering Cholesterol 10 Percent In Month Makes It A “Drug”  —  Company Fires Back: This Is About Language, Not Science  —  NEW YORK (CBS) ― The Food and Drug Administration scolded the makers …

Records Show Billions Withdrawn Before Madoff Arrest  —  About $12 billion was pulled out of accounts at Bernard L. Madoff's firm in 2008, according to several people briefed on an analysis of Mr. Madoff's business records.  —  About $6 billion, or half, was taken out in just the three months …

Former Official: Treatment of Terror Suspects a ‘Collective Failure’  —  Former State Department counselor Philip Zelikow told the first congressional panel convened to address allegations of torture that the Bush administration officials engaged in a “collective failure” on detention and interrogation of suspected terrorists.

White House Indicates ‘Great Concern’ About Releasing Photos of Detainee Abuse  —  The Obama administration signaled yesterday that it may be rethinking its promise to release several dozen photos depicting abuse or alleged abuse of detainees held in U.S. custody abroad.

The Right Person for the High Court  —  If President Obama nominates to the Supreme Court a highly qualified individual with a distinguished record that demonstrates judicial restraint, integrity and a commitment to the rule of law, his nominee will be welcomed in the Senate and by the American people.