Gingrich: Pelosi ‘Lied,’ ‘Despicable,’ ‘Dishonest,’ ‘Vicious,’ ‘Trivial’  —  ABC News' Rick Klein reports: Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich today offered a blistering critique of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's handling of oversight on harsh interrogation tactics, in a major escalation of partisan attacks being aimed at Pelosi.

Health Care Leaders Say Obama Overstated Their Promise to Control Costs  —  WASHINGTON — Hospitals and insurance companies said Thursday that President Obama had substantially overstated their promise earlier this week to reduce the growth of health spending.

More Americans “Pro-Life” Than “Pro-Choice” for First Time  —  Also, fewer think abortion should be legal “under any circumstances”  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A new Gallup Poll, conducted May 7-10, finds 51% of Americans calling themselves “pro-life” on the issue of abortion and 42% “pro-choice.”

Powell aide says torture helped build Iraq war case  —  (CNN) — Finding a “smoking gun” linking Iraq and al Qaeda became the main purpose of the abusive interrogation program the Bush administration authorized in 2002, a former State Department official told CNN on Thursday.

Obama's kinder, gentler military commissions  —  [updated below - Update II - Update III (Obama's statement)]  —  It now appears definitive that the Obama administration will attempt to preserve a “modified” version of George Bush's military commissions, rather than try suspected terrorists …

Empire of Carbon  —  I have seen the future, and it won't work.  —  These should be hopeful times for environmentalists.  Junk science no longer rules in Washington.  President Obama has spoken forcefully about the need to take action on climate change; the people I talk to are increasingly optimistic …

Judge Sotomayor's Appellate Opinions in Civil Cases  —  Judge Sonia Sotomayor is an obviously serious candidate to serve on the Supreme Court.  We have been struck by how the amount of commentary about Judge Sotomayor has ignored the most accessible and valuable source of information: her opinions as an appellate judge.

New ‘prisoner abuse’ photographs emerge despite US bid to block publication  —  Graphic photographs of alleged prisoner abuse, thought to be among up to 2,000 images Barack Obama is trying to prevent from being released, emerged yesterday.  —  The shocking images of inmates in Iraq …

Hanson: President Palins First 100 Days  —  EDITOR'S NOTE: In these messianic times we have slouched into an acceptance of presidential worship, and we need to be reminded from time to time that the media's Obama standard is really no standard at all.  The following is a sequel to the recent “Bush Did It.”

In Limbo: Dawn Johnsen's Nomination Stalls Thanks to Democrats  —  For several weeks—while torture revelations have dominated headlines and with the scandal still very much alive—Dawn Johnsen has been waiting.  She's Obama's pick to head the Office of Legal Counsel—the same Justice Department shop …

In the Loop: The Not-So-Persuasive Liz Cheney  —  We now know at least one reason former vice president Dick Cheney was taking the Acela up to New York on Monday morning: He was going to attend a debate on U.S. policy on Iran where his daughter Liz Cheney, former principal deputy assistant secretary …

Trade Wars Launched With Ruses, End Runs  —  Outrage in Canada as U.S. Firms Sever Ties To Obey Stimulus Rules  —  Is this what the first trade war of the global economic crisis looks like?  —  Ordered by Congress to “buy American” when spending money from the $787 billion stimulus package …

Lieberman to pay $50K campaign finance penalty  —  Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) on Friday agreed to pay a $50,000 civil penalty for campaign finance violations.  —  According to the Federal Election Commission, Lieberman's 2006 reelection campaign and its treasurer, Lynn Fusco …

Political Insiders Poll  —  Q: Has Dick Cheney helped or hurt the Republican Party since leaving office?  —  Democrats (103 votes)  —  Helped 6 percent Hurt 92 percent  —  Both; neither; time will tell  —  (volunteered) 3 percent  —  Helped