Sotomayor backers urge reporters to probe New Haven firefighter  —  WASHINGTON — Supporters of Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor are quietly targeting the Connecticut firefighter who's at the center of Sotomayor's most controversial ruling.  —  On the eve of Sotomayor's Senate confirmation hearing …

David Brooks: A Republican senator put ‘his hand on my inner thigh’ for a ‘whole’ dinner party.  —  Earlier this week, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote about how “the dignity code” has been “completely obliterated” in Washington, DC.  Discussing the concept on MSNBC today …

Leaders in House Seek to Tax Rich for Health Plan  —  WASHINGTON — House Democrats will ask the wealthiest Americans to help pay for overhauling the health care system with a $550 billion income tax increase, the chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee said Friday.

‘Most PSP Leads Were Determined Not to Have Any Connection to Terrorism’  —  The Bush administration called its warrantless surveillance efforts “very, very important to protect the national security of this country,” in the words of Attorney General Alberto Gonzales in 2005.

Administration Considers Bailout Funds for Small Businesses  —  Proposal Would Take Money From $700B Program for Banking System  —  The Obama administration is developing an initiative to take money from the $700 billion program for the banking system and make it available to millions of small businesses …

Why We Don't Want a Nuclear-Free World  —  The former defense secretary on the U.S. deterrent and the terrorist threat.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Maclean, Va.  —  'Nuclear weapons are used every day.  " So says former Defense Secretary James Schlesinger, speaking last month …

Two gay men kicked out of Chico's Tacos restaurant for kissing  —  EL PASO — Two gay men kissed at a Chico's Tacos restaurant, prompting guards to eject them and a police officer to endorse their ouster.  —  Civil-rights lawyers say the security staff was out of line.

Obama's African journey: ‘Promise’  —  President Barack Obama, the first African-American president of the United States, founded with the slavery of Africans and perpetuating legalized racial discrimination well into the 20th Century, addressed the parliament of Ghana today in his first journey to Africa as president.

The Stumbles That Led to an Ethics Blunder  —  The Washington Post's ill-fated plan to sell sponsorships of off-the-record “salons” was an ethical lapse of monumental proportions.  —  Publisher Katharine Weymouth and Executive Editor Marcus Brauchli have now taken full responsibility …

Palin Camp Takes on Levi Johnston  —  Just when you thought the plot couldn't possibly thicken more in the Days of Our Lives in Alaska, it has.  Outgoing Gov. Sarah Palin is now fighting back against claims made by her daughter's ex-boyfriend that she bailed out on Alaska in order to cash in on her fame.

If Palin Were President Now  —  Sarah Palin's announcement that she will resign as Governor of Alaska has kicked off a new round of attacks on Palin's intelligence and integrity from pundits on both sides of the political spectrum.  For most of the commentators, the resignation signals an end to Palin's chances at becoming President.

Band of House centrists offers support for ‘robust’ public health insurance plan  —  A band of 22 New Democrat and Blue Dog lawmakers say they support a “robust” government-run health plan, boosting chances of moving healthcare reform with a public insurance plan through the House.

Rep. Paul Broun Outrageously Claims The Public Option “Is Gonna Kill People”  —  29 minutes ago by Media Matters Action Network … REP. BROUN: CANADA AND GREAT BRITAIN DON'T APPRECIATE LIFE … Besides absurdly stating that the public option will “kill people,” Rep. Broun's ham-handed transition between …

Weekly Address: Recovery and the Jobs of the Future  —  The President explains how the Recovery Act helped end our economic free fall, and how his agenda is helping to set a new foundation for our economy.  From health reform, to energy, to creating the jobs of the future …

U.S. Inaction Seen After Taliban P.O.W.'s Died  —  WASHINGTON — After a mass killing of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Taliban prisoners of war by the forces of an American-backed warlord during the 2001 invasion of Afghanistan, Bush administration officials repeatedly discouraged efforts …