Barack Obama Chides Local Reporter For His Interruptive And Combative Interview  —  President Barack Obama conducted interviews with a number of reporters yesterday at the White House, talking up his administration's efforts to reduce the budget deficit.  One lucky reporter to get the plum assignment …

Why Trump Soars  —  Very few people have the luxury of being freely obnoxious.  Most people have to watch what they say for fear of offending their bosses and colleagues.  Others resist saying anything that might make them unpopular.  —  But, in every society, there are a few rare souls …

Gov. Jindal will sign ‘birther’ bill if it reaches his desk  —  BATON ROUGE — Gov. Bobby Jindal would sign a bill requiring presidential candidates to provide a copy of their birth certificate to qualify for the Louisiana ballot if it reaches his desk, a spokesman said Monday.

Donald Trump: Reagan Was A Con Man Who Couldn't ‘Deliver The Goods’  —  Today, real estate mogul Donald Trump proudly declares that Ronald Reagan is the President he admires most.  Here's Trump on the April 14 edition of Hannity: … Watch it:  —  But in his bestselling book, Art of the Deal …

Proper Reaction to S&P Credit Downgrade Threat: Bursting Out Laughing  —  Dave Lindorff managed to scrounge up the best quote from an economist in reaction to S&P's threatened US credit downgrade: … That's about the right reaction to have.  As James Fallows points out …

Secret memos expose link between oil firms and invasion of Iraq  —  Plans to exploit Iraq's oil reserves were discussed by government ministers and the world's largest oil companies the year before Britain took a leading role in invading Iraq, government documents show.

Club for Growth to Sen. Lugar: Retire  —  The president of the Club for Growth encouraged longtime Sen. Dick Lugar (R-Ind.) to retire Tuesday rather than seek another term in 2012, warning that the group could get involved in the effort to oust Lugar in a primary.

Obama invokes bridge collapse in criticizing GOP budget plan  —  President Obama invoked the 2007 collapse of the Interstate 35-W bridge in Minneapolis while criticizing cuts to infrastructure in the Republican budget plan at a town hall meeting on Tuesday.  —  “According to the Republican budget …

House sets $500K, $520-an-hour contract for DOMA defense  —  Leaders in the House have agreed to pay up to $520 an hour and up to $500,000 to a law firm retained to defend the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act after President Barack Obama instructed the Justice Department not to defend a key part of the law.

Petition to recall Wisconsin GOP Sen. Sheila Harsdorf to be filed Tuesday  —  More than enough signatures have been collected in an effort to recall Republican Wisconsin state Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, organizers announced Monday.  —  Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesman Graeme Zielinski …

Poll: Best way to fight deficits: Raise taxes on the rich  —  WASHINGTON — Alarmed by rising national debt and increasingly downbeat about their country's course, Americans are clear about how they want to attack the government's runway budget deficits: raise taxes on the wealthy and keep hands off of Medicare and Medicaid.

Plane with Michelle Obama had to abort landing because of mistake  —  A White House plane carrying Michelle Obama came dangerously close to a 200-ton military cargo jet and had to abort its landing at Joint Base Andrews on Monday as the result of an air traffic controller's mistake …

A Sense Of Entitlement  —  The federal government offers numerous entitlement programs to assist the needy and the aged.  The principal ones include Social Security (which is self-funded for the most part), Medicare, and Welfare.  These programs have been installed by acts of Congress motivated …

Trump: I'll Release My Tax Returns When Obama Releases His Birth Certificate  —  Donald Trump has promised to disclose the details of his finances if he decides to run for president, but not necessarily his tax returns.  In our interview yesterday, he laid out a new condition for their release.

Playgirl Woos Michele Bachmann's Son; He Says ‘No’  —  EXCLUSIVE: You can't make this stuff up, kids.  Following their successful partnership with Levi Johnston, Playgirl magazine informs me they've set their sights on another young man with a Republican media star in his life: Lucas Bachmann …

‘Koch brothers’ confusion results in death threat for Iowa company  —  A case of mistaken identity has entangled a small family-owned Des Moines company in union protests and led to a death threat.  —  Angry callers are mistaking Koch Brothers, a Des Moines office supply firm …

Classic kids games like kickball deemed unsafe by state in effort to increase summer camp regulation  —  State bureaucrats have created a list of ‘risky activities’ for kids at summer camp.  The list includes freeze tag, Wiffle Ball and kickball, among other games and activities.