President Obama's Long Form Birth Certificate  —  Ed. Note: Read the transcript of the President's remarks following this release or watch the video below:  —  var params = { allowscriptaccess: “always”, allowfullscreen: “true” }; swfobject.embedSWF("http://www.youtube- nocookie.com/v …

AP: Panetta to take over Pentagon, Petraeus picked for CIA chief  —  CIA director Leon Panetta will be named to succeed Robert Gates as secretary of defense and Gen. David Petraeus will be nominated to replace him as CIA director, The Associated Press reports, quoting unidentified sources.

House G.O.P. Members Face Voter Anger Over Budget  —  FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — In central Florida, a Congressional town meeting erupted into near chaos on Tuesday as attendees accused a Republican lawmaker of trying to dismantle Medicare while providing tax cuts to corporations and affluent Americans.

Fox News Pushes Mike Huckabee on 2012 Decision  —  THE DAILY BEAST ON:  —  The network wants a yes or no on whether the governor-turned-TV host is running for the White House.  But Huckabee tells Howard Kurtz he feels no pressure at all.  —  Mike Huckabee may be running out of time to make a decision on running for president.

Allen West- “You're Not Going to Intimidate Me”, Heckler Arrested at Townhall  —  Immediately after Allen West took the stage at his Town Hall meeting on Tuesday Evening in Fort Lauderdale, several hecklers who were planted in the crowd began to jeer and interrupt his remarks …

House votes to restrict unions  —  Measure would curb bargaining on health care  —  Robert J. Haynes, president of the Massachusetts AFL-CIO, said the union would fight the legislation “to the bitter end.”  (M. McDonald for The Boston Globe)  —  House lawmakers voted overwhelmingly …

Afghan official: Man opens fire on Americans in Kabul; 9 dead  —  Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN) — Eight coalition troops and a civilian were killed Wednesday in a shooting at an Afghan air force compound in Kabul, officials said.  —  The NATO-led International Security Assistance Force …

Palin scoffs at Couric's departure from CBS  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) made it clear Tuesday night there is no love lost between her and soon-to-be-former “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric.  —  The 2008 GOP vice presidential nominee scoffed when asked about the anchor's departure …

‘Heckler’ Security Issue at Ryan Town Halls  —  KENOSHA - Protesters waited for Congressman Paul Ryan outside a listening session at Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, many of them were seniors holding preprinted signs that read ‘Hands Off My Medicare.’  —  They chanted, “Ryan stop lying!”

Obama, lost in thought  —  When I covered George W. Bush's White House, my job was made easier by the simplicity of the subject.  The president had a few defining mantras — Cut taxes!  Rally the base!  Terrorists hate freedom!  With us or against us! — and most of his decisions could be understood …