Defense Budget That Breaks Spending Agreement Passed By House

WASHINGTON -- The House passed a defense budget Friday that exceeds the deal cut by Congress and President Barack Obama last summer, and that would have to be paid for with cash taken from poverty programs, health care and the federal workforce.

'Reporter's Privilege' Under Fire From Obama Administration Amid Broader War On Leaks

RICHMOND, Va. -- The Obama administration Friday morning continued its headlong attack on the right of reporters to protect their confidential sources in leak investigations.

REVEALED: The Racist GOP Campaign To Smear The President

A Shameful Effort by Republicans to Divide Our Country

A front-page New York Times story today exposed a shocking $10 MILLION racist campaign to smear the president that was prepared by GOP operatives and was merely awaiting final sign-off from a politically active right-wing billionaire. The campaign was to focus on the president’s previous ties to Rev. Jeremiah Wright, a racially inflammatory topic that Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) declared firmly off-limits during his 2008 presidential campaign.

‘Post-Racial America’ Laid Out In Plain English By Talib Kweli

The other day, rapper Talib Kweli (pictured) used Twitter to convey a sentiment many people have felt since talk of this mythical (read: nonexistent) land called “post-racial America” first surfaced in national media following the historic election of Barack Obama as president. I understand why people wanted to see his election as a manifestation of Mariah Carey’s “Hero,” but such a scenario was never going to happen.

SENATORS INTRODUCE ‘EX-PATRIOT ACT’ IN RESPONSE TO FACEBOOK FOUNDER’S TAX AVOIDANCE

Occupy This Album Various Artists

Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin renounced his American citizenship ahead of Facebook’s initial public offering, a move that will save him about $67 million in taxes. Today, Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced the “Expatriation Prevention by Abolishing Tax-Related Incentives for Offshore Tenancy” Act — or Ex-Patriot Act— to prevent this sort of tax avoidance. Under the bill, former citizens “will besubject to 30% capital gains tax on future U.S. investments no matter where they live.” Of course, Saverin could have bigger problems, as he may not be able to reenter the U.S. on account of his decision. And Saverin is certainly not the only person connected to Facebook who is planning on avoiding taxes.

Walmart Mechanic Wrote Satanic Symbols On Car During Oil Change, Customer Claims

A Walmart customer says she found an unpleasant surprise after taking her car to the retail giant for an oil change.

Employers Target Liberal Arts Majors And College Grads Who Had Internships: Survey

A new survey holds some good news for liberal arts majors.

It has certainly been said that a liberal arts degree is impractical for this economic climate. Some have argued that technical degrees are the path towards finding work after college.

Jeremiah Wright Ad Proposal Prompts Responses From Obama, Romney Campaigns

WASHINGTON -- Top aides to President Barack Obama's presidential campaign have long prepared for a general election battle far more divisive and nasty than the one that took place in 2008.

Donna Summer Dead: Queen Of Disco Dies At 63

Donna Summer died Thursday morning after a battle with lung cancer.

Lovingly named the "Queen of Disco," the 63-year-old was in Florida at the time of her death, according to TMZ. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, the 5-time Grammy award winner rose to fame in the '70s with hits like "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "Love to Love You Baby."

Obama, Boehner Talk Debt Ceiling In Meeting

WASHINGTON -- Apparently healed from the trauma caused by last summer's debt-ceiling showdown, House Republicans and the White House have begun an eight-month long standoff over the next debt-ceiling fight.

Class-Action Status For Stop And Frisk, Judge Slams NYPD Over Policy

Opponents of the New York Police Department's controversial stop-and-frisk program scored a major victory in court Wednesday, after a federal judge granted class-action status to a lawsuit alleging that the department subjects millions of city dwellers to racially biased illegal searches.

Texas Executed The Wrong Man Because He Looked Like The Real Murderer

Last year, Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) admitted that he “never struggled . . . at all” with whether someone his state executed might have been innocent. Yet anew book written by Columbia Law Professor James Liebman shows that Carlos DeLuna, executed by Texas in 1989, was innocent. According to Liebman, DeLuna was wrongfully convicted and executed for the murder of Wanda Lopez following a botched investigation. DeLuna and the man believed to have committed the murder, Carlos Hernandez, looked so much alike that they were mistaken for each other in photographs by family members. However, DeLuna, who was clean-shaven and wearing a white shirt, did not fit the description of the eyewitness who said that the murderer was wearing flannel and had a mustache. Police arrested DeLuna anyway and failed to do a formal lineup. Police also failed to formally examine the crime scene, ignoring foot and fingerprints, not taking blood samples, and allowing the scene to be cleaned by gas station employees.

House Passes Watered-Down Version Of Violence Against Women Act

The House has just passed a watered-down version of the Violence Against Women Act, by a vote of 222 to 205. The GOP-backed iteration of the bill strips out the provisions to protect undocumented, Native American, and LGBT victims that were included in the Senate version.

CHART: WAGES FOR YOUNG COLLEGES GRADUATES HAVEN’T GROWN IN A DECADE

According to data from the Economic Policy Institute, “between 2000 and 2011, the wages of young college graduates [aged 21-24] dropped 5.4 percent (1.6 percent for men and 8.5 percent for women),” after they grew 19 percent between 1995 and 2000. As EPI noted, “young graduates who enter the labor market during periods of strength (e.g. 1995–2000) face much stronger wage prospects than young graduates who enter the labor market during periods of weakness (e.g. 2001 to the present).”

Republicans Who Campaigned To End Taxpayer-Funded Campaigning Spend Big On Taxpayer Funded Flyers

The House Tea Party Caucus, chaired by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), says it seeks to represent the views of the people who have “had enough of the reckless spending and vast government overreach coming from Washington.” Fifteen House freshmen are part of the 60-member, all-Republican caucus. The group talks passionatelyabout cutting spending and the need to “work towards getting our fiscal house in order, before the burden of debt is passed onto our children and grandchildren.”

This Summer: For $24.95, George W. Bush Will Share His ‘Strategies For Economic Growth’ (LOL)

Former President George W. Bush jumped back into presidential politics this week, endorsing presumptive 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney. He also, according to the New York Times, plans to release a book in two months that will lay out his advice on boosting economic growth:

Pharmacists In Kansas Can Now Deny Women Access To Birth Control

Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback (R) signed a bill yesterday that will allow pharmacists in the state to refuse to fill a prescription they think could be used to induce abortion. But since the “conscience” measure says they cannot be required to provide a drug or devise that they think “may result in the termination of a pregnancy” — but does not define which drug in particular — the law’s opponents say it could allow a pharmacist to interfere with a woman’s health care by refusing to distribute birth control or emergency contraception.

iPhone 5 Screen To Be Bigger And Beastlier: Report

TOKYO (Reuters) - Apple Inc plans to use a larger screen on the next-generation iPhone and has begun to place orders for the new displays from suppliers in South Korea and Japan, people familiar with the situation said on Wednesday.

U.S. Politicians Eye Europe Warily As Austerity Fatigue Ousts Governments

When Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke ventured to the Senate last Thursday for a closed-door gathering, he found a nervous Democratic caucus. One senator put their anxiety into words: How worried should we be about Europe?

Do You Want a Repeat of the Financial Crisis?

JP Morgan Loss Shows Why We Need Tougher Rules On Wall Street

You’ve probably heard by now that JP Morgan Chase lost a whopping $2 BILLION on a single bad bet in just a matter of weeks. What you may not have heard is that JP Morgan, and its CEO Jamie Dimon, have been among of the most vocal opponents of tougher regulations on Wall Street. The bank has spent nearly $10 million since the beginning of 2011 on lobbying, focusing largely on the Volcker Rule, a regulation that would largely prohibit risky proprietary trading at federally-insured banks (like JP Morgan). The trade that caused JP Morgan’s losses would likely still have been legal under the Volcker Rule, but only because of a loophole that JP Morgan lobbied for.

Coat Hanger Abortions Are Fine, Says Mississippi Lawmaker, Because ‘Hey, You Have To Have Moral Values’

Mississippi state Rep. Bubba Carpenter (R) said that it’s OK for women to have coat hanger abortions because it’s for a greater good.

REPORT: FBI May Charge George Zimmerman With Hate Crime, Could Face Death Penalty

The State of Florida has charged George Zimmerman with murdering Trayvon Martin. But that might not be the end of his legal problems.

Facebook Unfriends Uncle Sam: Mark Zuckerberg’s Plan To Avoid Taxes

The right-wing has been lauding Facebook co-founder Edward Saverin for his decision to renounce his U.S. citizenship in order to avoid taxes. But he isn’t the only one who’s going to slash his tax bill in the wake of Facebook’s upcoming initial public offering: both CEO Mark Zuckerberg and the company itself will lower their tax bill for years to come.

Is the filibuster unconstitutional?

According to Best Lawyers — “the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession” — Emmet Bondurant “is the go-to lawyer when a business person just can’t afford to lose a lawsuit.” He was its 2010 Lawyer of the Year for Antitrust and Bet-the-Company Litigation. But now, he’s bitten off something even bigger: bet-the-country litigation.

Tonya Thomas Killed Four Kids, Then Herself In Port St. John Shooting, Florida Authorities Say

PORT ST. JOHN, Fla. — A Florida mother who fatally shot her four children before killing herself Tuesday called three of the kids who had sought help from a neighbor back to the house before firing the fatal shots, authorities said.

Campaign Finance Disclosure Decision Means Rove, Others Could Suddenly Have To Disclose Donors

WASHINGTON -- One of the most consequential campaign finance loopholes affecting the 2012 race -- the one allowing big-money donors to secretly funnel millions into campaign ads -- is now closed, after an appellate court ruling on Monday.

IPhone Malware: Kaspersky Expects Apple's IOS To Be Under Attack By Next Year

iPhone users beware! Security company Kaspersky Lab expects the iPhone and iPad to be infected by malware within the next year.

Obama On 'The View:' President Corrects Elisabeth Hasselbeck On Gay Marriage Position (VIDEO)

President Obama corrected Elisabeth Hasselbeck about his position on gay marriage on Tuesday's "The View."

Obama announced that he believes same-sex couples have the right to marry last Wednesday. Shortly afterwards, Hasselbeck, who has been a vocal supporter of gay marriage, raised criticismthat he has "long held both positions" on the issue.

Peter Peterson Spent Nearly Half A Billion In Washington Targeting Social Security, Medicare

WASHINGTON -- Peter Peterson, a Wall Street billionaire who has been calling for cuts to Social Security and other government programs for years, is hosting a "fiscal summit" Tuesday that brings together Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, former President Bill Clinton, Rep. Paul Ryan, House Speaker John Boehner, Tom Brokaw and Politico's John Harris, among a host of other elites who will gather at the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium.

Because Of Abstinence Education, 60 Percent Of Young Adults Are Misinformed About Birth Control’s Effectiveness

A new study from the Guttmacher Institute unsurprisingly finds that greater knowledge about contraceptive services is directly correlated to a decrease in young adults’ risky sexual behavior. However, after quizzing a nationally representative sample of 1,800 sexually active Americans between the ages of 18 and 29 on their basic knowledge of contraception methods, Guttmacher reports that “more than half of young men and a quarter of young women received low scores on contraceptive knowledge, and six in 10 underestimated the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.” The study ultimately concluded:

Former National Review Writer Claims White Supremacy Is ‘One Of The Better Arrangements History Has Come Up With’

Last month, the conservative National Review fired its longtime contributor John Derbyshire after Derbyshire published a column in another publication instructing parents on how to train their children to be racists. Although the National Review did the right thing in eventually firing Derbyshire, it published the author for years despite a long history of racist and sexist views. Derbyshire argued in 2009 that women should not vote, and he proclaimed as far back as 2003 that he is a proud “racist.”

28 Accused Of Smuggling Cocaine To Virginia In Shoes And Wooden Frames

ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Federal authorities have arrested 28 people and charged them with participating in a cocaine-smuggling ring that brought millions of dollars in drugs from Honduras to northern Virginia over the past six years.

Florida farm workers tell how drugs, debt bind them in modern slavery

HASTINGS — LeRoy Smith thought he had hit rock bottom when he found himself trolling Atlanta's gay district, looking to exchange sex acts for a hot hit off a crack pipe. Then he wound up on a Florida farm near the small town of Hastings, being bilked blind, he says, by a man with a fifth-grade education, sweating all day for a few dirty dollars, with no way to escape from the middle-of-nowhere camp.

Eight Great Tech Brands Losing Money

It is a trend in the consumer electronics business — manufacturers rise to become industry leaders only to be outshone by the competition as high-priced gadgets quickly become commodities. Based on recent earning reports of the biggest electronics makers, 24/7 Wall St. set out to identity the once high-flying brands that are now losing money.

Barney Frank Criticizes House Republican On Jobs, Wall Street Reform

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) lit into Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) on Sunday, when both appeared on ABC's "This Week."

What You Need To Know About Ed Klein, Author Of New Book Smearing Obama

The New York Post yesterday published the first excerpts from an upcoming biography on President Obama by Edward Klein, “The Amateur.”

'Opting Out'

The economic and educational disadvantages of low-income black students who struggle to complete college are well-documented. While black students at elite universities don’t necessarily fit into that category, a new book says they face social and institutional obstacles of their own – obstacles that ultimately drive them away from the high-status, high-paying jobs that they’re qualified for in fields such as engineering, science, finance and information technology. And while the reasons are complex, universities are partly at fault, the book argues.

David Gregory Of NBC's Meet The Press, To Headline Conference For Major Republican Advocacy Group

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), which calls itself “the voice of small business,” is one of the Republican party’s strongest allies. The group spent over $1 million on outside ads in the 2010 campaign — all of it backing Republican House and Senate candidates (and, Bloomberg News reported last month, “another $1.5 million that it kept hidden and said was exempt” from disclosure requirements). The group is the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against the Obamacare law and bankrolled state governments’ challenges to the law. The NFIB has also taken stances against allowing the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases, opposing regulations on businesses, and supporting curtailing union rights.

JPMorgan Trading Loss Suggests Little Has Changed Since The Financial Crisis

If you thought Wall Street had learned its lesson four years after the global financial crisis, JPMorgan Chase's $2 billion trading debacle suggests you should think again, investment bankers and industry experts say.

JP Morgan Loses $2 Billion On Risky Trade After Lobbying To Weaken Trading Restrictions

JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon announced on a conference call yesterday that the bank suffered $2 billion in losses from a risky trade that turned sour. The trade dents Dimon’s case that Wall Street can responsibly manage itself and yet again proves the need for a strong Volcker Rule, which could largely ban such risky trades at federally-insured institutions.

It’s OK to be Gay in the Black Church, Just Keep It To Yourself

By Dr. Boyce Watkins May 11, 2012

I have a confession to make: I’ve never understood the vehement opposition that the black church has to gay marriage. Don’t get me wrong, I understand what the bible has to say on the matter, but since when did every Christian live according to the bible? I mean, seriously, would you take a lie detector test and answer the question, “Do most Christians try their best to live according to the bible?” The answer to that question might get you struck down by lightning.

Marissa Alexander Gets 20 Years In Failed ‘Stand Your Ground’ Defense

Marissa Alexander has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for firing a warning shot at her abusive husband, The Florida Times-Union reports.

Seller Offers Gun Range Targets Meant to Resemble Trayvon Martin

A Florida entrepreneur said he had sold out of gun range targets depicting a faceless, hood-clad figure holding an iced tea and a bag of Skittles meant to look like Trayvon Martin.

George Clooney Obama Fundraiser Nets $15 Million

While Republicans mocked President Barack Obama for holding fundraiser at the home of George Clooney, he may be the one getting the last laugh.

Aokigahara Forest Place Of Death

Each year in the Aokigahara Forest, dozens of people reportedly push through a dense "sea of trees" to find a place to take their lives. Those who are indecisive leave trails of colored tape woven between the trees so they can navigate out should they change their minds.

More Than 200,000 Americans Will Lose Their Unemployment Benefits This Weekend

According to a new report from the National Employment Law Project, 230,000 Americans will see their unemployment benefits vanish this weekend, even as the jobless rate remains stubbornly high.Nearly half of those losing their benefits live in California, where the unemployment rate is 11 percent:

ALEC Brings Lawmakers And Big Oil Together To Undermine Clean Energy

Today, behind closed doors in Charlotte, North Carolina, legislators from 15 states will meet with the oil and gas industry to discuss so-called “model legislation” as part of the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC). The result could be laws that handicap renewable energy targets — while creating loopholes for fossil fuels, written directly by the oil and gas industry itself.

10 Most Disturbing Anti-Latino Practices Described By DOJ’s Lawsuit Against Sheriff Joe Arpaio

Earlier today, the Department of Justice filed a formal legal complaint against Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) alleging widespread constitutional violations and lawless mistreatment of Latinos. According to the complaint, Arpaio and his staff engaged in widespread, violent and demeaning mistreatment of Latino residents of Maricopa County, often targeting individuals solely because of their race:

NYPD Made More Stops Of Young Black Men In 2011,Than The Total Number Of Young Black Men In New York

During New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s first year in office, the New York Police Department stopped and interrogated 97,296 people on the streets. By 2007, with the Bloomberg administration pushing the a stop-and-frisk strategy, police made more than a half a million stops. Last year, the figure rose to a record 685,724 people. And according to a New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU) report, the vast majorities of stops — about 87 percent — were of blacks and Latinos. Despite robust defenses of the tactics, they appear to be less effective than the Bloomberg administration and NYPD claim.

John Lewis Calls Out Paul Broun On Voting Rights Act Amendment

Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.), a leading figure in the civil rights movement, took to the House floor late Wednesday night to call out a colleague over an amendment he called "shameful."

House Passes Bill To Spare Defense, Cut Food Aid, Health Care

WASHINGTON -- The House on Thursday passed its plan to spare the military's growing budget from mandatory cuts, instead slashing Medicaid, benefits for federal workers and programs to help feed hungry Americans.

CBO Report: Boosting Oil Production Won’t Protect Americans From Gasoline Price Shocks

More domestic drilling does not make America less susceptible to global supply disruptions or protect consumers from gasoline price volatility, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office.

War FOR Women: Pregnant Workers Fairness Act Protects Mothers-To-Be

Yesterday, Congress took up legislation that could significantly impact women’s health — and no, it doesn’t limit contraception or force anything into their vaginas.

Antibiotic Resistance Spreads Through Environment, Threatens Modern Medicine

Waste from people, pets, pigs and even seagulls may be playing a significant role in the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), a number of new studies warn.

Powell's New Book: War With Iraq Never Debated

WASHINGTON -- In his new book, former Secretary of State Colin Powell provides what may be the most authoritative confirmation yet that there was never a considered debate in the George W. Bush White House about whether going to war in Iraq was really a good idea.

The President Backs Gay Marriage

WASHINGTON -- In a nod to a dramatic shift in public opinion, Barack Obama on Wednesday became the first sitting president to announce his support for same-sex marriage.

Local Republican Party Newsletter Suggests ‘Armed Revolution’ If President Obama Is Reelected

The Republican Party of Greene County in Virginia published their monthly newsletter in March and in it, the editor suggested an “armed revolution” will be necessary if President Obama is reelected in November:

Republicans Pick Wealthy Tax Dodgers Over Students

Republicans Block Senate Action on Bill to Prevent Student Loan Rate Hike

Orlando Ranked Porn Capital Of America, Miami Ranks Twelfth

Which is the smuttiest city in America? Is it bondage-friendly San Francisco? Las Vegas with its nearby legal Bunny Ranch brothel? Los Angeles for its "San Pornando" Valley?

Student Loan Vote: Republicans Block Bill To Extend Low Interest Rates

WASHINGTON -- Senate Republicans on Tuesday blocked a bill that would have frozen student loan interest rates before they are set to double on July 1.

This 93-Year-Old Grandmother Is Suing Pennsylvania Over Voter ID Laws

The first time Viviette Applewhite went to the polls, she cast her vote for John F. Kennedy. But this year, a strict new voter identification law will likely prevent the now-93-year old woman and many others in Pennsylvania from participating in their country’s democratic process. And Applewhite won’t stand for it.

BP Oil Spill Photos Posted By Greenpeace Following Freedom Of Information Request

Over two years after the disastrous BP oil spill wreaked havoc on the Gulf,Greenpeace has received photos of the destruction inflicted on marine life in the area.

Is Evangelical Christianity Hindering Black Progress

If Africans are inherently inferior to Europeans intellectually, why is that African immigrants to the U.S. are the most educated group in this country? with education levels that surpass that of Asian Americans. Why is that African descended people from outside the U.S can come here and outperform native whites and blacks? Is it mere coincidence that the majority of black students enrolled in the nation's Ivy Leagues are the children of foreign born blacks? Foreign born blacks don't have the same heritage of anti-intellectual evangelical Christianity as native blacks.

To Protect Military Budget, House GOP Plans To Cut 25 Percent From Programs ‘Directly Benefiting The Poor’

The House Budget Committee is set to meet today on a new GOP plan to stave off further cuts in military spending that are mandated by the Budget Control Act’s sequestration trigger. The Pentagon will be required to trim $55 billion from its budget next year and House Republicans think they’ve figured out a way to prevent that: cut programs for the poor, the APreports:

America’s Corporations Made A Record $824 Billion Last Year, As Conservatives Claim Obama Is Anti-Business

A favorite conservative attack on President Obama is that his policies — and even his personality — amount to an assault on American businesses. “President Obama himself is the most anti-business president in my lifetime. With rhetoric not befitting a president he has attacked oil companies, banks, airplane users, Wall Street and anyone who makes money,” wrote Gary Shapiro, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association.

What Everyone Should Know About The Secretive Group Trying To Swift Boat Barack Obama

A secretive right-wing group, Veterans For A Strong America, is attempting to do to President Obama what the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth did to Sen. John Kerry in 2004. And they aren’t shy about it. The group’s leader and sole employee, Joel Arends, told Mother Jones, “Yes, it’s the swift boating of the president.”

The Sunday May 6th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

As Wallace indicates, Rubio is the pick of Republican voters at the grassroots level. By contrast, the Republican "insiders" want Ohio Senator Rob Portman -- who is like Tim Pawlenty in that he is bland and beige and unnoticeable, except Portman does not give off the faint scent of intractable failure. But if you put Portman on teevee and interviewed him, you wouldn't remember the experience. Seriously! It's like being roofied, with dullness. You notice this humming sound and then all of the sudden time has passed. And why are your pants down? Hey. That sounds like a personal problem. Don't bring me into this.

The 'Hood' Style Duggar Model: 21 Children With 11 mothers and 1 Dude (This Dude Has Made It To Wikipedia's List Of People With The Most Children)

Desmond Hatchett, 29, has almost two dozen children by 11 different women, unfortunately his minimum wage job doesn’t allow him to take care of them all, reports Tampa Bay News.

Labor Secretary For Clinton Secretary Schools Romney: 4% Unemployment Came After Education Investments, Tax Hikes On Rich

Speaking in Pittsburgh yesterday, Mitt Romney said that “anything over 4% [unemployment] is not cause for celebration.” The United States last achieved a sub-4% unemployment rate in December 2000, the end of President Clinton’s term.

Why Politicians Swarm Hispanic Festivals And Latino Community Events

With the intersection of Cinco de Mayo and an election year in which Latino voters are likely to play a definitive role, President Barack Obama’s quick pivot this week from a party to immigration policy isn’t unique.

On Derby Day, How Republicans Help Millionaire Horse Owners Pay Less In Taxes

The 138th running of the Kentucky Derby is today, and more than 100,000 fans will pack Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to see the first leg of the Triple Crown. What they will also see is a select group of horse owners who get to pay less in taxes thanks to a hand-out from Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

The One Thing You Need To Know About Today’s Jobs Report

4.2 MILLION Private Sector Jobs

Most of the press coverage of today’s jobs report has been focused on the two topline findings — that the economy created a less-than-expected 115,000 jobs last month and that the unemployment rate edged down slightly to 8.1 percent. While these numbers are certainly important, they miss the forest for the trees.

Secret Service Scandal: Colombia Woman Says She Fled Country

BOGOTA, Colombia — A woman who says she was the prostitute who triggered the U.S. Secret Service scandal in Colombia said Friday that the agents involved were "idiots" for letting it happen, and declared that if she were a spy and sensitive information was available, she could have easily obtained it.

ECONOMY ADDED 115,000 JOBS LAST MONTH; UNEMPLOYMENT TICKS DOWN SLIGHTLY

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy added 115,000 jobs in April, well below expectations, while the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8.1 percent. The private sector added 130,000 jobs while the public sector shrunk. February’s total was revised up 19,000 jobs; March’s total was revised up 34,000. The broader U-6 measure of unemployment remained steady at 14.5 percent.

Heartland Institute Compares Climate Science Believers And Reporters To Mass ‘Murderers And Madmen’

The Heartland Institute has launched one of the most offensive billboard campaigns in U.S. history. The Chicago-based anti-science think tank is comparing all those who accept climate science — and the journalists who report on it accurately — to Charles Manson, the Unabomber, and Osama Bin Laden.

Economy Has Recovered All Private Sector Jobs Lost Since Obama Took Office

As of April, there are now more private sector jobs in the United States than there were in January 2009, when President Obama took office. You read that right. We have now replaced all of the private sector jobs lost while Obama has been president. And that was no mean feat, given that over the course of 2009, the private sector shed about 4.2 million jobs.

REVEALED: Full List Of ALEC’s Corporate Members

The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has been under fire lately after the 15 major corporations and organizations pulled their support for the conservative organization, which helps quietly implement corporate-backed legislation in statehouses across the country.

Galaxy S III Features: New Samsung Phone Ships With Camera Trickery, Motion Detection, And More (I Own The S2 But This New One Is Amazing!)

Now that Samsung has outed its Galaxy S III, it's time to ask the question: "So what's new?"

Patrick Lanzo, Georgia Bar Owner, Calls Obama 'N*****' On Road Sign Again 9 (Can This Dude Really Say With A Straight face, "I Ain't Racist?")

Georgia bar owner Patrick Lanzo of Paulding County has made habit of claiming he's not racist, an argument that becomes harder to make each time he decides to display the n-word on a large roadside sign outside his establishment, the Georgia Peach Oyster Bar.

Congress Revolts On Obama Plan That Would Ban 'Buy American'

WASHINGTON -- A group of 68 House Democrats and one Republican sent a letter to President Barack Obama on Thursday urging him to reconsider an element of the controversial free trade agreement currently being negotiated by the administration. If approved in its current form, the pact would effectively ban "Buy American" policies in government contracting.

Why Ronald Reagan Didn’t Have To Hold A Single Reelection Fundraiser

Conservative media outlets have been abuzz this week with a misleading detail from a new book and the Republican National Committee (RNC) has been only too happy to add fuel to the fire.

Neo-Nazi Spree Killer Called SB 1070 Sponsor Russell Pearce His ‘Surrogate Father’

Yesterday, J.T. Ready, a neo-Nazi and member of the anti-immigrant Minutemen Civil Defense Corps, reportedly strapped on body armor, grabbed several firearms, and then killed four people in Gilbert, Arizona. One of the dead is a toddler. Ready also was killed in this incident, although reports vary on whether he took his own life. At the time of his death, Ready was running for Pinal County sheriff.

If This President Actually Did It, Why Can't He Talk About It! (Bin Laden AD)

Apparently, it is in poor taste for a politician to politicize a decision he made as it relates to policy. Yes, in the latest chapter of the condemnation of convenience culture we’re currently soiling ourselves in, President Barack Obama’s re-election campaign is taking many hits in various directions for his latest Osama bin Laden-focused campaign ad. The former President Bill Clinton-narrated clip highlights the “harder and the more honorable path” our current commander-in-chief took in ordering the assassination of the terrorist leader, while asking, “Which path would Mitt Romney have taken?”

ALEC’s Top Five Anti-Environment ‘Model’ Laws

The American Legislative Exchange Council, a“stealth business lobbyist” that helps corporations write state and federal legislation supporting their interests, has taken major heat for its backing of controversial laws.

The Very 1st Negro League Game Played 92 Years Ago Today

Although the origins of Negro Leagues Baseball cover a wide expanse of teams and leagues dating back into the 1800s, many baseball historians and enthusiasts point to the inaugural season of the Negro National League in 1920 on this day as the official start of the Black Baseball’s “Golden Age.”

A Primary Care Doctor Explains Why Attacking Prevention Is Not Fiscally Sound

This weekend, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) defendeda GOP bill that offsets the costs of extending lower interest rates on federal student loans by eliminating the Prevention and Public Health Fund, a provision of the Affordable Care Act that seeks to bolster public and preventive health. Other opponents of the Prevention fund have maligned it as a “slush fund.”

Cornel West Calls Mitt Romney 'A Catastrophic Response To A Catastrophe' (Dude Could Not Wait To Hit At The President)

On Wednesday The Huffington Post again visited New York's Loews Regency Hotel, the self-proclaimed home of the "Power Breakfast."

Jonathan Vilma Suspended For 2012 NFL Season: Four Players Punished For Roles In Saints Bounty Program

New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma was suspended without pay for the entire 2012 season by the NFL, one of four players punished Wednesday for participating in the team's cash-for-hits bounty system.

North Carolina Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment 1 Reportedly Written To Protect 'Caucasian Race'

The wife of a North Carolina state senator reportedly told poll workers during early voting Monday that an amendment sponsored by her husband was intended partially to protect the Caucasian race.

Romney’s Openly-Gay Spokesperson Resigns After Facing Pressure From Anti-Gay Right Wing

Richard Grenell, the openly-gay conservative foreign policy spokesperson hired by Mitt Romney, has resigned from the campaignfollowing right-wing pressure, the Washington Post’s Jennifer Rubin reports. “[M]y ability to speak clearly and forcefully on the issues has been greatly diminished by the hyper-partisan discussion of personal issues that sometimes comes from a presidential campaign,” Grenell said in a statement, which came less than two weeks after he was hired. Conservative groups like the American Family Foundation painted Grenell as a “homosexual activist” and condemned Romney for bringing him on board. From his statement:

5 Things That ‘Basketball Wives’ And Jerry Springer Have In Common (Shaunie! Shaunie! Shaunie! Shaunie!) Get It!

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

Last week, I wrote an article proclaiming the “outstanding” television drama,“Basketball Wives,” to be the “New Jerry Springer Show.” Some people didn’t quite see where the analogy fit, but since that time, a few sites — including The Grio — have seen the light and run similar pieces, so I must be on to something.
To further prove my case, I thought I’d toss together an admittedly sarcastic list of things that “Basketball Wives” has in common with the “Jerry Springer Show”:

Stephen King: 'Tough Shit... I'm Not Tired Of Talking About' Raising Taxes On The Rich

Looks like the fight to raise taxes on rich people has found its latest ally -- and this one isn’t afraid to use a four letter word or two.

BlackBerry 10 Preview

New CEO. New operating system. New Research In Motion?

Freshly-installed RIM CEO Thorsten Heinstook the stage at the annual BlackBerry World conference to give, for the first time, a look at some of the features of BlackBerry 10, the BlackBerry operating system that Research In Motion hopes will turn around its floundering smartphone sales.

Supreme Court Favorability Hits New Low In New Pew Research

WASHINGTON -- Fifty-two percent of Americans hold a favorable view of the Supreme Court, a quarter-century low according to Pew Research Center, which released the polling data on Tuesday.

The Facts About The Death of Osama bin Laden

Obama: “I Said That We’d Go After bin Laden if We Had a Clear Shot at Him and I Did.”

This week marks the one-year anniversary of the death of Osama bin Laden. The president’s campaign has taken the opportunity to remind the American people of one of his greatest achievements, as well as Mitt Romney’s very different record on the issue. As a result, the Romney campaign and some in the media like Arianna Huffington have accused the president of “politicizing” the occasion.

Republicans Won’t Offset Cost Of Extending The Bush Tax Cuts

Since taking control of the House, Republicans have pushed to offset the costs of everything from emergency disaster reliefto unemployment benefits and tax cuts for the middle class. Their singular goal, they have said, is to cut the deficit and debt, and their willing to gut social safety net programs, including Medicare, to do it.

MAY DAY CHARTS: We Don’t Currently Reward Our Workers

The 99 Percent Movement is bringing May Day, the worldwide annual celebration of labor, to the United States today with protests in over 135 cities. The theme of the protests is “A Day Without the 99 Percent,” and occupiers are encouraging people to spend the day outside of the U.S. economy. According to the May Day organizing site for New York, “It’s a day to recognize the value of our work, and the power we have to collectively change our working conditions and our world.”

Act Like a Brother, and Think Like a Man: Should You Have Sex on the First Date?

By Dr. Boyce Watkins

Ree, The (Ree)lationship Guide recently wrote a very nice article on the reasons that it doesn’t make sense to have sex on the first date. While the article was very good, I also wanted to give a man’s perspective. It seems that there are times when we put too much weight on women to make all the hard decisions (no pun intended), but I wanted to explain why men may also want to think twice before accepting access to any sex organ offered by a pretty girl.

Sgt. Major Teresa King, 1st female US Army boss, fights removal

COLUMBIA, South Carolina (AP) -- The first woman to command the U.S. Army's drill sergeant training took legal action Monday to reclaim her job, alleging she was improperly suspended last year because of sexism and racism and demanding that two of her superiors be investigated for abuse of their authority.

SIGAR Report Finds Afghanistan Reconstruction Compromised By Security, Corruption

WASHINGTON -- Afghan reconstruction efforts remain severely hampered even after nearly $100 billion in spending over the last 10 years, according to a new watchdog report. The most immediate challenge stem from the insistence by Afghanistan's government that the private army of hired guns providing security for ongoing projects be replaced with Afghan locals, who do not appear to be up to the job, the report noted.

AZ Lawmakers Lash Out At Imaginary United Nations Conspiracy With Assault On All Poverty & Environmental Laws

Earlier this year, Texas U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz touted a bizarre conspiracy theoryclaiming that George Soros secretly partnered with the United Nations to eliminate the game of golf. Seriously, we aren’t making this up.

Top Republican Strategist Denies Women Are Paid Less Than Men

This morning, during a heated discussion with Rachel Maddow on Meet The Press, GOP consultant Alex Castellanos denied that women make 77 cents for a man’s dollar in the workplace and noted, “there are lots of reasons for that.” Maddow expressed shock at the assertion, but concluded that it explained why Republicans and Mitt Romney are so hesitant to embrace the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, a law that helps women hold accountable employers who discriminate in the pay practices based on gender.

Sunday The 29th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

So, we're going to have a lot of war on terror talk with John Brennan. And then Joel and Victoria Osteen are here? For some reason? And then paneling, with the Fox third stringers.

White House Correspondents Dinner 2012: "Why Is Kim Kardashian Famous Anyway?"

WASHINGTON — This year's primaries, the 2008 primaries, the General Services Administration scandal, even the Secret Service and Donald Trump were targets for President Barack Obama's scattershot humor at Saturday night's celebrity studded White House Correspondents Dinner.

Georgetown University President: We Will Continue Providing Birth Control To Our Employees

Since the Obama administration promulgated a new rule requiring employers and insurers to provide preventive health care services — including contraception coverage — some Catholic institutions have taken great offense to the regulation and accused the White House of waging a war against their religious objection to birth control. The rule exempts religious institutions and affiliated organizations from providing the benefit and offers employers a year-long grace period to implement the measure.

Eric Fehrnstrom: Auto Bailout Was Mitt Romney's Idea

Top Mitt Romney adviser Eric Fehrnstrom claimed that President Obama's auto bailout was the GOP presidential hopeful's idea.

FCC VOTES FOR ONLINE TRANSPARENCY OF POLITICAL ADVERTISEMENT PURCHASES

By a two-to-one vote, the Federal Communications Commission voted today to require broadcasters to make previously hard-to-find public records available online. Within two years, they will have to post in an FCC online database their “public file” including who purchased or attempted to purchase air time for political advertisements and how much they paid for it. This information is currently only available by showing up, in person, at each television or radio station, and there are often bureaucratic barriers to actually accessing the information. While this additional transparency will not allow citizens to know who is funding shady independent ads, it will at least allow them to track where the spending is going and how much is being spent for each airtime purchase. The two Democrats on the Commission voted for the rules, the lone Republican voted against.

OVER 111,000 PEOPLE HAVE SIGNED A PETITION DENOUNCING REP. FOXX’S DISPARAGING COMMENTS ABOUT PEOPLE WITH STUDENT LOANS

Earlier this month, ThinkProgress first reported Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC) remarks showing distaste for people with large student loans. “I have very little tolerance” for them, Foxx declared on a conservative radio show. Her comments have since been widely criticized, including in a speech by President Obama earlier this week. Rebuild the Dream also began a petition drive to denounce Foxx; in less than two weeks, over 111,000 people have added their names.

What Everyone Who Uses The Internet Needs To Know About CISPA

Congress is on the cusp of passing a new bill that could threaten any internet user’s civil liberties. The Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act, a digital equivalent of allowing the government to fight perceived threats by monitoring which books citizens check out from the library, passed the House yesterday and will now be taken up by the Senate.

Yvette Clarke, New York Rep., Notifies Police After Video Of Her Surfaces On Breitbart, Beck Sites

Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.) notified the Capitol Police Thursday after receiving threatening phone calls, after a video of her appearing to criticize the Tea Party was posted on several conservative websites, according to a release from her office.

Student Loan Interest Rate Bill That Cuts Health Care Program Passes House

WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives advanced a bill Friday that funds cheaper student loans by cutting a preventive health care program -- sparking a heated battle in which House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) accused Democrats of manufacturing a war on women.

Civil Rights Activist Ray Robinson's Disappearance AT Wounded Knee

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — When civil rights activistRay Robinson arrived at Wounded Knee in April 1973 to stand alongside Native Americans in their fight against social injustice, he excitedly called his wife back home and told her, “This could be the spark that lights the prairie fire.”

The GOP’s Women Problem, Presented By GOP Women

In a combative speech on the Senate floor this morning, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) called a Democrats’ accusations that the GOP is waging a war on women “phony,” “outlandish,” and a distraction.”

American Corporations Are Adding More Jobs Overseas Than They Are At Home

With the nation’s unemployment rate still above eight percent, millions of Americans are looking for work, and the country’s biggest corporations are hiring. According to a new report from the Wall Street Journal, however, many of those corporations areadding jobs overseas at a faster pace than they are at home. Even worse, others are cutting their domestic workforces while adding jobs in other countries at a rapid pace:

Conservative Group Club For Growth To Congress: Let Student Loan Rates Double

The House will vote today on a bill to prevent the interest rate on government-backed student loans from doubling. Both Republicans and Democrats support the extension on the lower rate, but not theClub for Growth, the deep-pocketed political group backed by wealthy conservative donors, especially from the financial sector.

Did You Like George W. Bush’s Foreign Policy?

Mitt Romney’s Misguided, Mistaken, and Misbegotten Foreign Policy

Today, Vice President Biden gave a speech at New York University laying out a broad attack on Mitt Romney — a candidate whose only foreign policy experience comes from shipping jobs overseas — and his approach to foreign policy. Biden said that Romney was relying on the American people developing a ”collective amnesia” about the policies of the past — namely those of the Bush administration and the Cold War — that Romney is advocating a return to. Romney’s desire for amnesia is probably particularly true when it comes to a disastrous press call that his campaign held today in order to attempt to attack the president on foreign policy.

Arrest Made In Phylicia Barnes’ Murder

Baltimore police have arrested Michael Johnson in the murder of Monroe, N.C., 16-year-old Phylicia Barnes, who was murdered as she visited her half-siblings in the area, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Woman Says, "I THOUGHT I WAS TAKING A S88T" While Giving Birth & Drowning Her Child In The Toilet!!!!

What kind of "Shit" is this to not know that you are pregnant, and to live at home with your parents and they not know you are pregnant. This is just some sad shit here, sorry to curse but this is just sad! And to some point I don't feel anything for this lady, and I use that term loosely! I will re-post a link to a video that has had me thinking about this ever since I first saw it.  Yes, the dude curses a lot but we need to be cursed at for some of the stuff we just do, and the decisions we make.  As long as we learn something! Wish I could meet a black women and have kids, but during these times the nice guy is himself shitted on, and not wanted by black women today.  Anyhow, to see this 'lady' shit out her kid and have no idea as to what was happening, or that the act she did several months prior could cause the act of child birth is quite alarming. The girls mother hides behind the usual stuff when talking on camera like religion, ignorance, and denial, but this 'shit' is getting old.

Mad Cow or Foot-and-mouth disease vaccine developed in US

With the US livestock industry on alert after a diagnosis of "mad cow" disease in California, the BBC has gained rare access to a high-security compound where a vaccine for another deadly animal virus is close to completion.

Latin American indigenous groups join forces to fight dams

When Brazilian indigenous leader Tashka Yawanawa saw the news on television that communities from Peru were campaigning to prevent the construction of dams close to their land, he had no doubt about how he could help.

Black Teen Beaten By Jewish Brothers Breaks Down On Stand

BALTIMORE — The teenager who authorities said was beaten in a neighborhood watch case in Baltimore that drew comparisons with the Trayvon Martin shooting refused to testify from the witness stand on Wednesday, prompting the judge ultimately to excuse him.

House GOP Would Kick 280,000 Children Off School Lunch Program To Protect Tax Cut For Millionaires

House Republicans recently proposed cuts to nutrition assistance that will kick 280,000 low-income children off automatic enrollment in the Free School Lunch and Breakfast Program. Those same kids and 1.5 million other people will also lose their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly food stamp benefits) that help them afford food at home.

The Truth About Clean Energy Jobs

It’s time to take back the narrative about clean energy.

Since the bankruptcy of a few high-profile clean energy companies, political opponents and media pundits have tried to label the entire industry a failure. This is a gross distortion of the on-the-ground reality — and it shows how disconnected people are from what’s really happening in this sector.

Military Shift Campaign Donations From Ron Paul To Obama In March

The Army Times reported in February that anti-war GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul (R-TX) was at that time, “by far,” getting the most in campaign contributions from members of the United States military. According to a review of Federal Election Commission data, Paul received nearly $250,000 in donations from servicemembers, President Obama, $130,000 and GOP presidential frontrunner Mitt Romney just $23,000.

Obama 'Slow Jams The News' With Jimmy Fallon (VIDEO)

On Wednesday night, President Barack Obama did what no president has done before: He slow jammed the news with Jimmy Fallon and The Roots on "Late Night."

The Carlton Dance Classic Black Culture! (Fresh Prince Memories)

Lead by : Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton Himself!)

Black Kids After Beating White Man: Now That’s Justice For Trayvon

A group of Black youths allegedly beat a White man who asked them to stop playing basketball in front of his house in Mobile, Alabama, reports Local15TV.

Ann Romney: ‘I Love The Fact That There Are Women Out There Who Don’t Have A Choice’ And ‘Must Go To Work’

In an emotional speech about the difficulty of motherhood and life on the campaign trail, Ann Romney used an odd choice of words to discuss mothers who are forced to work while raising their children.

Economists: Higher Tax Rates On The Rich Won’t Hurt Growth

According to the constant refrain from Republicans in Congress, the reason that tax rates can’t be raised on anyone, even the already super-wealthy, is because doing so will hurt economic growth. However, two prominent economists — Nobel Prize winner Peter Diamond and John Bates Clark award winner Emmanuel Saez — write in today’s Wall Street Journal that theconservative theory is basically bunk:

CALIFORNIA TO VOTE ON WHETHER TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY

This November, Californians will decide whether to outlaw the death penalty in their state. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen’s office announced this morning that more than 800,000 people signed onto the SAFE California Act of 2012, which would ban the death penalty and set aside $100 million dollars to solve rape and murder crimes. If the ballot initiative is passed, those with death row sentences would be sentenced instead to life without parole. If California voters approve this ballot initiative, they would follow a national trend away from state-sponsored executions.

Chris Matthews Calls Republican Party 'Grand Wizard Crowd' (VIDEO)

MSNBC's Chris Matthews compared members of the Republican Party to the Ku Klux Klan on his show Monday night. He quickly walked his comments back after a guest challenged his remarks.

Taxpayer-Funded Crisis Pregnancy Centers Using Religion To Oppose Abortion

WASHINGTON -- If you want to help carry out the anti-abortion mission of the taxpayer-funded Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center, you have to be a Christian.

An ‘Update’ To The Bush Years?

New GOP Economic Plan is Same as Previous Disastrous GOP Economic Plan

In nearly every policy area, Republicans from Mitt Romney on down the line have been proposing that we go back to the disastrous policies of the Bush administration — only on steroids. For example, Mitt Romney not only wants to keep the Bush tax cuts for the rich, he wants even more tax cuts for the very wealthiest Americans. The total tab for his tax cut package would be an astounding four times larger than that of the Bush tax cuts.

Eight of the Top Ten 2012 Super PAC Donors Are Republicans

Last January, a study found that seventeen of the top twenty political donors areRepublicans or conservatives. Last night, USA Today published a similar roundup of Super PAC donors in the 2012 cycle, and they found exactly the same pattern. Eight of the top ten Super PAC donors areRepublicans or corporations who donate exclusively to Republicans. One is theCooperative of American Physicians, a group of physicians focused on mitigating the cost of malpractice liability thatsupports a single Democrat. The other non-Republican group is a teachers union.

OBAMA HAS RECEIVED LEAST FAVORABLE NEWS COVERAGE SO FAR DURING 2012 ELECTION CYCLE

With friends like these, who needs negative campaign ads? While a friendly press in the tank for President Obama may fit nicely into the right’s narrative of liberal bias in the press, a new study from the Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism shows that of all the presidential candidates during this election cycle, President Obama has had the least favorable coverage by the news media. Since January, presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney has actually enjoyed twice as much positive coverage as President Obama.

Half Of Recent College Graduates Are Jobless Or Underemployed

The disappearance of mid-level jobs during the Great Recession, along with overall high unemployment, have made it hard for recent college graduates to find good jobs upon leaving school. More than 50 percent of college graduates under age 25 are either jobless or underemployed, according to an analysis from Drexel University and the Economic Policy Institute:

Adobe CS6 Features: New Photoshop, Creative Cloud, Subscription Model Announced

NEW YORK -- Adobe is launching the latest version of its software package for designers and Web developers.

Allen West Ousted From NAACP Event Over Communist Remark

WASHINGTON -- It turns out calling Democratic lawmakers "Communists" has some consequences.

George Zimmerman, Man Accused Of Shooting Trayvon Martin, Released From Florida Jail On $150,000 Bail (VIDEO)

MIAMI — In a low-key event, George Zimmerman was released from a Florida jail in the middle of the night on $150,000 bail as he awaits his second-degree murder trial in the fatal shooting of unarmed teen Trayvon Martin.

Shift on Executive Power Lets Obama Bypass Rivals

WASHINGTON — One Saturday last fall, President Obamainterrupted a White House strategy meeting to raise an issue not on the agenda. He declared, aides recalled, that the administration needed to more aggressively use executive power to govern in the face of Congressional obstructionism.

Two Brothers Go on Trial in Beating of Black Teen In Baltimore

BALTIMORE – Two brothers accused of beating a black teenager while patrolling an Orthodox Jewish neighborhood are set to go on trial Monday in a case with similarities to the Trayvon Martin shooting.

Black Tulsa: Nothing Has Changed Since Shootings, Still ‘Vietnam’

TULSA, Okla. (AP) — For a moment, someone was actually paying attention to what was going on in Jermaine Wilson’s north Tulsa neighborhood.

Abused Wife ‘Stands Her Ground,’ Faces 20 Year Prison Sentence (Updated)

Florida’s controversial “Stand Your Ground” law has been at the center of the Trayvon Martincase because former neighborhood watch captain, George Zimmerman, 28, claims that he acted in self-defense and, under the law, he had every right to meet force with force.

More Than One-Third Of All U.S. Executions Took Place In Texas

The Economist maps out every American execution since 1976, when the Supreme Court announced the modern constitutional regime governing death penalty cases after effectively suspending all executions nationwide for four years. Over one-third of all executions during this period took place in Texas, for a total of 481 people killed by that state. Of the remaining, non-Texas executions, the overwhelming majority are clustered in a small group of southern states:

Sunday April 22nd, 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

So today, sad Senator Joe Lieberman is going to be talking about the Secret Service Sexxy Sexx Scandal, and Mitch Daniels will be talking about who will maybe be Mitt Romney's Vice President. Maybe Mitch Daniels? Will it be you, boo? And there's going to be a panel, as per usual.

'Think Like A Man' Wins Box Office With $33 Million, Beating 'Lucky One,' 'Hunger Games' And 'Chimpanzee'

LOS ANGELES — The date-night movies "Think Like a Man" and "The Lucky One" finally have knocked "The Hunger Games" off its No. 1 box-office perch.

Arizona Immigration Law Arriving At Supreme Court This Week

WASHINGTON -- On Wednesday morning, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the federal government's challenge to the Grand Canyon state's controversial anti-immigration law, S.B. 1070.

Politicization Of Domestic Violence

For the first time since its original passage in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is facing a fight. If you aren’t familiar with the bill, it is an effective and beneficial effort to prevent domestic violence and aid victims of domestic or sexual abuse. Originally written and introduced by then-Sen. Joe Biden (D-DE), the bill has been reauthorized twice, and both times has enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Until now. This time, Republicans have decided to hold the bill hostage. Why? Because of added provisions that expand the classes of victims who would be protected — specifically, Native Americans, the LGBT community, and undocumented immigrants. That’s right, Republicans are opposed to broadening the number of people this country protects from being beaten, strangled, and raped. Attorney General Eric Holder condemned Congress this week, saying it was “inconceivable” that the bill faced opposition. Vice President Biden tore into the Republicans too, saying, “This is an issue that has been something that, at least I hoped and thought we were beyond questioning the need.”

Iowa GOP Congressional Candidate Doubts Whether Obama ‘Loves This Country’ Because Of Buffett Rule Support

A Republican congressional candidate in Iowa told a Tea Party audience yesterday that President Obama does not love his country because he supports raising taxes on millionaires.

62 Percent Of Karl Rove’s $123 Million In ‘Crossroads’ Fundraising Comes From Secret Donors

The Karl Rove-linked American Crossroads Super PAC and Crossroads GPS 501(c)(4) organizations have thesame president, same spokesman, same mailingaddress, and same right-wing ideology. Both groups can, thanks to the Citizens United and SpeechNow.orgrulings, accept unlimited sums of money from individuals and corporations — a privilege they’ve wielded to raise $100 million for the 2012 cycle alone and to run millions of dollars worth of political television ads. But one key difference separates the two entities: disclosure. While American Crossroads must publicly identify its major contributors, Crossroads GPS does not make the names of any of its donors public.