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Sotomayor 'Reverse Racist, Hack'

Rush Limbaugh blasted President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court pick Tuesday, calling Judge Sonia Sotomayor a “reverse racist” and a “hack.”

“Here you have a racist — you might want to soften that, and you might want to say a reverse racist,” Limbaugh said on his show. He was referring to a now notorious statement of Sotomayor’s in which she said that a “wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life.”

Liberals, "of course, say that minorities cannot be racists because they don't have the power to implement their racism,” said Limbaugh, whose remarks were later reported by Politico. “Well, those days are gone, because reverse racists certainly do have the power. ... Obama is the greatest living example of a reverse racist, and now he's appointed one.”

Limbaugh was not optimistic that Republicans would muster the will to back a filibuster of the candidate.

“The odds that she could be stopped are long,” Limbaugh said. He called moderate Republicans like former Secretary of State Colin Powell “completely useless” in the fight against Obama’s pick.

“When the rubber hits the road, such as in this nomination, where are these moderate Republican groups on the nomination? Where are the moderate senators? Where is Colin Powell? Where is Tom Ridge?” Limbaugh asked.

“I'm the one doing the heavy lifting. Colin Powell panders to moderate Republicans,” he said. “If the moderates in the Republican Party offer no way to address this danger, then they are useless

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

Barack Obama and Dick Cheney have been going at each other all week. It’s like big-time wrestling. It’s like charisma vs. arrhythmia.

I can’t believe Dick Cheney. He keeps giving speeches, and he’s appearing on TV news shows. It’s like he thinks he’s still president.

Before she left for China, reporters repeatedly questioned House Speaker Nancy Pelosi about her claim that the CIA lied to her, but Pelosi remained tight-lipped . . . she also remained tight-foreheaded and tight-eye-lidded.

In fact, before she left, Pelosi told the press she's not going to have any further comment on this whole controversy about the CIA. That's it. No more talking, she's not going to say another word. Why can’t we get this deal with Joe Biden?

Craig Ferguson

Happy Memorial Day. I have to work because CBS won't let me have the day off. Memorial Day is CBS Latin for "Make the immigrant work the holiday."

I wonder what President Obama did this weekend for Memorial Day. He probably spent the day with the new pet: throwing him sticks, watching him slobber and get all excited . . . what's the pet's name? Oh — Joe Biden.

Memorial Day is an important day of remembrance. It originally was called Decoration Day. How do we celebrate it? Sales on mattresses.

Jimmy Fallon

North Korea detonated an underground nuclear weapon today. So I guess they'll be ready if they're ever attacked by gophers.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is going to debate climate change with the Chinese. She'll do fine — these negotiations always come down to whoever blinks first.

Honolulu just conducted the first-ever, all-digital elections. No voting booths. People cast their votes online or by phone. Everyone should congratulate Honolulu's new mayor — a piano-playing cat.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

The big story is the Supreme Court. President Obama has found his nominee. She is Federal Appeals Judge Sonia Sotomayor. A Latino woman. You know what that means — Ruth Bader Ginsburg will no longer be the hot chick on the court.

If confirmed she would be the country’s first Hispanic justice. Her first order of business? Deporting Lou Dobbs.

The Republicans were a little disappointed. When they heard Obama say he might appoint a minority, they said, “Oh great, a Republican!” Then they realized.

Judge Sotomayor seemed overwhelmed today. She said it really won’t sink in until she hears Rush Limbaugh say he hopes she fails. Then she knows . . .

Craig Ferguson

"Night at the Museum" made a bazillion dollars over the weekend. There's a sex museum in Amsterdam — I hope that's where they make the next one.

I would hate to actually spend a real night in a museum. All those ancient fossils and dusty old bones . . . if I wanted that I'd watch "60 Minutes."

The museum I do like is Madam Tussauds Wax Museum in London. There's a figure of Sean Connery that's very lifelike. You can tell it's fake only because he's holding a drink that still has some left in it.

Jimmy Fallon

President Obama has nominated Sonia Sotomayor as the first female Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court. Obama said it will help keep the court from leaning too far to the white.

She grew up in the Bronx. She said, "Don't be fooled by the robes I got, I'm still Sonia from the block."

North Korea test-fired two missiles after they detonated a nuclear bomb. OK North Korea we get it — you have a small penis.

In West Virginia, a clown returning from a kid's party was arrested for drunk driving. Police say he tried to turn the breathalizer into a giraffe.

North Korea Threatens War Against U.S., South Korea

SEOUL, South Korea -- North Korea threatened military action Wednesday against U.S. and South Korean warships plying the waters near the Koreas' disputed maritime border, raising the specter of a naval clash just days after the regime's underground nuclear test.

Pyongyang, reacting angrily to Seoul's decision to join an international program to intercept ships suspected of aiding nuclear proliferation, called the move tantamount to a declaration of war.

"Now that the South Korean puppets were so ridiculous as to join in the said racket and dare declare a war against compatriots," North Korea is "compelled to take a decisive measure," the Committee for the Peaceful Reunification of Korea said in a statement carried by state media.

Seoul's decision comes at a time when "the state of military confrontation is growing acute and there is constant danger of military conflict," the statement warned.

South Korea's military said Wednesday it was prepared to "respond sternly" to any North Korean provocation.

North Korea's latest belligerence comes as the U.N. Security Council debates how to punish the regime for testing a nuclear bomb Monday in what President Barack Obama called a "blatant violation" of international law.

Ambassadors from the five permanent veto-wielding council members - the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France - as well as Japan and South Korea were working out the details of a new resolution.

South Korea, divided from the North by a heavily fortified border, had responded to the nuclear test by joining the Proliferation Security Initiative, a U.S.-led network of nations seeking to stop ships from transporting the materials used in nuclear bombs.

Seoul previously resisted joining the PSI in favor of seeking reconciliation with Pyongyang, but pushed those efforts aside Monday after the nuclear test in the northeast.

North Korea warned Wednesday that any attempt to stop, board or inspect its ships would constitute a "grave violation."

The regime also said it could no longer promise the safety of U.S. and South Korean warships and civilian vessels in the waters near the Korea's western maritime border.

"They should bear in mind that the (North) has tremendous military muscle and its own method of strike able to conquer any targets in its vicinity at one stroke or hit the U.S. on the raw, if necessary," it said.

The maritime border has long been a flashpoint between the two Koreas. North Korea disputes the line unilaterally drawn by the United Nations at the end of the Koreas' three-year war in 1953, and has demanded it be redrawn further south.

The truce signed in 1953 and subsequent military agreements call for both sides to refrain from warfare, but doesn't cover the waters off the west coast.

North Korea has used the maritime border dispute to provoke two deadly naval skirmishes _ in 1999 and 2002.

On Wednesday, the regime promised "unimaginable and merciless punishment" for anyone daring to challenge its ships.

Pyongyang also reportedly restarted its weapons-grade nuclear plant, South Korean media said.

The Chosun Ilbo newspaper said U.S. spy satellites detected signs of steam at the North's Yongbyon nuclear complex, an indication it may have started reprocessing nuclear fuel. The report, which could not be confirmed, quoted an unidentified government official. South Korea's Yonhap news agency also carried a similar report.

The move would be a major setback for efforts aimed at getting North Korea to disarm.

North Korea had stopped reprocessing fuel rods as part of an international deal. In 2007, it agreed to disable the Yongbyon reactor in exchange for aid and demolished a cooling tower at the complex.

The North has about 8,000 spent fuel rods which, if reprocessed, could allow it to harvest 13 to 18 pounds (six to eight kilograms) of plutonium _ enough to make at least one nuclear bomb, experts said. North Korea is believed to have enough plutonium for at least a half dozen atomic bombs.

Further ratcheting up tensions, North Korea test-fired five short-range missiles over the past two days, South Korean officials confirmed.

A North Korean newspaper, Minju Joson, said in commentary Wednesday that Pyongyang does not fear repercussions for its actions.

"It is a laughable delusion for the United States to think that it can get us to kneel with sanctions," it said. "We've been living under U.S. sanctions for decades, but have firmly safeguarded our ideology and system while moving our achievements forward. The U.S. sanctions policy toward North Korea is like striking a rock with a rotten egg."

Sotomayor Majority Opinions Reversed 60% by Supreme Court

With Judge Sonia Sotomayor already facing questions over her 60 percent reversal rate, the Supreme Court could dump another problem into her lap next month if, as many legal analysts predict, the court overturns one of her rulings upholding a race-based employment decision.

Three of the five majority opinions Judge Sotomayor wrote for the 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court reviewed were reversed, providing a potent line of attack opponents raised Tuesday after President Obama announced he will nominate the 54-year-old Hispanic woman to the high court.

"Her high reversal rate alone should be enough for us to pause and take a good look at her record. Frankly, it is the Senates duty to do so," said Wendy Wright, president of Concerned Women for America.

But opponents have an uphill battle.

Judge Sotomayor has been confirmed for the federal bench twice: unanimously in 1992, when President George H.W. Bush nominated her to a district court, and by a vote of 67-29 in 1998, after President Clinton nominated her to the appeals court. Seven Republicans who voted for her in 1997 are still in the Senate, and White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said "they're certainly well positioned to support her again."

Mr. Gibbs dismissed questions about Judge Sotomayor's reversal rate, saying she wrote 380 majority opinions during her 11 years on the appeals court. Of those 380 opinions, the Supreme Court heard five of the cases and overturned her on three.

"The totality of the record is one that's more important to look at, rather than, like I said, some out-of-context or clipped way of looking at it," Mr. Gibbs said.

While Democratic senators were quick to back Judge Sotomayor, Republicans took a wait-and-see approach, saying they will judge her by her answers at her confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Still, Republicans will be under pressure from conservative and libertarian activist groups, who say the questions are mounting. The activists are looking forward to the Supreme Court's expected ruling next month in the Ricci case on race-based employment promotions.

Court watchers predict a majority of justices will rule in favor of New Haven, Conn., firefighters who said the city discriminated against them after it tested them for promotions, then scrapped the results after it realized a disproportionate number of whites would be promoted. Judge Sotomayor was part of a unanimous three-judge panel that issued an unsigned opinion ruling against the firefighters and in favor of the city.

"Given the way she recently all but dismissed the Ricci case ... and the expectation, based on oral argument, that the Supreme Court will reverse the 2nd Circuit decision, there will likely be an extremely contentious confirmation battle ahead," said Roger Pilon, vice president for legal affairs at the Cato Institute. "If confirmation hearings are scheduled for summer, they will follow shortly upon the Courts decision in that explosive case."

The White House was cognizant of the danger that case could present. An administration official, briefing reporters after the announcement, said Judge Sotomayor was not specifically asked about the case since it may come back before the Supreme Court with her as a member.

But the official said Judge Sotomayor's reading of the law in the case was well founded and defendable.

"It was a unanimous decision by the panel that she sat on, it applied 2nd Circuit law very faithfully and did rely upon what was a very thoughtful, well-written district court opinion and adopted that opinion," the administration official said. The White House refused to allow the official to be quoted by name.

Maybe more so than her judicial rulings, Judge Sotomayor can expect to be asked about her temperament as a judge and about her remarks during speeches and conferences.

The Almanac of the Federal Judiciary lists a series of quotes from lawyers praising her legal ability, but she also drew barbs from lawyers who said she is abusive in the courtroom: "She really lacks judicial temperament," one lawyer told the publication.

In 2002, in a speech in California, Judge Sotomayor said race or sex does affect a judge's rulings, and said because of that, a minority woman is a better decider than a white man: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experience would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life."

Three years later, at a panel discussion at Duke Law School, she seemed to endorse judicial activism on the appeals courts, telling students considering clerkships: "Court of Appeals is where policy is made. And I know - I know this is on tape, and I should never say that because we don't make law. I know."

A clip of the Duke comment on YouTube has been widely accessed by conservative activists.

Mr. Gibbs said the YouTube clip does not do justice to the context of Judge Sotomayor's comments, and said her record on the courts will be her answer to critics.

"The president is very convinced that people will look at the full context of this and not rely on, as I said, a small, short, out-of-context YouTube clip, and more importantly look at the basis of her entire record. I think you come to a broader understanding of who she is and what she meant," Mr. Gibbs

NKorea Blast Obama's 'Moment of Truth'

President Barack Obama, who has been reaching out to anti-American regimes, faces "a moment of truth" with North Korea's nuclear test, former US ambassador to the UN, John Bolton said Monday.

Bolton, who was an outspoken hardliner under George W. Bush, also warned that the claimed test is a bad omen in the Middle East "given the cooperation" between North Korea and Iran on ballistic missiles.

The North Koreans "were looking for an excuse for another test because their first test in 2006 fizzled," Bolton said on Fox News.

"The Obama administration gave them that opportunity. The special envoy, Stephen Bosworth said about two weeks ago he didn't feel any sense of crisis and hoped to get back to the six-party talks," he added.

Under a six-party deal with the United States, China, Japan, South Korea and Russia in 2007, North Korea agreed to scrap its weapons-grade nuclear programs for energy aid.

"Another official said we'd be back to the talks within nine months. I think the North Koreans read it as a signal that they could get away with it. I think we are at a moment of real testing for the Obama administration," Bolton said.

The incident is "a real moment of truth for the Obama administration," he added.

"I think, at a minimum, the US should put North Korea on the list of state sponsors of terrorism," he said.

The Bush administration drew fire from hardliners when it removed North Korea last year from the US blacklist after North Korea verbally agreed to verifying denuclearization that it never confirmed in writing.

Bolton also called for a UN Security Council resolution that "imposes sanctions on their weapons programs and complete economic sanctions like the ones we had the council impose on Iraq after it invaded Kuwait in 1991."

He also said that, as what he calls a "persistent violator" of UN resolutions, it should be expelled under article six of the UN charter.

Bolton added that such a push within the UN would also be a "moment of truth" for China, a permanent council member which has resisted tougher action but which also says it wants to stop North Korea from acquiring atomic weapons.

Bolton also said the test has implications for the Middle East, where the United States suspects Iran of seeking a nuclear weapon with its uranium enrichment program.

"Given the cooperation between North Korea and Iran, there is reason to fear that North Korea and Iran may be sharing data on nuclear matters as they do on ballistic missiles," he said.

"This is a threat not just in northeast Asia, but potentially in the Middle East as well," he added.

Washington Post: Climate Bill Badly Flawed

The so-called cap and trade bill allegedly designed to drastically reduce carbon emissions is “badly flawed,” would cost the U.S. economy trillions of dollars, create a vast army of bureaucrats and make “The opportunities for waste, fraud and regulatory screw-up look enormous,” warns the Washington Post.

The American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill after its authors, is now awaiting action by the other committees of House of Representatives after being approved by the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

It is, the Post writes, a "monster piece of legislation that promises to reduce by 83 percent over the next 40 years the amount of carbon emitted into the atmosphere from American cars, power plants and factories.” According to the Post, there are few pieces of legislation that are “likely to have a more profound effect on the U.S. Economy.”

The bill, says Rep. Joseph Pitts, R-Pa., is a tax bill, warning that "No matter how it is doctored or tailored, it is a tax." Michigan Democratic Rep. John Dingell also has called it nothing less than a tax.

Aside from the fact that many scientists and other critics question the allegation that CO2, a benign gas essential to all plant life, is helping to create global warming, the almost 1,000-page bill would have a devastating effect on the average American family. If enacted, it would cost a U.S. family at least $3,100 a year in added expenses, and over a 20-year period result in the loss of 7 million jobs, Republican studies show.

Peter Orszag, the director of the Office of Management and Budget, admitted that a 15 percent cut in carbon dioxide emissions would slash Americans’ incomes. Testifying before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee last year, he stated that the lowest quintile of households would pay an average of $680 more each year for goods and services (3.3 percent of their incomes) and the highest would pay $2,180 more (1.7 percent of their incomes) than they would have in the absence of carbon rationing.

Writing in the Post, Steven Pearlstein explains that the bill would cause dramatic changes in the relative prices of energy and goods produced by energy-hungry industries, redistribute trillions of dollars in business sales and household income and generate hundreds of billions in government revenue.

All told, Pearlstein writes, it would be “the most dramatic extension of government's regulatory powers into the workings of the economy since the early days of the New Deal.”

The bill, he explains, would result in the creation of dozens of new government agencies having the authority to establish standards, dole out rebates and tax subsidies, and pick winning and losing technologies, even as it relies on newly created markets with newly created regulators to set prices and allocate resources.

According to Investor’s Business Daily, the bill awaits action by the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee and perhaps the Agriculture Committee as well and could be tied up for months before it can ever get a floor vote by the full House.

Pearlstein concludes that it’s not too late to change our minds about th

Cheney Swipes at Pelosi: She Demanded Briefing on Interrogations

Accusing President Obama of giving Americans "less than half the truth," former Vice President Dick Cheney said Thursday tough interrogation tactics worked, and said the tactics had the approval of members of Congress including current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

The former vice president said the president's attempt to find a middle ground that angers the right and the left is compromising American security: "in the fight against terrorism, there is no middle ground, and half-measures keep you half-exposed."

Mr. Cheney said tough interrogation tactics "were legal, essential, justified, successful and the right thing to do."

In the closest thing to a head-to-head debate between the former and current administrations, Mr. Cheney spoke minutes after Mr. Obama, speaking at the National Archives, delivered his own defense of his decisions to try to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; to suspend the use of the tough interrogation tactics; and to release memos detailing those tactics.

Mr. Cheney, who spoke at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank, called on his own experience as a top decision-maker after the Sept. 11 attacks to argue the new administration has lost sight of the threats and reasons for decisions made by Mr. Cheney and President George W. Bush.

The former vice president also tackled the ongoing dispute over who approved the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, arguing it had bipartisan support, including that of Mrs. Pelosi, and saying the questions Congress is raising now will only hurt the CIA.

"On numerous occasions, leading members of Congress, including the current speaker of the House, were briefed on the program and on the methods," he said, though he provided no details for the assertion.

Without naming the person, Mr. Cheney said "some members of Congress are notorious for demanding they be briefed into the most sensitive intelligence programs. They support them in private, and then head for the hills at the first sign of controversy."

Mrs. Pelosi has maintained that despite CIA records that show otherwise, she was not told about the enhanced techniques in a September 2002 briefing, though she acknowledged last week she was told in 2003 by her top intelligence aide. She said she didn't feel there was anything she could do to stop the use of the tactics short of trying to gain control of Congress.

Mr. Cheney repeated his belief that the Constitution and the resolution authorizing use of force against terrorists after Sept. 11 gave them the authority to let intelligence officers use "the tools and lawful authority they needed to gain vital information."

And he said the president has selectively declassified memos to try to confuse the understanding of those tactics and their successes.

"The released memos were carefully redacted to leave out references to what our government learned through the methods in question. Other memos, laying out specific terrorist plots that were averted, apparently were not even considered for release," Mr. Cheney said.

He said there has been a serious misunderstanding about the interrogation techniques and "a strange and sometimes willful attempt to conflate what happened at Abu Ghraib prison with the top secret program of enhanced interrogations."

And Mr. Cheney said the times the tactics, such as waterboarding, were used, it was because intelligence officers were trying to get specific information to prevent a future attack -- not out of vengeance or other motivation.

"Intelligence officers were not trying to get terrorists to confess to past killings; they were trying to prevent future killings," Mr. Obama said.

Of the memos that Mr. Obama did release, Mr. Cheney called it "flatly contrary to the national security interest of the United States."

Speaking across Washington at the National Archives, Mr. Obama said with the tactics already having been acknowledged in the press, and with his own action to ban the se of the techniques, there was no longer any reason to keep the specifics secret.

"I released these memos because there was no overriding reason to protect them," Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Obama did not address Mr. Cheney specifically, but seemed to be addressing many of the arguments the former vice president has made.

"Every now and then, there are those who think that America's safety and success requires us to walk away from the sacred principles enshrined in this building. We hear such voices today," Mr. Obama said.

Mr. Cheney accused Mr. Obama of duplicity for claiming to have ended the use of enhanced interrogation techniques, though Mr. Cheney said Mr. Obama has retained the right to authorize the tactics himself in the future.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

President Obama and former Vice President Dick Cheney spoke on torture yesterday. Obama spoke out against torture, and Cheney gave more of a "how-to" discussion.

Yesterday during a speech, Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that the CIA misleads us all the time. You know . . . unlike Congress.

California experienced another earthquake yesterday. California is the only state where you don't know what's going to bounce first — the ground from the earthquake or the check you get from the government.

The economy is bad. So bad, Joe Biden was seen standing outside the White House selling maps to politicians' secret locations.

Late Show Top Ten

Top Ten Things I've Learned During Fleet Week In New York City

10. Fish from the Hudson don't taste right (Petty Officer 1st Class Veronica McCoy)

9. There truly is no place like New York City during Tony Awards season (Petty Officer 2nd Class Damien Defazio)

8. I spent a month's pay on Yankee tickets (Capt. Nicholas Whitman)

7. I've seen many ships, but nothing surpasses Applebee's Baja Potato Boats (Petty Officer 1st Class Loretta Henderson)

6. Today's the perfect temperature . . . unless you're in Letterman's studio (Cpl. Robert Sandoval)

5. How do you people eat those street vendor hot dogs? (Lt. Cmdr. Carissa April)

4. Traffic lights are just for decoration (Gunnery Sgt. Sarah Nolan)

3. Katz's Deli has knishes that'll make you plotz (Lt. Brad Davis)

2. With zero percent financing there's never been a better time to buy a 2009 aircraft carrier (Petty Officer 1st Class Veda May)

1. Not everyone in a dress is a woman (Cmdr. Tony Ceraolo)

David Letterman

Scientists have repaired the Hubble telescope. They not only repaired it, they improved it. It's now the Hubble Kaleidoscope.

How about that Dick Cheney? He gave a speech on terror today. I guess it was well received. He was so excited he went outside and waterboarded people.

They found a 47 million-year-old fossil that they think may be the missing link between man and ape. And I thought, "Wait a minute — I thought that was the governor of California?"

Craig Ferguson

It was revealed today that the richest people in the world held a private meeting. People like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, and Oprah Winfrey got together to talk about whatever rich people talk about: "Aren't poor people bastards? They can't afford jets!"

I think they were trying to make sure the recession doesn't affect the money they give to charity. I wonder what they did after their meeting. They probably went sightseeing in New York, looking at all the landmarks . . . buying them . . .

If you want a secret meeting, is Manhattan really the place to go? It's full of reporters, bloggers, hobos . . . hobos who used to be stock brokers . . .

I have to say, if there's an upside to the recession, at least some of those bastards are getting it in the neck. We're all broke, but at least the stock brokers are broke too.

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Last night's "American Idol" was the second-lowest-rated "Idol" finale ever. Something like only 9 billion people watched.

If they want higher ratings, all they have to do is name the American Idol, then throw the old one in a volcano. Who wouldn't watch that?

Former Vice President Dick Cheney's been in the news a lot, attacking Obama. For eight years, he never said two words, now he's like Regis.

He's making so many speeches lately, I'm starting to think he's not dead.

Jimmy Fallon

The National Archives lost a harddrive with massive amounts of valuable data from the Clinton administration. It contained Bill Clinton’s “to-do” list — 500 people long.

A survey has found that 26 percent of people admit to texting while driving. The other 74 percent admitted to texting while being hit by a car.

According to a new poll, Dick Cheney’s approval rating is up 8 percentage points since leaving office. Wow, I can’t believe Cheney’s approval rating is 8 percent.

Michelle Obama is on the cover of Time magazine this week. She says she has dinner with Barack and the kids every night. And then — oh it’s so cute — Joe Biden jumps up and tries to lick the plates.

GOP Must Confront Obama Head-On

Republican Party Chairman Michael Steele likened President Barack Obama's popularity to that of a celebrity and said Republicans can't be afraid of criticizing him head-on if they want to regain their relevance.

"He's young. He's cool. He's hip ... he's got all the qualities America likes in a celebrity, so of course he's going to be popular," Steele told state party chairmen Tuesday. But "this is not American Idol. This is serious ... and we are going to take them on."

Steele said the GOP has owned up to the mistakes that caused its fall from power and is embarking on a renaissance.

"The era of apologizing for Republican mistakes of the past is now officially over," he said. "We have turned the corner. No more looking in the rearview mirror. From this point forward, we will focus all of our energies on winning the future."

The Republican National Committee chief is seeking to re-establish himself as the head of the beleaguered party and set its course. His speech comes after a rocky start to his two-year term that drew criticism from some longtime RNC members as well as a sustained Democratic campaign tagging conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh as the GOP's titular head.

Even as he called for a unified front, Steele was fending off efforts to strip him of some control over RNC operations from a small band of internal critics who say he is mismanaging the organization. He also was opposing a resolution — whose final wording hadn't yet been set but was expected for a vote Wednesday — in which Republicans would rename the Democratic Party as a "Nationalist Socialist Democrat" party.

Steele and others said the party should focus its efforts elsewhere.

"I think it's stupid," Florida GOP Chairman James Greer said of the name resolution. "These are trying times. We need to be serious."

Greer and other state chairmen said Steele, who drew a loud standing ovation at Tuesday's speech, continues to enjoy strong support among most party leaders.

"Obviously there was going to be a learning curve, but I certainly support Chairman Steele. I like the fact that he's going on offense," said Alabama Chairman Mike Hubbard. "I think everybody's willing to give (him) some time."

Steele is trying to steer a GOP that's out of power in the White House, Congress and a slew of statehouses across the country. The party also has no natural successor to former President George W. Bush. And the GOP is in the midst of an intense debate over its identity while facing an emboldened Democratic Party that's grown larger under Obama's leadership — at the Republicans' expense.

Steele played down the obstacles and claimed the GOP's comeback is "well under way" in the states. But he said people in Washington don't recognize it yet.

"Republicans may be the minority party at the moment, but we represent the ideas and concerns of the majority of Americans," Steele said. "Candidate Obama was very moderate in his views, but President Obama could not possibly be further to the far left."

Steele said the GOP will take on Obama with class and dignity, unlike the "shabby and classless way" Democrats took on Bush.

Democratic National Committee spokesman Hari Sevugan said that while Steele talks of moving forward, the party remains bogged down in name-calling and petty politics.

"The test of the sincerity of the chairman's words will be if he and the other GOP leaders stand up to the fringe elements of their party," Sevugan said. "Unfortunately, they have shown no willingness to do so."

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

President Obama has found a way to quickly close Guantanamo Bay. He's going to turn it into a Pontiac dealership.

Vice President Biden is on a trip to Bosnia, Serbia, and Kosovo. The White House is calling it "Operation Keep Biden Away From a Microphone."

He goes to Antarctica next.

The economy is bad. It's so bad, Amy Winehouse is now snorting only Diet Coke.

David Letterman

Trump magazine is going out of business. So you see, the recession isn't all bad.

I have a subscription. Tremendous magazine: real estate column, financial report, and of course, the monthly hair tip.

Michael Vick is now out of prison. He's on house arrest. The judge gave him strict, specific instructions: "Staaaaaaay."

Cher's birthday today. She's 63. She'll be on display at the New York City Museum of Natural History.

Craig Ferguson

Michael Vick was released from prison. Just to be safe, Scooby Doo has moved to Canada.

Cher is 63 today. I think her boobs are only 5, and her butt is 2.

Big "American Idol" finale last night. More people vote for "American Idol" than in the presidential election. That's not true. But maybe to get more people involved in politics, we should have the candidates sign their positions. They could have a sing-off.

Jimmy Fallon

It's Fleet Week in New York City. Lots of sailors strolling around. Or as Clay Aiken calls it, hunting season.

Both President Obama and Dick Cheney will give competing speeches tomorrow on national security and terrorism. It's kind of like "American Idol," except one of them got voted off months ago.

The Somali pirate on trial in Manhattan was indicted on 10 charges of piracy. His bail was set at 100 doubloons.

Charles Krauthammer: Obama Critic-in-Chief

Washington Post columnist Charles Krauthammer has emerged as the top intellectual critic of President Barack Obama.

"He's the most important conservative columnist right now," fellow conservative David Brooks, a columnist for The New York Times, tells Politico news.

Krauthammer has made his opposition to Obama clear along a whole range of policy issues.

Obama is committed to "radical health-care, energy and education reforms," central to a "social democratic agenda," Krauthammer writes in The Post. That agenda will thoroughly change American life – for the worse, he argues.

Krauthammer should know a thing or two about health-care. He’s a Harvard-trained psychiatrist who turned to politics (working for Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale) in 1978 and punditry in 1981, joining The New Republic.

Krauthammer’s skepticism about Obama began early, soon after a December 2006 column in which he pushed Obama to run for president and guaranteed that he would lose.

During the presidential race, Krauthammer called Obama’s campaign "cult-like." His milestone speech on race was a "brilliant fraud," Krauthammer wrote. His friendships with Jeremiah Wright and Bill Ayers showed his "cynicism and ruthlessness."

Krauthammer remains impressed with Obama’s powers of persuasion. He tells Politico that at this point, he’s fighting a losing battle against Obama’s attempt to turn the U.S. economic model into a European one.

While Krauthammer has alienated some conservatives in the past with his liberal social views, he’s now getting the star treatment.

Fox News books him frequently. National Review Online's group blog, The Corner, quotes him at length under the heading, "Krauthammer's Take."

Krauthammer’s rise to a leadership role among anti-Obama pundits matches the rise of Dick Cheney to a leadership role among former officials who oppose Obama.

The former vice president, who has sharply criticized Obama’s national security policy, will give a speech about terrorism Thursday at the same time that Obama delivers his own.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

The White House had a private screening of "Star Trek." You don't have to worry about some moron talking though the movie at private screenings. That's why they didn’t invite Joe Biden.

Matt Damon has a new Jason Bourne movie coming out. Matt Damon plays a CIA agent who Tells Nancy Pelosi about waterboarding. But it's Pelosi who gets amnesia in this one.

The government is now bailing out insurance companies. Billions are going to insurance companies to keep them from collapsing. Too bad they didn't have insurance.

The economy is bad. So bad, Dick Cheney was hanging people upside down just to get the change that was falling out of their pockets.

David Letterman

NASA is repairing the Hubble telescope. They're having difficulties. Everything is more difficult in space. It doesn't surprise me — it's not like they're rocket scientists.

Everyone's got an opinion on how to fix it. Kiefer Sutherland said, "Hey — did you try head-butting it?"

Vice President Joe Biden apparently had a couple of drinks and was shooting his mouth off. He announced the undisclosed location of former Vice President Dick Cheney's bunker. And I was thinking, "Joe, c'mon. If you're going to reveal secrets about something, why don't you reveal where bin Laden is hiding?"

Former President Bill Clinton and former President George W. Bush are going to be in Toronto debating. There's nothing more exciting than a presidential debate that doesn't count.

Craig Ferguson

Los Angeles had an earthquake the other day. There wasn't much damage. In fact, there were $2,000 worth of improvements to this studio.

Scientists say they have found the missing link. The link between man and monkey. It's a little monkey. It lived on mostly twigs and berries — which makes it the direct ancestor of today's supermodel.

Scientists have determined that the monkey fossil is 47 million years old. It was verified today by Larry King who was married to the monkey.

Jimmy Fallon

Vice President Joe Biden accidentally revealed the location of Dick Cheney's top secret bunker. He did apologize. He said, "I'm so sorry. The launch code is 85334."

"The house key is under the plant near the door step . . ." He just can't help it.

President Obama has appointed Utah's Republican Gov. Jon Huntsman as ambassador to China. Part of Obama's plan to get every Republican out of the country by 2010.

Obama Linking Auto Emissions and Mileage Standards

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama, seeking to end a stand-off between states and the auto industry, plans to issue new national emission limits and mileage requirements for cars and trucks.

Obama plans to announce on Tuesday that he will couple pollution reduction from vehicle tailpipes with increased efficiency on the road. It would be the first time that limits on greenhouse gases were linked with federal standards for passenger cars and light trucks.

New vehicles would be 30 percent cleaner and more fuel efficient by 2016, according to officials familiar with the administration's discussions. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the formal announcement had not been made.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs would not release details of the announcement on Monday, although he said the administration has been working with states, businesses and environmental groups on a deal.

California, 13 other states and the District of Columbia have urged the federal government to let them enact more stringent standards than the federal government's requirements. The states' regulations would cut greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent in new cars and trucks by 2016 _ the benchmark Obama planned to unveil at the White House for vehicles built in model years 2011 and beyond.

The proposal is expected to coordinate two separate standards for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions from vehicles, aiming for cars that achieve higher miles per gallon and have lower polluting air conditioning systems, said Roland Hwang, the vehicles policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council. The environmental group has discussed the upcoming changes with the White House in recent weeks, he said.

Hwang said he expected the greenhouse gas standard would be set to an equivalent of nearly 35 miles per gallon for the vehicle fleet by 2016.

A 2007 energy law requires car makers to meet at least 35 mpg by 2020, a 40 percent increase over the current standard of about 25 mpg. Passenger car requirements have remained unchanged at 27.5 mpg since 1985, drawing complaints from environmental groups that the government has been slow to push automakers to produce more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Obama's move also would effectively end litigation between states and automakers, who sought to block state-specific rules. The new federal rules would prompt automakers to drop their lawsuit. Two car companies who have been part of the litigation, General Motors Corp. and Chrysler LLC, have received billions in government loans during a dramatic downturn in car sales and weakened economy.

Auto industry executives, including GM CEO Fritz Henderson, were expected to participate in the announcement along with United Auto Workers President Ron Gettelfinger, industry officials said.

Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, a Democrat who is being considered for the Supreme Court vacancy, will be at the White House for the event, said an administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity because details of the event had not been announced.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, will be in Washington for an announcement on California's request regarding federal auto emissions standards, spokesman Aaron McLear said. He declined to elaborate.

A March 2008 decision prevents states from setting their own limits on greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles, but Obama has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reconsider the ruling.

The EPA was already working toward establishing federal greenhouse gas emissions standards for new motor vehicles when it made a preliminary determination in April that six greenhouse gases _ four of which are released from automobiles _ endanger human health and welfare.

The White House announcement will make sure efforts by states, the EPA and the Transportation Department will occur in unison, said David Bookbinder, the Sierra Club's chief climate lawyer.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

Los Angeles starts water rationing in June — which means Dick Cheney will only be allowed to waterboard guys two days a week.

Another gaffe by Vice President Joe Biden. Newsweek is reporting that at the Gridiron Dinner, Joe Biden accidentally revealed Dick Cheney's secret hiding place. Here's more proof you don't need to waterboard — just give Joe Biden a couple of drinks.

This is all part of our new plan: "Don't Ask — We'll Tell."

His secret hiding place turned out to be his basement . . . I guess the enemy would never think to look there.

Late Show Top Ten

Top Ten Classified Pieces Of Information Revealed By Joe Biden

10. Biden confirmed vice president has no actual responsibilities

9. Obama also bought his kids a kangaroo

8. Nixon faked his death to escape gambling debts

7. In case of trouble, President's car can turn into a fighting robot

6. To enter Oval Office, you must know the president's secret fist-bump

5. Biden often skips staff meetings to watch "Jon And Kate Plus Eight"

4. America will declare that it's going out of business next Tuesday

3. Obama smokes in his sleep

2. When Bush ran out of pate at a state dinner, he fed Queen Elizabeth week-old taco meat

1. Dick Cheney once caught waterboarding himself

David Letterman

Good news for the environment — they're cleaning up the Hudson River. It had gotten so bad the salmon had to swim upstream for their hepatitis shots.

They're saying the Hudson River has more chemicals than Manny Ramirez.

Dick Cheney is in town. He's here to see all his favorite shows — "Phantom" . . . "Wicked" . . . "Stomp."

Joe Biden, our vice president, was yakking away over the weekend, and he gave away Dick Cheney's undisclosed hidden location where he would go in times of emergency. Top secret information, classified information. Joe Biden is living proof people can give up sensitive information without being tortured.

Craig Ferguson

There was an earthquake in Los Angeles last night. It only did minor damage — Lindsay Lohan was knocked back into lesbianism.

The government in China shut down a sex theme park before it even opened. It was designed to teach Chinese people about sex. Do we really need to teach the world's most overpopulated country about sex? They know!

I like the idea of a sex theme park, though. Instead of the Tea Cups, there could be the D-Cups.

Jimmy Fallon

On Saturday, President Obama went to daughters Malia and Sasha's soccer game. He went in Minivan One.

In the new issue of Newsweek, they're calling Barack Obama "Spock with global sex appeal." Which is a bit of coincidence because Time is calling Joe Biden "Chewbacca with fur plugs."

A new survey shows that the happiest Americans are elderly, male Republicans. In other words — Republicans.

Obama Adviser Axelrod Compares Miss Calif. USA Prejean to a Dog

David Axelrod, senior adviser to President Obama, added to the criticisms of Miss California USA Carrie Prejean during the weekend. But instead of merely giving her grief for opposing same-sex marriage, he basically called her a dog.

In a largely humorous interview on National Public Radio’s “Wait, Wait . . . Don’t Tell Me!” show, Axelrod was asked how involved he was in the Obama family’s selection of its dog, Bo.

He quipped that he “only got called in for the final three,” The New York Times reports.

But while Axelrod got serious for a moment, telling listeners he didn’t take part in the dog decision, show host Peter Sagal asked for information about the other two contestants.

“One was Miss California,” Axelrod cracked, as the audience laughed.

Last week, liberal pundits had gone after Prejean to the point that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin felt compelled to step up in her defense.

"The liberal onslaught of malicious attacks against Carrie Prejean for expressing her opinion is despicable," Palin said Wednesday.

"What I find so remarkable is that these politically-motivated attacks fail to show that what Carrie and I believe is also what President Obama and Secretary Clinton believe: that marriage is between a man and a woman," Palin says.

Obama has said that, although he supports gay rights, as a Christian he is opposed to same-sex marriage. Clinton has expressed opposition to gay marriage, but support for same-sex civil unions.

Huntsman: I Agonized Over China Ambassador Job

Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman said Monday he agonized over the decision to join the Obama administration as ambassador to China, concerned about the impact it would have on his family and his state.

President Barack Obama tapped the Republican governor for the post on Saturday, and Huntsman has yet to answer questions from reporters about his selection.

Huntsman said Monday that the decision was not an easy one. He and his wife, Mary Kaye, have seven children, including adopted daughters from China and India.

One of the most popular governors in state history, Huntsman won re-election in November with 78 percent of the vote. During the campaign, he said he intended to serve out his second term. He did not address his campaign pledge on Monday.

"The last week has been surreal. It has been an emotional roller coaster and it has been complete with a lot of sleepless nights," Huntsman said. However, he said, it would have been very difficult to say no to the president.

Huntsman and Obama "talked a lot about service and in some cases the importance of putting self-interest and politics aside in pursuit of those things that are more important for our nation, and I think we understand that," Huntsman said.

The governor said he and Obama agreed that the U.S. relationship with China was the most important in the world, and discussed how that relationship might be handled.

"We had a good meeting of the minds," Huntsman told reporters Monday.

Huntsman, 49, is fluent in Mandarin Chinese from his days serving as a Mormon missionary in Taiwan and has extensive experience in Asia, including serving as ambassador to Singapore in the George H.W. Bush administration.

A moderate Republican, Huntsman had been making a name for himself as a potential presidential contender in 2012 and had spoken openly about the need for the GOP to become more inclusive if it wanted to attract new voters.

Huntsman said he wouldn't resign as governor until the U.S. Senate confirms the appointment.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

President Obama held a poetry night the other night at the White House. When former President Bush heard about it he said, "Now that's torture."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says that she was misled by the CIA on waterboarding. She spent eight years complaining about how dumb President Bush was and the minute she's in trouble, she says he fooled her.

President Obama has reversed direction, saying we should not release dozens of interrogation photos. The matter has not been decided yet. I understand the photos are being reviewed by Donald Trump.

I think all this publicity has gone to Trump's head. Today he held a press conference and said some Burger King guy could keep his crown.

Late Show Top Ten

Top Ten Things You Don’t Want To Hear From Your Director (Presented By Ron Howard)

10. The stuntman called in sick — we’re gonna set you on fire

9. Sorry, I forgot to take the lens cap off

8. This piece of crap’s going straight to DVD

7. Dammit, I keep forgetting to take the lens cap off

6. I’ve got my shot list, but can someone please find my pants?

5. I’m drunk

4. Potsie, come quick! Ralph Malph’s stuck in a phone booth with the Polinga triplets

3. We need to do some reshoots because I licked the film

2. I hope you don’t mind, I shot some footage of you in the shower

1. OK Hanks, start Gumping it up!

David Letterman

They're going through Bernie Madoff's credit card receipts. In one week he spent $100,000. Most of it was at Swindler's Depot.

Much of it was spent at a bait store. That's how he lured investors.

Dick Cheney was in one of those crazy, embarrassing, New York City moments: He was in a cab, and it turns out the cab driver was someone Cheney had waterboarded.

Scientists now say French kissing can lead to sexually transmitted diseases. I think I have a way to avoid French kissing: Get married.

Craig Ferguson

To raise money for California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger says he's willing to sell some aging landmarks, like San Quentin Prison. So far, the only bid has come from Dick Cheney.

He wants to use it as a vacation home.

John McCain's mother was on TV saying that she doesn't like Rush Limbaugh. Here's my question: John McCain's mother is still alive!?

Jimmy Fallon

Today is Thursday. Or what I like to call on Friday, "yesterday."

A Canadian scientist was arrested for smuggling vials of Ebola into the U.S. This wouldn't happen if we'd just legalize Ebola.

Barack Obama has announced that his administration will not release photos of prisoners being abused. It's not because they don't want to, it's because they don't have the password to Dick Cheney's camera phone.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, gets to keep her crown. Not only that, she gets to keep her implants for another year.

Donald Trump reviewed the racy photos and approved. I like that he calls himself "The Donald." You can get away with that when your name is Donald. That doesn't work when your name is Colin Powell.

Or Dick Cheney . . .

Saudi Arabia held its first beauty pageant today. They're already embroiled in a scandal. Topless photos of Miss Saudi Arabia have surfaced. You can see her entire forehead.

Late Show Top Ten

Top Ten Surprises In The Sarah Palin Memoir

10. She's already completed her 2012 presidential concession speech

9. Her husband Todd is a person of interest in dozens of unsolved snowmobile hit-and-runs

8. State troopers have been instructed to taser Katie Couric on sight

7. "Memoir" is misspelled

6. Not only can she see Russia, earlier today she saw the astronauts working on Hubble

5. The entire thing, plagiarized word-for-word from Artie Lange's "Too Fat To Fish"

4. Cover shows her in a passionate embrace with a shirtless Fabio

3. Sworn in as governor with her left hand on a copy of "Guns & Ammo" magazine

2. Claims she had three-way sex with Michael Phelps and a stripper

1. She voted for Obama

David Letterman

Beautiful day in New York City. So nice, Bernie Madoff moved to his cell in the Hamptons.

It's graduation time. The NYU graduation speaker? Hillary Clinton. You think she looks great in a pantsuit, you ought to see her in a robe.

She told the grads, "Work hard, save your money, and one day you might be able to afford to attend a Yankees game."

Sarah Palin got a deal to write her memoir. It's titled, "The Book to Nowhere."

Craig Ferguson

President Obama hosted a poetry slam at the White house. These can get out of control. Apparently somebody got up on stage and rambled on and on, and didn't make any sense . . . when Joe Biden was done, they started the poetry.

It's groundbreaking to have a poetry slam there. It's never happened before. I think Dick Cheney once held a torture slam.

"There once was a man from Nantucket. I put his head in a bucket."

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The three remaining contestants on "American Idol" competed twice to see who would win. Danny Goki was not chosen. Now I have to take the Goki posters over my bed down.

I had him in the office pool, too. Now I have to fire people.

Miss California, Carrie Prejean, blames the wind for blowing her shirt open and blames unscrupulous photographers for releasing topless shots of her. Here's an idea: If you don't want photographers releasing naked pictures of you, don't stand in front of a camera with your clothes off.

Jimmy Fallon

Officials say the economy is affecting the cocaine market. It's not only affecting the cocaine industry, it's trickling down . . . today, Obama asked for a bailout of the tiny spoon industry.

The New York State Assembly passed a bill approving same-sex marriage. It goes to the state Senate where it will likely face a closer vote. In other words, the bill could go both ways.

An Amish teenager in Upstate New York was ticketed for having beer in his horse-drawn buggy. I don't see what the big deal is — it's not like he was riding around with light bulbs.

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

John Edwards said he and his wife are getting to "a better place." He said after admitting the affair, he took a look in the mirror and fell in love all over again.

Elizabeth's Edwards' book "Resilience" comes out today. John's is already out: "Cheating for Dummies."

The price of a postage stamp has gone up to 44 cents. The government says they had to raise the price because fewer people are using the mail these days. That's government thinking for you — "Hey nobody's buying our products . . . let's raise the price!"

Late Show Top Ten

Top Ten Signs You're Obsessed With "Star Trek"

10. You're writing "Star Date 5946" on your checks

9. Family dog plus aluminum foil equals space dog

8. Built your own phaser out of a staple gun and 20 D batteries

7. Last Halloween, you dressed as "Star Trek" props designer, Irving A. Feinberg

6. You spend a lot of lonely nights "wrestling the Gorn"

5. During your Power Point presentation for company's 2nd quarter review, the word "Romulans" came up more than one would normally expect

4. Always telling barber, "Give me the Spock"

3. You're already camped out for the 2011 "Star Trek" sequel

2. When the Stock Market goes down, you'll suddenly yell, "KHAAAAAN!"

1. Got suspended at work for trying to mind-meld with an intern

David Letterman

Beautiful day in New York City. So nice, Manny Ramirez tested positive for lemonade.

Manny Ramirez has tested positive for some sort of female hormone. The Dodgers are saying they became suspicious when Manny missed a game to go to a Lamaze class.

President Obama's security adviser says he just doesn't know whether Osama bin Laden is dead or alive . . . same thing with Larry King.

He says he doesn't know whether bin Laden is dead or alive. Well, hell — our last president didn't know whether Lincoln was dead or alive.

Craig Ferguson

During the Miss USA pageant, Miss California was asked a question about gay marriage by Perez Hilton. At a press conference, Donald Trump said he thought Perez was "engaging in self promotion." Trump accusing someone else of self promotion!?!?

That's like the Octo-Mom accusing someone of having too many kids.

Trump had to decide whether she would keep her crown after topless photos turned up. He said it was his judgment that Miss California could keep her crown. Trump would never tell someone to remove a useless piece of rubbish from their head . . . why would he?

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

You're not going to believe this — a beauty contestant, Carrie Prejean, posed naked
in pictures. She had to go face to face today with Judge Donald Trump. He owns the Miss USA pageant so he would decide whether or not to de-sash Miss California. It was difficult for him to go public because he's such an intensely private man.

He decided she could keep her crown. Who better to judge what should and should not be on someone's head.

There was also controversy when she stated her opposition to same-sex marriage. Trump pointed out that even Obama does not support same-sex marriage, and also he pointed out that he personally believes that marriage is a sacred institution between a man and a series of progressively younger women.

Jimmy Fallon

President Obama fired our top military commander in Afghanistan. It was a tough call to fire him, but in the end, he hired Joan Rivers.

Shirley Jones, the 75-year-old actress from the "Partridge Family," may pose nude for Playboy. She said after 50 years in the business, she's ready to let it all hang down.

A 12-year-old boy in Iran is officially running for president. They say it's the craziest thing to happen in Iran since a woman drove a car.

Colin Powell Attacks Rush Limbaugh

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell blasted Rush Limbaugh Monday during a speech in which he said the Republican Party is in a state of collapse.

The GOP is "getting smaller and smaller" and "that's not good for the nation," Powell said, according to the National Journal. He also said he hopes that emerging GOP leaders, such as House Minority Whip Cantor, will not keep repeating mantras of the far right.

Powell lashed out at Limbaugh and conservative icon Ann Coulter. Neither serves the party well, Powell said during a speech to corporate security executives at a conference in Washington sponsored by Fortify Software Inc.

"I think what Rush does as an entertainer diminishes the party and intrudes or inserts into our public life a kind of nastiness that we would be better to do without," Powell said.

He also said that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, McCain's running mate last year, is "a very accomplished person" but became "a very polarizing figure." He said the polarization was created by Palin's advisers.

“The Republican Party is in deep trouble," he added, according to the Journal. “The party must realize that the country has changed, he said. "Americans do want to pay taxes for services," he said. "Americans are looking for more government in their life, not less."

Powell stirred controversy last year when he came out for the Democratic presidential candidate, then-Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois. Powell said he told the GOP candidate, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, that the party had developed a reputation for being mean-spirited and driven more by social conservatism than the economic problems that Americans faced, the Journal reported.

Chambliss Moves to Block Gitmo Transfers

A U.S. Senator said Tuesday he would soon introduce legislation aimed at blocking the release on US soil of any detainees currently held at the Guantanamo Bay facility for suspected terrorists.

"I intend to introduce legislation in the next few days to make sure that we establish a policy that will provide for no funding for the release of any of these individuals on US soil," said Republican Senator Saxby Chambliss.

The Georgia lawmaker said his bill aimed to reassure the US public that Guantanamo detainees are "not going to be re-released into their neighborhoods where they're going to immediately form cells where they will seek to kill and harm Americans."

Republicans have accused US President Barack Obama of committing to closing the facility -- seen in much of the world as a symbol of excessive US "war on terrorism" tactics -- by January 2010 without first knowing where the detainees would go.

But even House Democrats appear to have rejected the White House's appeal for 80 million dollars to study where the prisoners might go, or to fund their release, transfer, prosecution, or continued detention.

"We understand that over on the House side they've deleted the money. That doesn't eliminate the issue. The issue remains, what will be done with these prisoners?" said Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Obama plans to release into the United States some of the 17 Chinese Muslim Uighurs held at the facility for seven years then cleared for release by US authorities, said a US official, who requested anonymity.

About 240 prisoners still languish in the prison opened in the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks at a US military base at Guantanamo Bay, southern Cuba.

Obama Botches Cinco De Mayo Salute

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's joke wasn't lost in translation — even though he referred to a Cinco de Mayo celebration as "Cinco de Cuatro."

Obama jumbled his words as he welcomed guests to the White House to observe the Mexican holiday, sending the crowd into laughter before he referred to the day correctly.

"Welcome to Cinco de Cuatro _ Cinco de Mayo at the White House," said Obama, in what appeared to be an attempt to note they were celebrating on the fourth of May instead of the fifth.

Cinco de cuatro means "five of four" in Spanish.

"We are a day early, but we always like to get a head start here at the Obama White House," he said.

During the presidential campaign, Obama acknowledged his Spanish skills weren't great.

"My accent's always been good," he said. "It's just that I only know 15 words."

The holiday, which marks the Mexican troops' defeat of the French on May 5, 1862, was overshadowed by a swine-flu outbreak that started in Mexico and has spread around the world.

Obama pledged to work with Mexican officials to fight the swine flu and drug wars, using the early Cinco de Mayo celebration to underscore the challenges facing the neighboring countries.

"I know it's a tough time, on both sides of the border," Obama told lawmakers and other guests.

The president said the United States would "stand side by side" with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and the people of Mexico to overcome hardships, including an economic downturn that has hit both countries.

"One thing we know: Good neighbors work together when faced with common challenges," Obama said.

Sen. Specter Hints Jack Kemp Died of GOP Agenda

Sen. Arlen Specter, Pennsylvania Democrat, said part of the reason he left the Republican Party last week was disillusionment with its healthcare priorities, and suggested that had the Republicans taken a more moderate track, Jack Kemp may have won his battle with cancer.

Mr. Specter, responding to a question from CBS's Bob Schieffer over whether he had let down Pennsylvanians who wanted a Republican to represent them, said he felt his priorities were more in line with those of the Democrats.

"Well, I was sorry to disappoint many people. Frankly, I was disappointed that the Republican Party didn't want me as their candidate," Mr. Specter said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "But as a matter of principle, I'm becoming much more comfortable with the Democrats' approach. And one of the items that I'm working on, Bob, is funding for medical research."

Mr. Specter continued: "If we had pursued what President Nixon declared in 1970 as the war on cancer, we would have cured many strains. I think Jack Kemp would be alive today. And that research has saved or prolonged many lives, including mine."

Mr. Kemp passed away Saturday, after fighting with cancer. Mr. Kemp ran for the White House in 1996 with Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole.

Obama's TV Press Conference Ratings Take a Dive

The telecast to mark President Barack Obama’s 100th day in office pulled in the smallest number of prime-time viewers since his inauguration, according to Nielsen Ratings reported by THR.com.

Audience fascination with Obama’s news conferences is apparently in a downward spiral, with 28.8 million viewers tuning in Wednesday night’s much touted news conference.

That figure represents a 29 percent drop from the president’s previous news conference on March 24, and a 42 percent fall from his first, on Feb. 9, according to the Nielson report.

The numbers from the president’s last three prime-time news events tell the story, with 49.5 million viewers on Feb. 9, 40.4 million viewers on March 24, and 28.8 million viewers on April 29.

Ten networks carried the telecast.

But even with the diminished 28.8 viewers, President Obama managed to outdraw TV’s biggest show, “American Idol,” which attracted a mere 21.8 million sets of eyes and ears, according to Eonline.

Obama’s big show came on at 8 p.m., while “Idol” aired at 9 p.m. According to Eonline, Obama’s most direct challenger Wednesday night was Fox’s “Lie to Me.” That matchup was a tie.

According to Nielsen News' blog, President Bill Clinton's prime time news conference on the economy in 1993 was carried by 4 networks and garnered 64,300,000 viewers on average.

On Oct. 11, 2001, exactly a month after the attacks of Sept. 11, President Bush held a primetime news conference that seven networks carried and drew 64.8 million viewers.

Of course, in 1993 the average U.S. TV home had about 40 channels available, while that number has reached 118 today

Obama Gives Chrysler $8 Billion to File Bankruptcy

WASHINGTON — Chrysler will file for bankruptcy after talks with a small group of creditors crumbled just a day before a government deadline for the automaker to come up with a restructuring plan, President Barack Obama said Thursday.

The Obama administration said it had long hoped to stave off bankruptcy for the nation's third-largest automaker, but it became clear that a holdout group wouldn't budge on proposals to reduce Chrysler's $6.9 billion in secured debt. Clearing those debts was a needed step for Chrysler to restructure by the Thursday deadline.

Chrysler will file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New York, giving Chrysler time to galvanize a partnership with the Italian car maker Fiat Group SpA. The government, which has poured $4 billion in loans into Chrysler, would provide up to $8 billion more to carry the company through bankruptcy, said senior administration officials speaking on condition of anonymity. The government also will help appoint a new board of directors.

The deals give Chrysler "a new lease on life," President Barack Obama said.

"This is not a sign of weakness," he said. "I have eery confidence that Chrysler will emerge from this process stronger and more competitive."

Under bankruptcy, Chrysler would still sell cars and the government would back its auto warranties.

The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity because the terms of the bankruptcy had not yet been released, said there would be no job losses or plant closing due to the Chapter 11. But it will be up to Fiat and Chrysler to decide whether to restructure the steadily shrinking company.

Obama said Chrysler Financial, the arm of the company that makes loans to buyers and to dealers to finance their inventories, will be merged into GMAC Financial Services, once General Motors Corp.'s finance arm. The new GMAC will get government support.

The Treasury Department's auto task force has been racing in the past week to clear the major hurdles that prevented Chrysler from coming up with a viable plan to survive the economic crisis ravaging nation's automakers.

Along with the Fiat deal, the United Auto Workers ratified a cost-cutting pact Wednesday night.

Treasury reached a deal this week with four banks that hold the majority of Chrysler's debt in return for $2 billion in cash.

But the administration said about 40 hedge funds that hold roughly 30 percent of that debt also needed to sign on for the deal to go through. Those creditors said the proposal was unfair and they were holding out for a better deal.

A person briefed on Wednesday night's events said the Treasury Department and the four banks tried to persuade the hedge funds to take a sweetened deal of $2.25 billion in cash. But in the end, this person said most thought they could recover more if Chrysler went into bankruptcy and some of its assets were sold to satisfy creditors. This person asked not to be identified because details of the negotiations have not been made public.

Fiat will obtain a 20 percent stake in Chrysler in return for giving the company access to its fuel-efficient technology, a move toward cleaner cars that the Obama administration thinks is critical to Chrysler's future survival. The company has committed to building Fiat cars in Chrysler factories, to be sold as Chryslers.

The bankruptcy will be filed under a section of the law that allows a company to shed bad assets and some liabilities. The administration expects it to last only up to 60 days.

Obama's auto task force in March rejected Chrysler's restructuring plan and gave it 30 days to make another effort, including a tie-up with Fiat. The company has borrowed $4 billion from the federal government and needs billions more to keep operating.

The UAW agreement, which would take effect May 4, meets Treasury requirements for continued loans to Chrysler Corp., and includes commitments from Fiat to manufacture a new small car in one of Chrysler's U.S. facilities and to share key technology with Chrysler.

Meanwhile, the Fiat partnership means Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli could be out of a job. In an April e-mail to employees, he said that if the deal is completed, Chrysler would be run by a new board appointed by the government and Fiat. The new board, Nardelli wrote, would pick a CEO "with Fiat's concurrence."

Sergio Marchionne, CEO of the Italian automaker, told reporters earlier this month that he could run Chrysler. Obama said Wednesday that Fiat's management "has actually done a good job transforming their industry

Late Nite Jokes

Jay Leno

We’re learning more about Republican Sen. Arlen Specter’s switch to the Democratic Party. To sweeten the deal, Democrats offered him Life Alert and a lifetime’s supply of Ensure.

Specter has been a Republican since 1966. That’s gotta be hard. For 46 years you’re lying out of the right side of your mouth, now suddenly you gotta start lying out of the left side.

Now there’s talk that John McCain may go back to the Federalist Party.

David Letterman

Shooting are down in New York City. The bad news? Stabbings are up.

Do the math: It’s the high price of ammo.

The swine flu? It just gives me another reason to avoid human contact. It’s not so bad.

It’s bad in Mexico. They’re not allowing anyone to go to the soccer games. They’re playing them, just no fans are in the stands. Just like soccer here in the United States.

Craig Ferguson

President Obama has declared that Chrysler has the swine flu.

Chrysler is going to merge with Fiat. That’s great — crappy cars in two languages.

The CDC says people should wash their hands before handling food. Here’s what should happen: Joe Biden should wash his foot before putting it in his mouth.

Biden said people should stay off of subways and trains. I think the next time Biden puts his foot in his mouth, Obama should put his foot in Biden’s [butt].

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

More than 300 schools in 14 states are closed because of swine flu. I would be delighted if I was a child — it’s like snow days.

I am blaming the people at Purell for the swine flu.

Rep. Michelle Bachmann of Minnesota seems to have another idea of who’s to blame. Here’s what she said: “I find it interesting that it was back in the ‘70s swine flu broke out then under another Democrat president, Jimmy Carter . . . I think it’s an interesting coincidence.”

Well, she’s wrong — it was Gerald Ford, a Republican, who was president when the last swine flu broke out.