Leon Panetta To Head Defense; Petraeus To Lead CIA

President Obama is expected to announce Thursday that CIA Director Leon Panetta will replace Robert Gates as Secretary of Defense, and that General David Petraeus (pictured) will become the new director of the CIA.

The president will also nominate Marine General John Allen to replace Petraeus as ISAF commander in Afghanistan, and Ryan Crocker as US Ambassador to Afghanistan, replacing Karl Eikenberry.…

President Obama Releases Long-Form Birth Certificate (UPDATED)

The birthers will say it was manufactured. They’ll want to know why he waited so long. What will the next request from them be? And even though the legally binding one was already released, years ago, will this quiet the distractors and detractors?

Prsident Obama said he was “bemused” and puzzled” by the fascination with his origins.

Obama noted that during a recent stretch where he and Republicans were laying out their budget visions for the future, the primary news story has been about the so-called “birther” controversy.

“We’ve got some enormous challenges out there,” Obama said. He said he …

Obama Graduated Harvard With Honors, But Pat Buchanan Says That Was Only Because He’s Black

by toma

Barack Obama, former Harvard Law School attendee, first black law review president, graduate magna cum laude, stole another applicant’s position. And then he forced his way into a series of unearned high-falutin’ positions because of the liberal “grease.” Got it?

Ubiquitous right-wing commentator Pat Buchanan has got the goods on the president — he didn’t belong there:

“He’s probably affirmative action all the way,” Buchanan said Tuesday on MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews.…

Limbaugh Attacks Boehner For Not Selling Out Enough To Big Oil

By Yashwanth Manjunath

John Boehner made an enormous mistake yesterday by coming out against subsidies/corporate welfare for Big Oil. Boehner, in a fit of temporary insanity no doubt, forgot who he works for and proposed a policy that would actually benefit ordinary Americans. How dare he? Exxon Mobil, BP, and Haliburton ought to be offended by this blatant insubordination. But the biggest tut-tut for Boehner came from the bloviator-in-chief himself, Rush Limbaugh.

On his radio show today Rush proudly said:

If I were a political leader and a Republican and the Democrats were hellbent on ending Big Oil …

Vermont Passes Single Payer Health Care

The Vermont Senate passed a single payer health care bill following its approval by the House (via Think Progress).

So now the bill will enter a conference committee to reconcile the differences between the Senate proposal and the version that passed through the House. Then it will be sent to Gov. Peter Shumlin, D-Vermont, for signing.

The bill won’t actually mean much for Vermonters at first. One main aspect of the bill is creation of a health care exchange. That’s actually required under federal health care reform. It means setting up a marketplace for individuals and companies to shop …

Rudy: Door Is Open To 2012 Presidential Bid

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani says he is keeping the “door open” to running for president in 2012.

Mr. Giuliani is slated to speak next month in New Hampshire, where he finished fourth among 2008 Republican presidential candidates in the first-in-the-nation primaries.

“I’m going to go to New Hampshire to speak to a law enforcement group, so that’s really the main purpose of the speech, but I keep in contact with people in New Hampshire and try to figure out what kind of a chance I have,” Mr. Giuliani said in an interview. “At this point, I’m not actively …

On Tuesday’s Radio Show…

• Publisher Larry Flynt and historian David Eisenbach stop by to discuss One Nation Under Sex: How the Private Lives of Presidents, First Ladies and Their Lovers Changed the Course of American History.

• Ralph Nader, whose latest book is Only the Super-Rich Can Save Us!, tells Alan why he’s calling on the richest Americans to use more of their fortunes to promote change around the world.

• “Missing!” That’s what Donald Trump says about Obama’s birth certificate. Alan explains why it more accurately describes Trump’s logic.…

CA’s Prop 8 Supporters Want It Reinstated On Claims Judge Is Gay

Supporters of California’s anti-gay Proposition 8 are trying to get the measure reinstated on their claims that Judge Vaughn Walker, who overturned the ban, is gay.

Andy Pugno, general counsel for the group who made the motion, ProtectMarriage, said that federal law requires a judge to disqualify himself if he has any personal interest in the outcome of the case or if there are circumstances which might cause a judge’s impartiality to be reasonably questioned.

“The American people have a right to a fair judicial process, free from even the appearance of bias or prejudice,” Pugno said in a statement.…

Straight Member Of LA’s Gay Men’s Chorus Comes Out Of Closet

Chris Yraola had a confession to make. As the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles was ending a three-concert run, he made the announcement.

“I want to thank everyone for welcoming me,” said tenor Chris Yraola, a 24-year-old music teacher from Eagle Rock. “It means a lot because, No. 1, I’m a little shy. And, No. 2, well, I’m a straight guy.”

For a second, there was silence — “It was definitely a surprise,” Yraola recalls — and then applause broke out. Some people hugged him. Some told him how proud they were. And someone yelled, “Jordan, your cachet …

Only 43% Believe Trump Born In U.S.

A USA Today/Gallup Poll reveals that fewer than half surveyed believe Donald Trump was “definitely” born in the United States.

Still, in the USA TODAY poll, only 38% of Americans say Obama definitely was born in the USA, and 18% say he probably was. Fifteen percent say he probably was born in another country, and 9% say he definitely was born elsewhere.

Republicans are inclined to say the president was born abroad by 43%-35%.

For what it’s worth, not everyone is convinced Trump was born in the USA either: 43% say he definitely was born here, and 20% say …

Trump Praises Obama: “Amazing Job,” Slams Bush As “Evil”; In 2008

In 2008, Donald Trump praised Barack Obama to New York 1′s Dominic Carter, saying he had a chance to go down as a great president, and that he did “an amazing job.” He slammed George W. Bush as “the worst president in the history of this country” and “evil.”

“You know, you can be enemies with people, whether it’s Iran, Iraq, or anyplace else and you can still have dialogue. These people wouldn’t even talk with him. It’s terrible,” said Trump.

While he had harsh words for the outgoing president, he had a much different opinion of President-elect Barack Obama.…