Friday, April 6, 2012

Today's Top Stories

Khairat al-Shater, a presidential hopeful, filed election papers on Thursday. (Associated Press)

Muslim Brotherhood seeks U.S. alliance as it ascends in Egypt

A lawmaker from Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood said Thursday that there would be "no referendum at all" on the country's peace treaty with Israel, hours after the Islamist group's presidential candidate made his unexpected bid official.

For Santorum, Pennsylvania is a double-edged sword

Rick Santorum is in a difficult place politically in his home state of Pennsylvania, where he hopes to revive his flagging presidential bid. A win for the state's former two-term senator in the April 24 primary wouldn't shock the world, while a loss to rival Mitt Romney could stick a fork in his White House hopes.

School returns 'God' to song of patriotism

God may once again bless the USA at Stall Brook Elementary.

Belfast hopes to rise off 'unsinkable' heritage of Titanic

A century after the Titanic sank, this Northern Irish city, where the "unsinkable" luxury liner was built, is finally coming to terms with the disaster and hoping to make a profit off the tragic story.

'Back off' high court, McConnell tells Obama

The Senate's top Republican on Thursday warned President Obama to "back off" of the Supreme Court, three days after Mr. Obama appeared to question whether the justices had the power to rule his health law unconstitutional.

Mega drama unfolds in search of Maryland's winning ticket

Aside from the bizarre drama unfolding over the ticket to a record-breaking jackpot that may or may not be hidden in a Baltimore McDonald's, lottery officials on Thursday said nothing much has changed in the week since three winners were chosen in a Mega Millions drawing worth a half-billion dollars.

Ian Desmond delivers in Nationals' 2-1 Opening Day victory over Cubs

For seven innings Thursday afternoon, the worst fears of the Washington Nationals were realized. Opening Day, their ace Stephen Strasburg on the mound and one hit on the board.

Photos show North Korea readying for rocket launch

North Korea likely will bring the rocket it plans to test-fire this month to the launch pad within days, according to an analysis of new satellite pictures of the launch site.

Outcry over Barry's 'deplorable' comments is quick and harsh

Two days after he celebrated a resounding victory at the polls, D.C. Council member Marion Barry found himself fending off a battery of backlash for comments he made that derided certain Asian-owned businesses in his Ward 8.

Jobs Act signing a show of bipartisan support

President Obama gathered Democrats and Republicans at the White House Rose Garden on Thursday to sign a bill designed to encourage investment in startup businesses and take a break from election-year partisan sniping.

Inside the Beltway: Polls don't hold strong promise for Santorum

It's 18 days until the next Republican presidential primary, leaving political junkies wondering what to do with themselves until April 24. A panacea? Surveys and nice wonkish takes on the old horse race ought to help.

Weapons dealer Bout sentenced to 25 years in arms conspiracy

International arms dealer Viktor Bout, the so-called "Merchant of Death," was sentenced Thursday in federal court in New York to 25 years in prison following his conviction in a multimillion-dollar conspiracy to finance a fleet of aircraft to arm bloody conflicts and support terrorists worldwide.

Defiant Saslaw takes toll on Virginia budget agreement

Virginia budget negotiators have agreed on a new two-year, $85 billion spending plan, but the Senate's leading Democrat said Thursday his party would not deliver the necessary votes to pass it.

IRS chief warns of 'confusion' on delay of tax-break moves

Just days before the national tax-filing deadline, the Internal Revenue Service chief warned Thursday that congressional delay on expiring tax-break provisions could lead to "total confusion" among working Americans.

Iran's ex-president calls for talks with U.S.

A former president of Iran is calling on the Islamic republic to negotiate with the United States to avoid "an adventurous policy" involving Iranian-backed anti-Israel proxies in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip.

Syrian troops attack Damascus suburb

Syrian troops launched a fierce assault on a Damascus suburb Thursday, days ahead of a deadline for a U.N.-brokered cease-fire, with activists describing it as one of the most violent attacks around the capital since the year-old uprising began.

Commentary

EDITORIAL: Forsaken and still obedient

MY DEAR WORMWOOD: So you "have great hopes that the patient's religious phase is dying away," have you? I always thought the Training College had gone to pieces since they put old Slubgob at the head of it, and now I am sure. Has no one ever told you about the law of Undulation?

KUHNER: Obama v. Supreme Court

President Obama is undermining the rule of law. On Monday, he openly attacked the Supreme Court. He fears that the high court will overturn Obamacare. It is the president's signature domestic achievement - the jewel in his socialist crown. To repeal parts or all of it would be a humiliating repudiation. Hence, Mr. Obama is resorting to bullying.

PETERSON: Obama's education grade left behind by Bush's

Just as gross domestic product (GDP) growth is said to be a good measure of a president's economic management skills, so the nation's official report card, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), provides an objective indicator of the success a president has had at strengthening the American school.

LAMBRO: Stuck on demagoguery

President Obama's all-out class-warfare attack against Republicans Tuesday was a shameful litany of excuses that included blaming all of his fiscal failures on George W. Bush.

EDITORIAL: And they crucified Him

Jesus stood before the governor: And the governor asked him, saying, "Art thou the King of the Jews?" And Jesus said unto him, "Thou sayest." And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing. Then said Pilate unto him, "Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?" He answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marvelled greatly.

An Ignoble Experiment

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