"The late Senator Edward M. Kennedy lived under the constant threat of violent death, a burden he inherited from his slain brothers, according to FBI records released yesterday detailing hundreds of threats issued by hate groups or relayed by agency tipsters and police across the country," the Boston Globe says.

The Globe adds, "Kennedy’s FBI file, released yesterday, paints a vivid picture of the sometimes close, but often adversarial relationship that the Kennedy family had with the agency. Charged with protecting the Kennedys, the FBI also kept meticulous files on their political activities and their personal lives."

"The thousands of pages of Kennedy's FBI file made public earlier today show that the bureau played no official role in the investigation of the [drowning] incident [of Mary Jo Kopechne], ... But they do depict how the Nixon administration sought to use the bureau to gather incriminating evidence about Kopechne in an effort to damage Kennedy's reputation and political fortunes," the Boston Globe reports.

Sex parties? More from the Globe: "The sex parties at a swanky New York hotel may have involved the three Kennedy brothers, and included Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra. Or, maybe not. Among the tantalizing but far-from-verifiable nuggets in Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s FBI file is one written in July 1965 suggesting that a New York socialite has 'considerable information concerning sex parties' that 'a number of persons participated [in] at different times.'"

"Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) accused President Barack Obama of favoring black Americans over whites during an interview on G. Gordon Liddy’s radio show Monday. 'The president has demonstrated that he has a default mechanism in him that breaks down the side of race -- on the side that favors the black person,” King, who is white, argued," per Roll Call.

The conservative blogosphere capitalized on Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC)'s caught-on-YouTube assault on a student to make the case for the Republican challenger to his seat, while both sides of the spectrum offered their takes on the New York Times' front-pager today about Afghanistan's rich mineral reserves, with many focusing more on the timing of the report than the news itself.

In his post on the assault, conservative blog Red State's Moe Lane simply gave the name of Etheridge's challenger: "The Republican challenger that you just decided to give money to is named Renee Ellmers," he wrote.

And Hot Air's Ed Morrissey had more on Ellmers: "His opponent is Renee Ellmers, who works in the health-care industry and is a staunch opponent of ObamaCare, opposes the bailouts and Obamanomics, is pro-life, wants to try terrorists in military courts, and demands immigration enforcement. It doesn’t appear that Ellmers is a big fan of assaulting students on the street, either. Perhaps this R+2 district might be ready to exchange their current Congressman for someone who understands the proper relationship between elected officials and their constituents — and the laws regarding assault and battery."

On Pentagon's new report that Afghanistan could become "the Saudi Arabia of lithium," Morrissey noted the timing of the announcement, giving voice to a theory making the rounds, especially among liberal voices, that rich minerals may provide the Obama administration a new justification for allocating troops and resources to the wartorn country: "We’ve spent over eight years in Afghanistan attempting to subdue the radicals and fight those across the border in Pakistan’s frontier provinces, and many people have questioned why we’re spending so much blood and treasure in a country known for its ability to bankrupt empires. We have plenty of good strategic reasons to attempt to salvage Afghanistan and keep it from becoming a failed state, but this find will definitely have those inclined towards conspiracy theories cranking up new plots and dark cabals as the real reason we’re attempting to salvage Afghanistan. A trillion dollars in new mineral deposits don’t come along very often, after all, and some of these minerals will be critical to energy and military applications."

Morrissey added, however, that the finding "is a blessing for the Afghan people. They will need a massive improvement in infrastructure in order to get the materials out for export, but that investment will come a lot faster with this find."

At the liberal MyDD, Jerome Armstrong did not buy the sincerity of this announcement: "I know its not nice to step out of the partisan shill range that would take this at face; but come on-- are there actually sheep that buy this planted crap?" he writes. "Are there actually people who feel better about this particular bipartisan invasion/occupation/war because the US military will be shielding for corporations to exploit the land of Afghanistan?"

On timing, he continued: "this piece of propaganda has been known for years. It wasn't until the Pentagon and President Obama needed some 'good news' to sell that they marketed up this dish for mass consumption."

"In an ideal world this could be great news for Afghanistan," wrote Chris in Paris at liberal blog AMERICAblog. "It could transform the country into a major player in the global economy, creating jobs throughout the country as well as cash to rebuild the troubled country following decades of conflict."

Chris continues, "In an imperfect world, this new discovery (which somehow is making waves now as the US public is turning against the war effort) has many obstacles. We don't need to look hard to locate environmental problems related to mining... If the US can't get BP and other oil companies to properly address the environmental risks, how can we expect mining companies to do the right thing in far away lands? Think about the Nigerian experience with Big Oil. And then there's the cash. Lots of cash. In a less structured economy such as Afghanistan, the risk for bribes and massive corruption are substantial."

From NBC's Domenico Montanaro
Congressman Bob Etheridge (D), who represents the second congressional district in North Carolina, was caught on tape losing his cool with someone videotaping him on the street.

The edited video was posted on a right-wing Web site affiliated with Andrew Breitbart.

In the video, a man, who says he is a student, asks Etheridge if he agrees with the "Obama Agenda." Etheridge becomes visibly annoyed and then appears to knock the camera out of the taper's hand, and grabs and holds his wrist while demanding to know who he was.

"I have a right to know who you are," Etheridge exclaimed. (While it is generally understood ethical protocol for journalists to identify themselves, there is no law stating that someone with a video camera has to identify themselves.)

Etheridge today released a statement apologizing and expressing "regret" for his "poor response":

"I have seen the video posted on several blogs. I deeply and profoundly regret my reaction and I apologize to all involved. Throughout my many years of service to the people of North Carolina, I have always tried to treat people from all viewpoints with respect. No matter how intrusive and partisan our politics can become, this does not justify a poor response. I have and I will always work to promote a civil public discourse."

Members of Congress have to understand that this in this environment in which anyone with a camera can post their videos to the Web in a matter of minutes. They need to understand they can't take the bait.

From NBC's Mark Murray
Earlier today, we mentioned that President Obama would use tomorrow's Oval Office address, in part, to call for a comprehensive energy reform. And now he's asking his several million-strong email list to stand with him to push for passage of this reform. (The House has already passed an energy/climate change bill; the Senate has not.)

[O]ur work will not end with this [oil-spill] crisis. That's one of the reasons why last week I invited lawmakers from both parties to join me at the White House to discuss what it will take to move forward on legislation to promote a new economy powered by green jobs, combat climate change, and end our dependence on foreign oil.

Today, we consume more than 20 percent of the world's oil, but have less than two percent of the world's oil reserves. Beyond the risks inherent in drilling four miles beneath the surface of the Earth, our dependence on oil means that we will continue to send billions of dollars of our hard-earned wealth to other countries every month -- including many in dangerous and unstable regions.

In other words, our continued dependence on fossil fuels will jeopardize our national security. It will smother our planet. And it will continue to put our economy and our environment at risk. We cannot delay any longer, and that is why I am asking for your help.

AL-2, Barber, "Gather Your Armies"
6/13
BARBER: I would impeach him. And if that's not enough, some of you men own taverns. Sam, you were a brewer. Mr. President, a distiller. You know how tough it is to run a small business without a tyrannical government on your back. Today, we have an internal revenue service that enforces what they call a progressive income tax. You'll love this. Every year, we're basically required to spy on ourselves. Report what we earn, who we hire and fire, with an all-powerful separate court system, without representation they can increase taxes, add costly regulation or perform malicious audits. Now this same IRS is gonna force us to buy health insurance. Cram it down our throats, or else. Now I took an oath to defend that with my life. And I can't stand by while these evils are perpetrated. You gentlemen revolted over a tea tax. A tea tax! Now look at us. Are you with me? FOUNDING FATHER: Gather your armies.

CO-3, McConnell, "The 2nd Amendment"
6/11
Text: "Bob McConnell on the 2nd Amendment." MCCONNELL: (Shoots gun) That's a pretty good shot. Yeah, I want to talk to you all about the second amendment today. About guns, firearms. The second Amendment. A well-regulated militia being necessary to the defense of the nation, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. I love hunting. I love firearms. I like being out here, hearing the sound of guys enjoying what I enjoy. I grew up in a military family, had a military career. Nobody has any business telling me what kind of sports I enjoy, what kind of hunting I want to enjoy, what kind of weapon I want to keep in my home or my car to defend me, my family and if need be my country. Keep and bear. So let's go down range. I'm going to put in my earplugs. I'm going to draw, take off the safe, find the target, eject, put in a new magazine (shoots at Bin Laden target), drop the magazine, my weapon's safe. That's what I enjoy. That's what I love. That's what I will fight to keep the right to do. Keep and bear arms. You know I'm really disappointed in the fact that we're now negotiating a treaty with the United Nations that would effectively eliminate that. When I'm in Congress, I'm going to fight that treaty. I'm going to fight every effort to take our firearms away from us because I'm an American. I need your support. I want you to put me in Congress. I want you all to understand why I love doing what I do and why I'm prepared to do what I do. Join me in this fight. Take back our country. God bless America.

KS SEN, Tiahrt, "Tea Party Movement Hero"
6/11
ANNCR: They came to Tea Party rallies across Kansas. To say no to Washington. To all the bailouts, reckless spending and lost jobs. No to the trillions of debt passed on to our kids. Which is why Todd Tiahrt was named a National Tea Party Hero because he's not backing down. On taxes, bailouts or illegal immigrations. CATHY MCDONNELL: He doesn't want the larger government and I don't see him caving. Todd Tiahrt. The real Kansas conservative.

FL GOV, Scott, "For Sale"
6/11
SCOTT: Signs of tough times. Unemployment. Real estate collapse. Nearly half of Floridians underwater with their mortgages. So how will politicians solve the problem? They won't. They can't. I come from the business world. I'm running for governor to turn Florida around. Let's rein in state government with accountability budgeting, and create jobs by lowering taxes. The politicians can't turn Florida around. But you and I can. I'm Rick Scott. Let's get to work.

From NBC's Kelly O'Donnell
Judge Vic Rawl, the Democrat that political novice Alvin Greene defeated in last week's South Carolina Democratic Senate primary, is making a statement today about the election.

He calls for an investigation into the primary, but maintains that his protest isn't directed at Greene. Instead, he argues that there were reports of trouble with electronic, touch-screen voting machines.

"The strange circumstances surrounding Tuesday's vote require a thorough investigation. For better or worse, this protest process is the only platform currently available for that investigation," he's expected to say, according to a statement his campaign released. "And let me be clear: regardless of the outcome of this protest, a full and unblinking investigation of this election and the overall integrity of South Carolina's election system must go forward."

More from Rawls: "Like all of you, I am aware of the controversies surrounding Mr. Greene. This protest is not about him either. I would like to speak directly to Mr. Greene and say: 'Sir, this is not about you, and it's not about me. I wish you and your family nothing but the best in the weeks and months ahead.'"

From NBC's Mark Murray
Rick Barber -- a Tea Party Republican competing in a congressional run-off down in Alabama -- is airing the first TV ad this reporter can remember that advocates taking up arms against the United States.

Seriously.

In the ad (below), Barber has a discussion with men dressed up as America's founding fathers. "I would impeach him," Barber says at the beginning, obviously a reference to impeaching President Obama.

Barber continues, "Today we have an Internal Revenue Service that enforces what they call a 'progressive' income tax... Now this same IRS is going to force us to buy health insurance, cram it down our throats or else. Now I took an oath to defend that [the U.S. Constitution] with my life, and I can't stand by while these evils are perpetrated. You, gentleman, revolted over a tea tax! A tea tax! Now look at us. Are you with me?"

One of the men dressed like a U.S. founding father -- George Washington? -- replies, "Gather your armies." And to drive home the point, there are clear images of pistols in the ad.

Barber is running in a July 13 run-off against Martha Roby for the right to take on incumbent Alabama Rep. Bobby Bright (D) in the fall. Roby got 48.6% of the vote in the June 1 primary, and is the favorite in this contest.

msnbc.com's Bill Dedman reports on the FBI's Ted Kennedy file:

After the violent deaths of his brothers, the youngest Kennedy, Teddy, lived under constant threat that he too would meet an assassin's bullet. As he put it bluntly, “They're going to shoot my ass off the way they shot off Bobby's.”

We are learning more about these files, as the FBI has released 2,352 pages from its file on the late Sen. Edward M. Kennedy.

The new file is dominated by investigations of threats against Ted Kennedy, who died Aug. 25 at age 77. "These threats originated from multiple sources, including individuals, anonymous persons, and members of radical groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, 'Minutemen' organizations, and the National Socialist White People’s Party," the FBI said. "The file also contains threats from individuals angered by Kennedy’s stance on politics in Northern Ireland and allegations of an alleged Mafia plot to kill President Kennedy and Senators Robert and Edward Kennedy."

The file was requested by msnbc.com and other news organizations under the Freedom of Information Act. After a kerfuffle over the FBI's decision to let the Kennedy family review the file before release, the FBI said today that no information was withheld from the file. ...

One letter was sent to Ethel Kennedy, Robert's widow, at her home, known as Hickory Hill, in McLean, Va. It said only this: “If Ted runs for Pres. or VP he will be killed. We hate Kennedys. Stop him.”

Two letters received by the senator's office, said, “Don't run for President or Vice President or you will be shot dead too.” And, “You will die if you run for Pres or VP. We hate Kennedys.” ...

The letter-writers also targeted the senator's invalid father, former Ambassador Joseph Kennedy Sr. One said simply, “Do you propose 'Tedd' [sic] to be the next victim?"

A longer letter to the elder Kennedy, who had suffered a stroke and the assassination of two sons, began, “Your suffering has hardly begun. Teddy is next on the Kennedy 'hit parade.' And we won't rest until he gets his. We are sick of the Kennedy's [sic] and all the damn Kennedy crap.”

Read the full story here.

The White House trying to display command and control with Obama’s two-day visit to the Gulf (which begins today), his Oval Office address (tomorrow), and the meeting with BP officials (Wednesday)… If Team Obama can’t convince the public that it has command and control after these next three days, then it probably never will… Obama to press for and energy bill and make four other points in his speech Tuesday… Harwood writes that the president’s poll numbers remain steady despite all the criticism he is receiving… Reid hits Angle in new TV ad, while American Crossroads punches back at Reid… Ayotte testimony in the spotlight today… And Brownback’s “Office of Repealer.”

From NBC's Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Ali Weinberg
*** Command and control: As oil continues to gush from the leak in the Gulf, the Obama White House experienced another rough weekend of media coverage. And nothing was rougher than this piece from the usually friendly confines of the New York Times editorial page. “The president cannot plug the leak or magically clean up the fouled Gulf of Mexico. But he and his administration need to do a lot more to show they are on top of this mess, and not perpetually behind the curve.” The Times’ editorial concluded, “These are matters of competence and leadership. This is a time for Mr. Obama to decisively show both.” As if on cue, President Obama plans to spend today, tomorrow, and Wednesday to demonstrate command and control of the spill. http://nyti.ms/d2fL6M

*** Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and the Oval Office: Today, Obama makes his fourth trip to the Gulf Coast region since the spill -- but his first visit outside of Louisiana. He arrives in Mississippi (a spot being hit more economically than by the oil itself) later this morning, and then receives a briefing by Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen at noon ET. Then at 2:50 pm ET, he arrives in Theodore, AL, and will make a statement to reporters at 4:40 pm ET. Tomorrow, Obama hits Florida (home of a one-ton tar ball) and returns to the White House to give his first-ever primetime address from the Oval Office. And then on Wednesday, he and his administration will meet at the White House with BP officials. If Team Obama can’t convince the public that it has command and control of the situation after these three days, then it probably never will.

*** Previewing Tuesday’s speech: On “Meet the Press” yesterday, White House adviser David Axelrod previewed tomorrow's Oval Office address. “We have some clarity now about the oil that's escaping, and about how we're going to approach it, and about what this means for those communities. And we want to talk about that, and talk about the steps that we're going to take to deal with it.” In addition, the White House tells First Read that Obama will discuss five points: 1) the reorganization at the Interior Department to ensure a regulatory structure for safe offshore oil drilling; 2) the containment strategy for capturing as much of the leaking oil as possible; 3) the BP claims process and how to make it fast, efficient, and transparent (is it time to bring in Ken Feinberg as the doler of funds?); 4) the beginning of a process to restore the Gulf to a better place than it was before the Deepwater Horizon exploded; and 5) the need to reduce the country’s dependence on oil and fossil fuels -- i.e., push for passage of an energy bill. That push for an energy bill will come with a deadline: this year. Of course, the details of this energy bill (carbon tax, climate aspects, etc.) will not be discussed.

*** Where’s the optimism? On Tuesday, be sure to listen to the president’s tone and see if it’s more optimistic than it was last week. In an interview with Politico’s Roger Simon on Friday, the normally upbeat Obama sounded pessimistic -- and even somewhat cynical -- when talking about the criticism he has received from congressional Republicans and the media. On congressional GOPers “[I]f six months ago, before this spill had happened, I had gone up to Congress and I had said we need to crack down a lot harder on oil companies and we need to spend more money on technology to respond in case of a catastrophic spill, there are folks up there, who will not be named, who would have said this is classic, big-government overregulation and wasteful spending.” And on the media: “I think I get frustrated with sometimes, as do, I suspect, other members of my team, is that the media specifically is demanding things that the public aren’t demanding. What the public wants to see is us solving this problem. And that may not make for good TV.” It’s one thing to be pessimistic, frustrated, and cynical. But it’s another to display those things in an interview.

*** And where’s the hope? Perhaps the president is right in his assessment about how Congress would have responded, but let's not forget that the president’s party is in charge of the legislative branch. In the last few weeks, more so than at any point to date in his term, the president has let his frustration with the process and theatrics show in public. Americans don't respond well to "woe is us.” Nobody wants unrealistic optimism, but they also want that guy who inspired a lot of "Hope" posters.

*** Obama’s poll numbers remain steady: Obama might have a point about the media’s criticism, specifically the political comparisons of the spill to Hurricane Katrina and the Iran hostage crisis. As John Harwood writes in the New York Times, the spill hasn’t really changed Obama’s standing in the polls -- at least so far. NBC/WSJ co-pollster Bill McInturff (R) tells Harwood: “It’s hard to make the case that the BP oil spill has a substantial impact on Obama’s job approval.” Adds polling expert Charles Franklin: “I see current approval about in line with the fluctuations we’ve seen all year for each pollster.” It will be interesting to see what the polls show after Obama’s offensive this week (the Gulf visit, the Oval Office address, the sit-down with BP officials).

*** Reid hits Angle in new TV ad: Turning to the midterm contests, the next couple of weeks will be crucial in determining whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D) can put himself in a position to win re-election -- given his huge financial advantage over opponent Sharron Angle (R). First, he began airing a positive TV ad late last week. And now he’s going up with a negative one against Angle that hits her for wanting to phase out Social Security and Medicare, and for the Scientology/massage legislation she sponsored. However, the GOP-leaning group American Crossroads -- which is aided by Karl Rove and Ed Gillespie -- is jumping into the fray to attack Reid over his support for the stimulus. (This is the first real test of this Rove/Gillespie group, and it will be interesting to see if they can use this gambit to bring more attention to their group and raise more money.) Meanwhile, Politico reports that Angle today will meet with prominent Wall Street conservatives in New York, and the Las Vegas Review-Journal says she’ll meet with NRSC Chairman John Cornyn on Tuesday and with Grover Norquist’s morning gathering on Wednesday.

*** Ayotte in the spotlight: In New Hampshire, GOP Senate front-runner Kelly Ayotte today testifies before state legislators why she -- when state attorney general -- didn’t file fraud charges against a New Hampshire mortgage firm like federal authorities did. Says the AP: “New Hampshire's highest profile political race is merging with its biggest business story. Campaign friends and foes of Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kelly Ayotte await her testimony Monday before legislators reviewing state oversight of the firm. Among them are investors who lost millions of dollars in a failed mortgage firm in Meredith.” The DSCC is releasing a memo today that says: “In what could be her moment of truth, Kelly Ayotte will testify today on her failure to identify and stop the largest Ponzi scheme in New Hampshire history. As a Senate candidate, Ayotte is campaigning on her record as New Hampshire’s Attorney General, saying ‘I’m a prosecutor, not a politician’ in her latest television advertisement. Today, the voters of New Hampshire have the opportunity to scrutinize that record.”

*** The Repealer: This Sunday New York Times story caught our eye: Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, who is running for governor, “has proposed a new Kansas entity, the State Office of the Repealer, whose job it would be to start disposing of all the silly, needless, over-the-top regulations that state officials have dreamed up. ‘People just love this idea,’ Mr. Brownback said here the other day, smiling broadly. ‘They feel like they’re getting their brains regulated out of them.’” (Well, at least not when it comes to offshore oil drilling regulations…)

*** More midterm news: In Arkansas, Blanche Lincoln is moving to the center and away from Obama, the Arkansas News reports… In California, Carly Fiorina called her critical comments about Barbara Boxer’s hair “petty and superficial,” CQ says… In Florida, Mitt Romney has endorsed Bill McCollum… And in South Carolina’s GOP gubernatorial run-off, Andre Bauer has endorsed Gresham Barrett.

Countdown to UT primary and NC and SC run-offs: 8 days
Countdown to AL run-off: 29 days
Countdown to GA primary: 36 days
Countdown to OK primary: 43 days
Countdown to KS and MO primaries: 50 days
Countdown to CO and CT primaries: 57 days
Countdown to Election Day 2010: 141 days

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“Kagan was involved in defending Clinton in the lawsuit brought by ex-Arkansas state worker Paula Jones, according to documents released Friday,” AP writes. “Clinton's testimony for the Jones lawsuit, denying a sexual relationship with White House intern Monica Lewinsky, led to his impeachment. The library held back several of Kagan's memos to Clinton's top advisers in the case, saying that publicly releasing them would divulge confidential advice. They were turned over to the Senate Judiciary Committee that will hold hearings on Kagan's nomination, however.”

“Two of the most influential justices ever to sit on the Supreme Court -- Thurgood Marshall and Antonin Scalia -- probably couldn’t get confirmed to the bench today,” Roll Call writes. “So say scholars and Senators who argue that the high court has turned into such a political battleground that recent presidents now eschew nominating individuals like Marshall and Scalia. Instead, they argue, presidents are trending in favor of nominees who, like current Supreme Court hopeful Elena Kagan, have spent their lives avoiding controversy.”

Sarah Palin on Fox: "Nooo, I have not had implants. I think a report like that is about as real and truthful that Todd and I are divorcing or that I bought a place in the Hamptons or that Trig is not my own child. And we still put up with that garbage, too. … Boobgate' is all over the Internet, because there are a lot of bored, idle bloggers and reporters with nothing else to talk about.”

NH SEN, Hodes, "Ayotte: Come Clean"
6/11
raising scandal
ANNCR: Kelly Ayotte failed to prosecute the largest fraud in New Hampshire history. NH AG: The Department of Justice made serious mistakes. ANNCR: For weeks, Ayotte has refused to come forward and answer questions about how her office missed the warning signs and why they refused to act. She's done nothing but duck responsibility. AYOTTE: This was not a matter that I had any personal contact with. ANNCR: And point fingers. AYOTTE: But the agencies with primary jurisdiction here are banking and securities. ANNCR: But her duck and dodge routine isn't fooling anyone. Now, Kelly Ayotte is being compelled to testify before the New Hampshire legislature. TV ANNCRS: Kelly Ayotte is now being called to testify... Kelly Ayotte is being summoned to testify... ANNCR: Where she will finally have to answer to the people of New Hampshire. MAN: She says she has no personal knowledge of the matter, but why the heck not? She was in charge of the office. WOMAN: Kelly Ayotte knew such small details as where desks were being moved in her office. But she didn't know her department had received repeated evidence of massive financial fraud. MAN: If Kelly Ayotte doesn't take responsibility, who does she think should? ANNCR: It's time for Kelly Ayotte to come clean.

NH SEN, Ayotte, "Stop"
6/11
not a career politician
AYOTTE: New Hampshire has a clear message for Washington politicians like Paul Hodes. Stop. Stop the bailouts, stop the trillion dollar takeover of health care. Stop the out of control spending that gave us a thirteen trillion dollar debt. I'm a prosecutor, not a politician. As Attorney General, I put killers behind bars. When our state faced layoffs, I refused to take a pay raise. I'm Kelly Ayotte. I'm a fiscal conservative who will cut spending, and I approve this message because Washington must stop.

NH SEN, Binnie, "On the Trail"
6/10
positive
ANNCR: All throughout New Hampshire Bill Binnie is working hard, meeting people. Winning votes. Binnie's message of fiscal responsibility and the need for more jobs is what the people of New Hampshire want, need and deserve. Bill Binnie is everywhere. Look for him as he travels across the state. Bill Binnie. Common sense, independent voice for New Hampshire. Vote Republican Bill Binnie for United States Senate.

NV SEN, Reid, "Geothermal"
6/10
positive/why NV needs Reid
PAUL THOMSEN: Yeah, you drive along I-80 and you see the steam coming up from the ground. It may not look like much, but it's geothermal energy. Geothermal can mean over 16,000 construction jobs in Nevada. Harry Reid saw the potential for geothermal before just about anybody else. It's Nevada jobs, it's Nevada energy, Senator Reid is making that happen.

WI SEN, Johnson, "Real World"
6/9
not a career politician
JOHNSON: "Remember when Wisconsin companies manufactured products and sold them all over the world? I'm Ron Johnson -- come on, let me show you. At our company, we don't export jobs, we export plastic. We can bring America back, but first, we have to boot professional politicians out of Washington. Government doesn't create jobs, government creates debt -- you know that, I know that. Let's tell Washington. I'm Ron Johnson, I'm running for Senate, and I approve this message" (youtube.com, 6/11).

WI SEN, Johnson, "Apple Pie"
6/10
humor/not a career politician
ANNCR: "He's a family man. He wants good jobs. And everything good for everyone. He even loves apple pie." JOHNSON: "Had enough of these phony political commercials? I'm Ron Johnson, I believe Congress is squandering America's future with reckless amounts of spending and debt. It's irresponsible. It's time we bring America back. The politicians won't, but you and I can. I'm Ron Johnson, I approve this message, I'm fed up with our government's failure, that's why I'm running for Senate"

AL GOV, Byrne, "Protect"
6/10
values
Bradley Byrne. Christian conservative. Family man. His Christian faith and values will guide him as governor. Ending Montgomery corruption, to clean up the legislature's spending mess. Standing up to Barack Obama and BP's failures in the gulf to protect our economy and way of life. Bradley Byrne's Moving Alabama Forward plan will create new jobs, provide more police enforcement to crack down on illegal immigration. Alabama, let's protect our values and way of life. Bradley Byrne. Conservative. Governor.

CA GOV, anti-Whitman, "California Working Families 2010"
6/10
negative
ANNCR: "Meg Whitman wants our vote. But for 28 years, she didn't bother to vote." (Clip of townhall exchange) VOTER: "People want to know why." WHITMAN: "Well, what I have said is that it wasn't the right thing to do." VOTER: "But why?" WHITMAN: "It just wasn't the right thing to do. I should have, I should have and I didn't." VOTER: "Why not?" WHITMAN: "I should have voted, and I didn't." ANNCR: "For decades, she didn't follow the issues. Couldn't spare a minute to vote. Now she's spending 150 million to get our vote?" WHITMAN: "I should have, and I didn't. We're going to move on now"

ND HOUSE, anti-Pomeroy (Americans for Prosperity)
6/10
Obama/Pelosi agenda
Americans opposed a health care takeover, but Earl Pomeroy ignored us and voted with Nancy Pelosi for big-government health care. The cost? 1 trillion dollars. What did you get? 500 billion in Medicare costs. Tax hikes that have already led to thousands of jobs lost. And now, a non-partisan congressional committee says people making less than $200,000 will pay more in taxes. Earl Pomeroy cast his vote. Tell him: North Dakotans won't forget.

Charlie Crist (I) inches closer and closer, it seems, to the Democratic Party.

The AP:

Gov. Charlie Crist has vetoed a bill that would have required women seeking an abortion during the first trimester to undergo an ultrasound exam and pay for it. Crist said Friday it put an inappropriate burden on women seeking an abortion. Crist was a Republican until he left the party recently to make an independent bid for the Senate.

To blunt this, Kendrick Meek (D) is holding a press conference with pro-choice groups at 4:00 pm ET.

A look at the week ahead in politics.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL VIDEO OF THE WEEK AHEAD: President Obama heads back to the Gulf, BP's CEO testifies before Congress, plus Andy's vanity revealed on open mic.

Yesterday's testimony at the Blagojevich trial read like something out of a Goodfellas script:

"You learn two great things in life: never rat on your friends and always keep your mouth shut."

That was essentially the charge anyway from the disgraced Illinois governor's former chief of staff.

AP's recap:

Rod Blagojevich drew his hand across his throat in a slashing gesture to signal that he didn't want anyone told about alleged moneymaking plans involving his power as governor, his former chief of staff testified Thursday.

In testimony Thursday, Alonzo Monk told jurors at Blagojevich's corruption trial that the governor gave the signal when they were alone in his campaign office in 2007 or 2008 — indicating that if anybody asked about the alleged plans he should tell them nothing. ...

Monk testified Thursday that Blagojevich fundraiser Tony Rezko, currently awaiting sentencing for fraud and other charges, slipped him as much as $90,000 in cash when he was the governor's chief of staff — typically $10,000 at a time stuffed in an envelope.

Blagojevich has pleaded not guilty to trying to profit from his power to fill the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama and squeezing people for campaign contributions. If convicted, he could be sentenced to up to 415 years in prison, though a judge would consider many factors. Blagojevich also could face fines totaling $6 million.

Monk has pleaded guilty to scheming to pressure a racetrack owner for a contribution and is testifying in hopes of getting a lighter sentence.