Palin Will Headline Gridiron Dinner

Both parties on notice, speaker warns

(NEWSER) - A mob of Tea Partiers chanting "Remember in November" descended on DC yesterday for another major rally in the nation's capital. Speakers put both Democrats and Republicans on notice that the movement is a force to be reckoned with, CNN reports. "I believe we've gotten the Republican Party's attention," boasted a march organizer, referring to surprise wins in Kentucky and Alaska. The Tea Party's latest hopes are pinned on come-from-way-behind "anti-masturbation" Delaware candidate Christine O'Donnell, who's facing off against a long-time GOP congressman in the Republican primary for Senate tomorrow. More»

Many hate Dems ... and GOP

(NEWSER) - The anti-Washington energy at Glenn Beck's rally Saturday is a warning not only to the incumbent party but also to the GOP. Many at the DC event, which "carried the tone of a religious revival," according to the Wall Street Journal , said in interviews that GOP politicians shouldn't take their votes for granted. "Now I feel that I belong to no party," said one disenchanted voter at the rally. More»

More believe country is on the right track than wrong

(NEWSER) - Wealthy Washingtonians are out of sync with the rest of the country on a host of issues, according to a new poll. Politico surveyed 227 “Washington elites”—meaning DC residents who make at least $75,000 a year, and work in politics in some form—and found a group much more optimistic than the rest of the country. More of the elites said the country was on the right track (49%) than on the wrong one (45%); in a national poll, 61% went with “wrong track.” More»

Would-be veep cracks on herself at journalists' dinner

(AP) - Sarah Palin poked fun at herself in a speech to the Gridiron Club last night, drawing laughter when she announced she "came down from my hotel room and I could see the Russian Embassy." Other knee-slappers:

• The 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate joked that she had originally thought of titling her book How to Look Like a Million Bucks For Only $150,000.

He promotes his experience, but seeks to be face of change

(AP) - John McCain embraces and expels Washington like an accordion player belting out a song, writes Glen Johnson. Squeeze in and he touts his vast knowledge of the capital city. Draw out and he casts himself a reformer bent on changing its ways. It's a remarkable dichotomy echoed throughout the Republican establishment, as a party that's held the White House for the past eight years tries to retain its grip in what has shaped up as a change election. More»