Politically Illustrated.com

Legal Marijuana Would be a Boon for California Consumers

A group called Public Safety First warns that "the pre-tax price of marijuana could substantially decline" and "consumption of marijuana would increase" if Californians vote to legalize the drug in November. Well, yes, that's sort of the idea.

• A Federal-State Law Inconsistency Will Not Stop Potheads
• Marijuana Gathering Worries Police

Have Republicans Invented an Alternate History?

For my sins, I followed a link from Matthew Yglesias to Erick Erickson's explanation of how great the Bush tax cuts really were. And there I learned some things I didn't know.

Jewish Organizations Protest Oliver Stone by Canceling Upcoming TV Show

A furious Haim Saban has mounted a campaign to get Showtime to cancel its planned airing of Oliver Stone's 10-part series, "A Secret History of America," in the wake of anti-Jewish remarks by the outspoken director.

• Oliver Stone's Apology Is Not Enough

BP Gets $10 Billion Tax Credit for Destroying the Gulf of Mexico

Oil giant BP said it plans to offset the entire cost of its Gulf of Mexico oil spill against its tax bill, reducing future contributions to U.S. tax coffers by almost $10 billion.

• Factbook: Developments in the Gulf Oil Spill
• Cleanup of Another Gulf Oil Spill Underway

Kagan Will Move Supreme Court to the Right

President Barack Obama has chosen Elena Kagan to fill the vacancy left by Justice John Paul Stevens' retirement. Sadly, Kagan cannot fill Justice Stevens' mighty shoes.

• Full Senate to Vote on Supreme Court Nominee Elena Kagan
• Republicans to Support Elena Kagan?

Will Obama’s Debt Commission Call for Trillions in Tax Hikes?

Obama debt commission member, Republican Sen. Judd Gregg of New Hampshire, launched a scary trial balloon on ABC News. Gregg suggested the debt commission will likely recommend a massive $26.7 trillion tax increase. Here are Gregg's actual words:

• Debt Commission Struggling to Achieve Consensus
• Net Roots Disappointed with Obama?

Does Racism Remain a Serious Problem in America?

One headline after another seems to confirm that racism remains a serious problem in America. Yet, while deeply disturbing, the situation is neither unexpected nor necessarily an indication of a significant shift in the nation's character.

• WATCH: Glenn Beck Compares Shirley Sherrod to 9/11

Coo, Coo, Cuckoo! Goes Cooing Junk News (and Junk Food)

Once on a flight I ate a cheeseburger-in-a-bag. It was a wonderfully microwaved beefy dough ball of cheesy-type goo. It tasted amazing! Of course, it's designed to taste amazing. Mission so accomplished.

• Cable News Ratings

Gimme More! Britney Spears Dines with Date Jason Trawick

Britney Spears went on a top secret dinner date with hottie boyfriend Jason Trawick and his parents Monday capping an end to her black outs? Let us hope she can find her kids.

• Britney Spears Episode Of 'Glee' Will Be 'Fun And Unexpected'

Q&A: Can Obama Win in Afghanistan?

President Obama has become quite the hawk when it comes to the war in Afghanistan. Mr. Obama has approved a surge of 21,000 troops that will bring U.S. military forces there to 68,000. And recently he confidently promised that the U.S. will "disrupt, dismantle and defeat al-Qaida in Pakistan and Afghanistan."

• McChrystal Is Summoned to Washington

How to Eat Healthy by Attending Beer School in Chicago

I'm an optimist by nature and combined with just a little faith this often translates to mean that I'm willing to approach something time and again from slightly different angles. Sometimes that's a great trait like when I'm learning a new skill that's not coming very easily to me. Sometimes it's crazy such as setting a date with the same person and being disappointed they had an excuse at the last second, yet again.

• What's the World's Strongest Beer?
• The Making of Samuel Adams Beer