• An immodest proposal 
  My posts about baseball the way it used to be, including my nostalgia for pennant races, have prompted my conservative cousin from New York to offer what he "modestly consider[s] the best baseball ref...
• Dem Disarray 
  It's hard to say where the Democrats are on the "public option" at the moment. Over the weekend, the Obama administration signaled that it was open to dropping that piece of the health care "reform"...
• Republican Tide Rising 
  Republicans have pulled out to a five-point lead on the generic Congressional lead, matching their best performance of the past several years. In closely related news, Democrats say they will push ah...
• A health care sidebar 
  Quoting Ken Vogel's Politico story, Glenn Reynolds describes it as logrolling in our time: Two firms that received $343.3 million to handle advertising for Barack Obama's White House run last year...
• Against the virtual life 
  In the new Summer issue of the Claremont Review of Books (subscribe here), the master essayist Joseph Epstein reviews Mark Helprin's Digital Barbarism: A Writer's Manifesto. "Ostensibly a book about...
• What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? The Sequel 
  This morning I linked to Byron York's column on the demise of the antiwar movement, now that George Bush is no longer President. This really is a phenomenon that deserves more attention. It is widel...
• The Good Old Days 
  From the New York Times's obituary of Robert Novak, recalling his role in the 1972 Presidential election: In April 1972, Mr. Evans and Mr. Novak reported that Senator George S. McGovern, the Democrat...
• With puff-pieces like this, who needs to be attacked? 
  The Washington Post sends what it must consider a Valentine to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: She talked chickens with female farmers in Kenya. She listened to the excruciating stories of rape...
• Brennan's bromides 
  Earlier this month Obama administration assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John O. Brennan gave a speech outlining the administration's deep thoughts on combating terrorism. The spe...
• The mask, such as it was, is dropped 
  Ed Whelan reports [note: Wendy Long, actually] that Sonia Sotomayor's first vote as a Supreme Court Justice was to stay the execution of an unquestionably guilty hitman. According to Ed, even Ohio's...

[ More from Powerline ] 

• Robert Novak, RIP 
  Robert Novak, the prominent Washington journalist, has died. As a teen-ager, I was a huge fan of the Evans and Novak columns which, nestled in between the ponderous writing (as it appeared to me at t...
• Bringing Guns to Political Events? 
  This strikes me as very dumb. Leave your guns at home!
• What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? 
  Byron York goes looking for it, without success. Now that George Bush is no longer President, opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has dropped to dead last on the priorities of American leftists...
• The conservative challenge 
  "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it," Abraham Lincoln counseled in his great 1858 House Divided speech. In Lincol...
• Did Krupskaya cave? 
  We have closely followed the story of Obama administration flack Linda Douglass -- a cross between Nurse Ratched and Mrs. Lenin -- and her invitation to report fishy comments on Obamacare to the flag@...

• More on Massa 
  We're getting some push back from readers on the post below about Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) -- mainly along the lines that with Republicans calling Obama the new Hitler and comparing the public option to...
• Time for Choosing 
  Got bipartisanship on one side and the public option on the other. Not sure you can have both, guys. Keep one foot on the dock and the other on the boat too long and ......
• That's a Bit Much 
  Upstate New York Rep. Eric Massa (D) says Sen. Grassley's 'pull the plug on grandma' remarks were "an act of treason." Against sanity, honesty, self-respect? Sure. But I think he means against the cou...
• Everybody's Got an Angle 
  Video: Tea Partier who screamed "Heil Hitler" at an Israeli man who supports health care reform explains her opposition to reform....
• Don Hewitt Dead 
  The legendary creator and long-time chief of 60 Minutes dies at 86....
• A Big Hmmm 
  Not sure quite what to make of this. Steve Clemons points out that Israel's Deputy Prime Minister appears to be twittering about possibly being left in the dark about a settlement freeze Netanyahu and...
• Insurer-Cum-Party Planner 
  One major health insurance company is encouraging its policyholders employees to attend tea party events opposing health care reform....
• Barney Frank Bags A Teabagger 
  At a town hall meeting, the Massachusetts rep lays it on the line with a protester who equates health care reform with Nazism: "On what planet do you spend most of you time?" Watch....
• TPMDC Morning Roundup 
  White House Shocker! GOP not negotiating in good faith on health care reform. That and the day's other political news in the TPMDC Morning Roundup....
• Presented By: 
  ...

[ More from Talking Points Memo ] 

• The Logic Escapes Me 
  NPR: "Obama Town-Hall Gun Toters May Have An Upside" (Special thanks to TPM Reader BG for the catch.)...
• Echoes of '90s Right-Wing Violence 
  You have to be pretty warped to see a straight line from Waco through Oklahoma City and 9/11 to ... health care reform....
• Time for an Intervention 
  TPM Reader MG: You were right on ... in your post "Troubled History." I thought you were especially sharp to draw a loose comparison between substance addiction behavior and the American right's relat...
• What Happened Yesterday? 
  Yesterday in 100 Seconds: Mixed Messages...
• AZ Gun-Toters Tied to Violent 90s Era Militia 
  It was only a matter of time. While "Chris" was the guy who carried around the assault rifle at the Obama event in Phoenix yesterday, it appears to have been another guy, Ernest Hancock, who organized...
• Nowwwww It's Getting Interesting 
  [ed.note: Be sure to see 'Latter Update' below.] We've still got the on-going questions about whether NJ Gov candidate Chris Christie pushed political prosecutions as US Attorney to keep on Karl Rove'...

• An immodest proposal 
  My posts about baseball the way it used to be, including my nostalgia for pennant races, have prompted my conservative cousin from New York to offer what he "modestly consider[s] the best baseball ref...
• Dem Disarray 
  It's hard to say where the Democrats are on the "public option" at the moment. Over the weekend, the Obama administration signaled that it was open to dropping that piece of the health care "reform"...
• Republican Tide Rising 
  Republicans have pulled out to a five-point lead on the generic Congressional lead, matching their best performance of the past several years. In closely related news, Democrats say they will push ah...
• A health care sidebar 
  Quoting Ken Vogel's Politico story, Glenn Reynolds describes it as logrolling in our time: Two firms that received $343.3 million to handle advertising for Barack Obama's White House run last year...
• Against the virtual life 
  In the new Summer issue of the Claremont Review of Books (subscribe here), the master essayist Joseph Epstein reviews Mark Helprin's Digital Barbarism: A Writer's Manifesto. "Ostensibly a book about...
• What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? The Sequel 
  This morning I linked to Byron York's column on the demise of the antiwar movement, now that George Bush is no longer President. This really is a phenomenon that deserves more attention. It is widel...
• The Good Old Days 
  From the New York Times's obituary of Robert Novak, recalling his role in the 1972 Presidential election: In April 1972, Mr. Evans and Mr. Novak reported that Senator George S. McGovern, the Democrat...
• With puff-pieces like this, who needs to be attacked? 
  The Washington Post sends what it must consider a Valentine to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: She talked chickens with female farmers in Kenya. She listened to the excruciating stories of rape...
• Brennan's bromides 
  Earlier this month Obama administration assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John O. Brennan gave a speech outlining the administration's deep thoughts on combating terrorism. The spe...
• The mask, such as it was, is dropped 
  Ed Whelan reports [note: Wendy Long, actually] that Sonia Sotomayor's first vote as a Supreme Court Justice was to stay the execution of an unquestionably guilty hitman. According to Ed, even Ohio's...

[ More from Daily Kos ] 

• Robert Novak, RIP 
  Robert Novak, the prominent Washington journalist, has died. As a teen-ager, I was a huge fan of the Evans and Novak columns which, nestled in between the ponderous writing (as it appeared to me at t...
• Bringing Guns to Political Events? 
  This strikes me as very dumb. Leave your guns at home!
• What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? 
  Byron York goes looking for it, without success. Now that George Bush is no longer President, opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has dropped to dead last on the priorities of American leftists...
• The conservative challenge 
  "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it," Abraham Lincoln counseled in his great 1858 House Divided speech. In Lincol...
• Did Krupskaya cave? 
  We have closely followed the story of Obama administration flack Linda Douglass -- a cross between Nurse Ratched and Mrs. Lenin -- and her invitation to report fishy comments on Obamacare to the flag@...

• August Anniversaries -- By: Denis Boyles 
  August, and golden oldies. Serious thought is forbidden this month, which is why every middle-aged pop critic in America is still waxing on Woodstock and talking about how Janis changed the world and...
• When Boulder Starts Rolling Away -- By: Mark Hemingway 
  Boulder, Colo., is known as one of the most politically liberal communities in America. And yet here’s a man named Steve standing in the parking lot of a strip mall, holding up a bright-orange sign...
• Kentucky's Scrappy Go-Getter -- By: Michael Warren 
  He’s arguably the most powerful elected Republican in America. He’s certainly the most powerful Republican official in Washington since the departure of George W. Bush. That may not be saying much...
• Why 'Obamacare' Is Failing -- By: Jonah Goldberg 
  To listen to the White House and its supporters in and out of the media, you would think that opposition to “Obamacare” is the hobgoblin of a few small minds on the right. Racists, fascists, Ne...
• That's Where the Money Is -- By: Thomas Sowell 
  When famed bank robber Willie Sutton was asked why he robbed banks, he said: “Because that’s where the money is.”For the same reason, it is as predictable as the sunrise that medical care for th...
• Robert Novak, R.I.P. -- By: Larry Kudlow 
  Now we say good-bye to Robert Novak, who passed away early Tuesday morning at the age of 78. Yet another conservative icon has left us. He was a good friend, and an amazing reporter. In fact, I believ...
• Playing the Joker -- By: Andrew Stuttaford 
   If the right to vote (or not vote) for our leaders is a sign of a healthy democracy, so is the right not just to criticize, but also to insult them. Jeering, heckling, and rude, impious laughter are...
• The Harder He Falls -- By: David Kahane 
   I’m the world’s biggest fan of the great boxer Barry “the Punahou Kid” Obama. I supported him throughout his grueling qualifying bouts with John “Pretty Boy” Edwards and Chris “Tammany...
• Whose Medical Decisions? -- By: Thomas Sowell 
  There was a time when rushing a thousand-page bill through Congress so fast that no one has time to read it would have provoked public outrage. But now, this has been attempted twice in the first six...
• Obama's Option Play -- By: Rich Lowry 
  EDITOR’S NOTE: This column is available exclusively through King Features Syndicate. For permission to reprint or excerpt this copyrighted material, please contact: kfsreprint@hearstsc.com, or ph...

[ More from National Review Online ] 

• Up North -- By: Mona Charen 
  A comedian once said that visiting Canada was like rummaging in your attic. “You go up there and say ‘Wow, there’s all this neat stuff up here! There are mountains and rivers and cities.’ ”...
• Rationing and Rationality -- By: The Editors 
  Defined at a high level of abstraction, rationing is inevitable in medicine. Not everything that might be in a patient’s best interest can be done in a world of finite resources, and some constraint...
• Poisoned Water in Green Hell -- By: Mark Hemingway 
  I like where I live, but I didn’t quite realize that it was turning into a green hell. At least not until I read Steven Milloy’s new book, Green Hell: How Environmentalists Plan to Control Your Li...
• Hillary Snaps -- By: Kathryn Jean Lopez 
  EDITOR’S NOTE: This column is available exclusively through United Media. For permission to reprint or excerpt this copyrighted material, please contact Carmen Puello at cpuello@unitedmedia.com. Hi...
• Terrorists Get Appeals, Obamacare Patients Don't -- By: Andrew C. McCarthy 
  Remember when Congress tried to limit al-Qaeda’s access to our courts? There was hell to pay. That the nation was at war after a 9/11 was irrelevant. That the complainants at issue made no bones a...
• Up, Up, and Away -- By: Deroy Murdock 
  ‘Obama talks about $600 billion. The Congressional Budget Office talks about $1.1 trillion,” a gray-haired man in a striped shirt bluntly told Democratic senator Arlen Specter at a town hall meeti...
• What Went Wrong -- By: Victor Davis Hanson 
  We are witnessing one of the more rapid turnabouts in recent American political history. President Obama’s popularity has plummeted to 50 percent and lower in some polls, while the public expresses...
• You've Had a Good Innings -- By: Mark Steyn 
  Some years ago, when I was a slip of a lad, I found myself commiserating with a distinguished American songwriter about the death of one of his colleagues. My 23-year-old girlfriend found all the cond...
• Nazis for Me, but Not for Thee -- By: Andrew C. McCarthy 
  It’s this week’s fashion on the left, and among such fashionably contemplative moderates as Mort Kondracke, to blast Rush Limbaugh for comparing Democrats to the Nazis. It’s no surprise that the...
• High School Rock Musical -- By: Thomas S. Hibbs 
  The new Walden Media production, Bandslam, is for the most part an entertaining story about the new kid in town, Will Burton (Gaelan Connell), a classic-rock purist and typical loner who suddenly find...
• Bowling for Embryos -- By: Kevin Williamson 
  Lines That Divide: The Great Stem Cell Debate is a conservative propaganda film arguing that Americans should forgo embryonic-stem-cell research in favor of research using stem cells derived from adul...
• Happy and Hungry -- By: Julie Gunlock 
  Julie and Julia is a wonderfully lighthearted movie about food, love, and determination. Written and directed by well-known happy-movie doyenne Nora Ephron (the maker of such chick-flick blockbusters...
• Worst. Hires Rate. Ever. -- By: Jerry Bowyer 
    It’s not enough for most people to know what the unemployment rate is and whether it’s going up or down. It’s not enough for investors and entrepreneurs living during some of the strangest ti...
• Grassley's 'Come to Grandma' Moment -- By: NRO Staff 
  Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, the Senate Finance Committee’s senior Republican, announced on Thursday that his committee will drop consideration of the end-of-life provisions outlined in the House’...
• Obama's Bookshelf -- By: An NRO Symposium 
  Our president has been spotted carrying an assortment of books, from FDR biographies to the collected poems of David Walcott. We asked some friends of NRO: What books would you recommend the president...

• EVOLVING ROBOTS learn to lie to each other…. 
  EVOLVING ROBOTS learn to lie to each other.
• BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY loves electric cars…. 
  BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY loves electric cars.
• THE SPIRIT ROVER: 2,000 days of work on Mars…. 
  THE SPIRIT ROVER: 2,000 days of work on Mars.
• THE TRUCK IS “meant to be obnoxious and cause shame.” Can we park it in front of politicians’ house… 
  THE TRUCK IS “meant to be obnoxious and cause shame.” Can we park it in front of politicians’ houses?
• IN THE MAIL: From Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson, The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraor… 
  IN THE MAIL: From Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson, The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election.
• LINE-BY-LINE: Some Obama iconography. Bill Whittle would be proud…. 
  LINE-BY-LINE: Some Obama iconography. Bill Whittle would be proud.
• THOUGHTS ON healthcare and the banality of evil…. 
  THOUGHTS ON healthcare and the banality of evil.
• J.D. JOHANNES travels with Afghanistan’s jet set. … 
  J.D. JOHANNES travels with Afghanistan’s jet set.
• CULTURE OF CORRUPTION: “Gosh, what a surprise: A committee of their fellow senators has decided tha… 
  CULTURE OF CORRUPTION: “Gosh, what a surprise: A committee of their fellow senators has decided that Chris Dodd and Kent Conrad did nothing unethical when they took out loans from Countrywide F...
• FABIUS MAXIMUS: A revolution is not a dinner party. Thoughts about the future of China…. 
  FABIUS MAXIMUS: A revolution is not a dinner party. Thoughts about the future of China.

[ More from INSTAPUNDIT ] 

• PROFESSOR BAINBRIDGE: From the Horse’s Mouth: They Plan On A Slippery Slope…. 
  PROFESSOR BAINBRIDGE: From the Horse’s Mouth: They Plan On A Slippery Slope.
• ANN ALTHOUSE AND BOB WRIGHT: On Bloggingheads TV…. 
  ANN ALTHOUSE AND BOB WRIGHT: On Bloggingheads TV.
• THE GOAL: Eliminate private insurance altogether…. 
  THE GOAL: Eliminate private insurance altogether.
• BYRON YORK: What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? Cindy Sheehan Responds. Sheehan writes: “The … 
  BYRON YORK: What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? Cindy Sheehan Responds. Sheehan writes: “The ‘anti-war’ ‘left’ was used by the Democratic Party. I like to call it...
• RUSS CARNAHAN makes a new hire. 
  RUSS CARNAHAN makes a new hire.
• EUGENE VOLOKH: Yale University Press Buys Into the Blame-the-Speaker Approach…. 
  EUGENE VOLOKH: Yale University Press Buys Into the Blame-the-Speaker Approach.
• NAT HENTOFF: I am finally scared of a White House administration…. 
  NAT HENTOFF: I am finally scared of a White House administration.
• TAXPROF: Is Obama’s Tax Reform Panel Fizzling Out? Sounds like nobody ever lit the fuse. Was Paul… 
  TAXPROF: Is Obama’s Tax Reform Panel Fizzling Out? Sounds like nobody ever lit the fuse. Was Paul Volcker just for show?
• RYAN SAGER IN THE NEW YORK TIMES: Don’t Call It Astroturf. “Here’s a rule: Organizing isn’t ch… 
  RYAN SAGER IN THE NEW YORK TIMES: Don’t Call It Astroturf. “Here’s a rule: Organizing isn’t cheating. Doing everything in your power to get your people to show up is basic politics.
• WHITE HOUSE: We’re okay with armed protesters. 
  WHITE HOUSE: We’re okay with armed protesters.
• REYES CONVICTION REVERSED FOR PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT: “Former CEO of Brocade Communications Syste… 
  REYES CONVICTION REVERSED FOR PROSECUTORIAL MISCONDUCT: “Former CEO of Brocade Communications Systems, Gregory Reyes, had his convictions overturned by the the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• JOSH MARSHALL: “Let’s be honest with ourselves: the American right has a deep-seated problem with p… 
  JOSH MARSHALL: “Let’s be honest with ourselves: the American right has a deep-seated problem with political violence.” You mean like the violence against Ken Gladney? A peaceful b...
• HARRY REID’S “EVIL” MOMENT: Remember when polite society treated a politician’s use of the word “… 
  HARRY REID’S “EVIL” MOMENT: Remember when polite society treated a politician’s use of the word “evil” as a sign that the old boy was dangerously lacking upstairs?
• METHANE SEEPS FROM ARCTIC SEABED. Uh oh. This is how Mother of Storms started . . . …. 
  METHANE SEEPS FROM ARCTIC SEABED. Uh oh. This is how Mother of Storms started . . . .
• GALLUP: Obama approval at new low, disapproval at new high…. 
  GALLUP: Obama approval at new low, disapproval at new high.
• LOGROLLING IN OUR TIME: Obama Campaign Ad Firms Signed On to Push Health-Care Overhaul. “Two firms… 
  LOGROLLING IN OUR TIME: Obama Campaign Ad Firms Signed On to Push Health-Care Overhaul. “Two firms that received $343.3 million to handle advertising for Barack Obama’s White House run last...
• READER ROBIN LYONS WRITES: Two very important questions women voters would like an answer to…. … 
  READER ROBIN LYONS WRITES: Two very important questions women voters would like an answer to…. 1) Will Bill Whittle make a Presidential run? and more importantly 2) Is he Single? Yes, he’s...
• GRANDMA is an angry mob…. 
  GRANDMA is an angry mob.
• WHY THEY’RE SCREAMING “RACIST!” “It comes from a sense of desperation on the Left, borne of the rea… 
  WHY THEY’RE SCREAMING “RACIST!” “It comes from a sense of desperation on the Left, borne of the realization that they miscalculated the health-care debate. As objections have...
• BARNEY FRANK MEETS THE MOB. Even in the bluest states, there’s no escaping them. UPDATE: Chasin… 
  BARNEY FRANK MEETS THE MOB. Even in the bluest states, there’s no escaping them. UPDATE: Chasing Blanche Lincoln around the state.
• TEA PARTY UPDATE: Seven citizens meet with Barbara Boxer’s San Diego rep. “Our thinking was, since… 
  TEA PARTY UPDATE: Seven citizens meet with Barbara Boxer’s San Diego rep. “Our thinking was, since our senator will not come to the townhall, the townhall will come to our senator.”...
• IF YOU WON’T DO IT, I WILL: In a move that’s as in-your-face as you can get, Manchester, NH May… 
  IF YOU WON’T DO IT, I WILL: In a move that’s as in-your-face as you can get, Manchester, NH Mayor and Republican candidate for Congress Frank Guinta will host a health care town hall in Exeter...
• MICHAEL JACKSON’S FBI FILE: 591 pages…. 
  MICHAEL JACKSON’S FBI FILE: 591 pages.
• STAR-VING What Bud Bundy and Parker Lewis are doing now…. 
  STAR-VING What Bud Bundy and Parker Lewis are doing now.
• “WHY OBAMACARE IS FAILING:” To listen to the White House and its supporters, in and out of the me… 
  “WHY OBAMACARE IS FAILING:” To listen to the White House and its supporters, in and out of the media, you would think that opposition to “Obama-care” is the hobgoblin of a few...
• POLLS: If you’re married, you don’t approve of Obama…. 
  POLLS: If you’re married, you don’t approve of Obama.
• PROVOCATEUR? Attorney: FBI trained NJ blogger to incite others. “A New Jersey blogger facing charg… 
  PROVOCATEUR? Attorney: FBI trained NJ blogger to incite others. “A New Jersey blogger facing charges in two states for allegedly making threats against lawmakers and judges was trained by the...
• STACKED AND PACKED: Orlando Congressman Alan Grayson’s “Union Town Hall.” UPDATE: Jim Pereira w… 
  STACKED AND PACKED: Orlando Congressman Alan Grayson’s “Union Town Hall.” UPDATE: Jim Pereira was there and has posted reports here and here. With photos. ANOTHER UPDATE: More pi...
• WIRED: Kodak Zi8: Best Pocket Cam We’ve Seen All Year. It’ll be released on September 15. That’s… 
  WIRED: Kodak Zi8: Best Pocket Cam We’ve Seen All Year. It’ll be released on September 15. That’s too late for the “recess rallies” or the September 12 Tea Party, but...
• FASTER, PLEASE: Tests Begin On Drugs That May Slow Aging…. 
  FASTER, PLEASE: Tests Begin On Drugs That May Slow Aging.
• REVIEWING THE REVIEWERS: A roundup of book reviews from all over…. 
  REVIEWING THE REVIEWERS: A roundup of book reviews from all over.
• THE SAUDI ARABIA of Shale Oil?… 
  THE SAUDI ARABIA of Shale Oil?
• NO LONGER A GOLD STANDARD: DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show. The scientists fabri… 
  NO LONGER A GOLD STANDARD: DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show. The scientists fabricated blood and saliva samples containing DNA from a person other than the donor of the blood and sali...
• GRAND ROUNDS is up! 
  GRAND ROUNDS is up!
• THE S.E.C. spitting in the faces of fans. A roundup from Michael Silence. What are they thinking? … 
  THE S.E.C. spitting in the faces of fans. A roundup from Michael Silence. What are they thinking? UPDATE: From the comments: “If the SEC wants to act like a commercial entity, they should ha...
• SETTING SHATTERED BONES with glue. “Shattered bones pose a difficult problem for surgeons, who curr… 
  SETTING SHATTERED BONES with glue. “Shattered bones pose a difficult problem for surgeons, who currently must use tiny screws and plates to hold fragments in place long enough for the break to...
• HOW TO RUGGEDIZE YOUR OWN GADGETS. With bonus abusive video. I don’t think the Toughbook folks hav… 
  HOW TO RUGGEDIZE YOUR OWN GADGETS. With bonus abusive video. I don’t think the Toughbook folks have much to worry about. But all cellphones should be waterproof.
• PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP NO LONGER REQUIRED at the Y-12 nuclear plant…. 
  PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP NO LONGER REQUIRED at the Y-12 nuclear plant.
• KIM DAE JUNG HAS DIED. I interviewed him for WYBC back in 1983, back when he was a dissident; he wa… 
  KIM DAE JUNG HAS DIED. I interviewed him for WYBC back in 1983, back when he was a dissident; he was a very pleasant and earnest man, and apparently quite religious — telling me that Jesus Chri...
• SINGLE WOMEN FIND “TAKEN” MEN MORE ATTRACTIVE: “Burkley and Parker speculate that single women may … 
  SINGLE WOMEN FIND “TAKEN” MEN MORE ATTRACTIVE: “Burkley and Parker speculate that single women may be more drawn to attached men because they’ve already been ‘pre-screen...

• Why Olson Joined The Other Team 
  by Patrick Appel Dale Carpenter analyzes this NYT profile of Ted Olson, the distinguished conservative lawyer who filed a suit challenging the legality of prop 8: One interesting thing about the artic...
• Off Balance 
  by Patrick Appel Romain Laurent's new photo series tilts the world forty-five degrees. More images here. (Hat tip: Like Cool)...
• Time To Let Go Of The Public Option 
  by Conor Clarke I have decently warm feelings about a public option, but I don't think it's a good site for an all-consuming pitched battle over the fate of American health-care reform. So it's nice t...
• Yglesias Award Nominee 
  "The case for co-ops is simple: we don't have enough non-profit insurers. Let's encourage the creation of more of them. This might be wrong. But the potential upside is considerable and the potential...
• The East Saves The West? 
  by Patrick Appel The Economist checks in on Asia's recovery: Western populists will no doubt once again try to blame their own sluggish performance on “unfair” Asia. Ignore them. Emerging Asia’s...
• Dissent Of The Day 
  by Patrick Appel A reader writes:What just happened in three short days? With one statement about the "public option" from Obama, the entire health care reform discussion shifted totally away from the...
• Have Seniors Paid For Their Medicare? 
  by Patrick Appel Andrew Briggs does the math on the average medicare recipient who was born in 1944, started work at 21 in 1965, and retired in 2009 at 65: This typical person paid around $64,971 in M...
• Barney Frank Argues With A Dining Room Table 
  by Conor Clarke On the profound question of whether Barack Obama is a Nazi, Congressman Barney Frank has the right philosophy.
• Malkin Award Nominee 
  by Patrick Appel "Liberals seem to be under the impression that health care reform will be like a new entititlement, and that Republicans will run against it at their own peril -- as was the case with...
• That Explains The Red Color Scheme 
  by Patrick Appel The Economist turns socialist.

• Grassley: After I Trashed Health Care Reform In Multiple Venues, It's Time To Work Together 
  After saying that Democratic health care reform could allow the government to "pull the plug on grandma," calling the public option a "predator," and saying he'd vote against his own compromise legisl...
• Poll: Republicans Think Government Should Stay Out Of Medicare 
  A new national survey from Public Policy Polling (D) illustrates the profound levels of ignorance that currently interfere with the debate over health care. One question asked: "Do you think the gover...
• Bachmann: Democrats' Health Care Plan Is Unconstitutional 
  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) made an interesting argument last night on Sean Hannity's show on Fox News: Not only is President Obama's health care plan bad, it's unconstitutional. "It's interesting, a...
• Presented By: 
  ...
• Key Blue Dog Backs Conrad: There Aren't Enough Votes For Public Option In Senate 
  House Blue Dog Jim Cooper (D-TN) says the math just isn't there for the public option. "It's really not an ideological question; it's a question of how you pass a bill," he explained. "We don't have 6...
• Poll: Americans Would Like Key Parts Of Obama's Plan -- But He's Failing To Fight Bad Info 
  The new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll has some mixed news for President Obama on health care. On the one hand, people would solidly support his proposals if they were properly explained -- but he's cur...
• Sen. Vitter (R-LA) Wants Congress Forced To Enroll In Public Plan 
  In an op-ed today, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) said lawmakers should be forced to enroll in a government-run public plan. "Congress has the bad habit of exempting itself from the problems it inflicts on...
• Massa: Grassley's "Pull The Plug On Grandma" Line Was An Act Of Treason 
  In a huddle with progressives at Netroots Nation, Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY)--an outspoken Democrat from a conservative, upstate district--says Sen. Chuck Grassley's comments about end-of-life care consti...
• UnitedHealth Group Pitches Itself As Pro-Reform Insurance Company, While Directing Employees To Tea Parties 
  As an addendum to this post, take a look at UnitedHealth Group's health care reform website. It sends a purely positive message, complete with a Polaroid image of a happy, healthy family urging people...
• Polls: Crist Still Has Big Lead Over Rubio 
  Two separate polls this morning confirm that Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL) has a huge lead over his right-wing challenger in the 2010 primary for Senate, former state House Speaker Marco Rubio. From Quinn...

[ More from TPM | Election Central ] 

• Teabaggers Armed With "Youtubes" Confront Max Baucus 
  Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT) is one of the latest members of Congress to have a run in with anti-health care reform protesters. The encounter in the video took place last week after Baucus spoke at a preven...
• Barney Frank Confronts Woman With Obama-As-Hitler Sign: What Planet Are You From? 
  Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) had an amazing moment at a town hall meeting, confronting a woman with an Obama-as-Hitler sign, and who asked Frank why he supported Obama's "Nazi policy" on health care: Fran...
• Major Health Insurance Company Urges Employees To Attend Tea Parties 
  At least one major insurer is urging its employees to participate in tea parties. Last week, UnitedHealth Group--the second largest health insurance company in the country--sent out a letter to its em...
• Anonymous White House Official Slams Liberals Over Public Option 
  In case progressives were beginning to feel as if the Obama administration doesn't really care what they think, they can rest assured: the White House hears them loud and clear. It just doesn't like t...
• TPMDC Morning Roundup 
  NYT: Dems Seem Set To Go It Alone On Health Bill The New York Times reports that Democrats are getting closer to working without Republicans on health care reform, in the wake of continued intransigen...
• Apparent Threat Against Dem Congressman Miller Won't Be Prosecuted 
  The apparent death threat that was made against Rep. Brad Miller (D-NC), regarding his support for the health care bill, will not be prosecuted, Greg Sargent reports. Miller's office said that the Cap...

• Farmers Insurance Pulls Beck Ads 
  About 20 major companies have now pulled their advertisements from the Glenn Beck Comedy Hour; the latest to bail out is Farmers Insurance.
• Frank: 'Like Arguing with a Dining Room Table' 
  I’m not Barney Frank’s biggest fan (that would probably be him), but he handled this idiot with an "Obama = Hitler" sign exactly the right way. [Video]...
• The Swedish Blood Libel 
  Blood libel goes mainstream in Sweden, as the newspaper Aftonbladet publishes a disgusting article claiming that the Israeli army kidnaps and kills Palestinians in order to harvest their organs.
• Tuesday Night Music: Pat Metheny Group, 'The Way Up' 
  A flawless live performance of Pat Metheny’s epic jazz-fusion suite The Way Up, recorded in Seoul, South Korea in 2005. This embedded YouTube playlist has the whole concert; the video's aspect r...
• Onion: White House Reveals Obama is Bipolar 
  [Video]...
• Poll: Was Palin's Resignation a Smart Move? 
  Uh oh. 61% of Americans think Sarah Palin’s resignation as governor of Alaska was a bad move. (CNN) – A new national poll suggests that most Americans don’t think Sarah Palin’...
• Tech Note: About the New Double-Underlined Links 
  We’re trying out an advertising service called Infolinks, which analyzes the page content and creates links in the text that pop up a little dialog box when your mouse hovers over them, containi...
• The Freaks Behind the Arizona Gun Stunt 
  The people who showed up at the Obama rally in Arizona yesterday with semi-automatic rifles are part of a hate group called “4409,” a bugeyed insane gang of paleo-libertarian Ron Paul supp...
• The Arizona Gun Stunt 
  You may have seen the media reports about people showing up with military style rifles at the Obama rally in Arizona today; the fools who apparently organized this disgraceful stunt are posting commen...
• Video: Japanese Pig Rodeo 
  And now for a pig rodeo! (I’ve spent a lot of time in Japan, and really love the country and the people. However, no one can deny that in some ways, the Japanese are a little ... odd. And I mea...

[ More from Little Green Footballs ] 

• A Walk Down Memory Hole Lane 
  For the media and politicians taking a sudden interest in “Obama = Hitler” signs, Ringo’s Pictures has dozens of photos to remind you that Nazi/Hitler imagery was ubiquitous at left-...
• Texas Public Schools Required to Teach Bible Studies 
  Unbelievable. Apparently, there are quite a few politicians and school board members in Texas who are either 1) unaware of the existence of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the US Co...
• Yon: The Kopp-Etchells Effect 
  Another photo-filled essay from Afghanistan by Michael Yon, memorializing lost comrades as the fighting heats up: The Kopp-Etchells Effect.
• Fox News Mainstreaming Napolitano's Extremism 
  Ron Paulbots celebrate as Fox News turns Judge Andrew Napolitano’s web show “Freedom Watch” into a daily disgrace. Quotes from Napolitano: Lew Rockwell has done more to cement the...
• Sunday Night Music: Miles Davis Quintet, 'Walkin' 
  A marathon version of the bebop classic “Walkin’” (at breakneck pace) by the Miles Davis Quintet, live in Germany in 1967. Featuring Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter, Ron Carter, and To...
• Pamela Geller's Obama-Hitler Obsession 
  There’s a lot of talk in the media today about the Obama-as-Hitler signs and posters showing up at town hall meetings recently; for example, this post at the New York Times Opinionator blog by E...
• Anti-Vaccination Nut Jenny McCarthy: a 'Health Expert' 
  Anti-vaccination kook Jenny McCarthy has been signed up as a “health expert” for a personalized exercise game by Ubisoft: Tom (son of Jack?) Chick gives a heads up: Ubisoft is using anti-v...
• Human Rights Watch Author Supported Munich Massacre 
  Even for someone like me who expects very little in the way of ethics from the astoundingly biased NGO Human Rights Watch, this report is a jawdropper. The author of the last HRW report accusing Isra...
• Gadget of the Day: Roomba Vacuuming Robot 
  Here’s one of those impulse buys I thought I might regret — that turned out to be a very useful new technological approach to a very old problem: iRobot 560 Roomba Vacuuming Robot. I&rsqu...
• Windows 7: Microsoft's Best OS Yet? 
  Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 7, is getting rave advance reviews; after the very underwhelming Windows Vista, it looks like MS may have finally gotten it right: First Look: Window...
• ABC News vs. the Euthanasia Death Panels 
  ABC News has been running a series of pretty good “fact check” segments on the proposed health care legislation: Watch Our Fact Check Series — All in One Place - The World Newser. H...
• Saturday Afternoon Music: The Bird and the Bee, 'Again and Again' 
  Here’s some techno lounge secret agent pop from The Bird & The Bee, titled (as you might guess) “Again and Again.” [Video]...
• Terrorist vs. Terrorist in Gaza 
  There’s absolutely nobody to root for, as Hamas puts down a threat to their control of Gaza by invading a mosque and slaughtering more than 20 people. GAZA (Reuters) – Palestinian Islamis...

• Is White House ready to go to war over health care? 
  The Obama administration is looking hard at pushing through a health care reform bill without Republican backing, top Democrats close to the White House told CNN.
• Is economic stimulus helping national parks? 
  From Yellowstone National Park to the Everglades, America's 391 national parks are in need of repair -- and thanks to the economic stimulus signed into law, help is now underway.
• Commentary: Tragic neglect of immigration 
  One of the greatest challenges for minorities in any democracy is that their priorities often differ with those of the majority.
• North Korean envoys, Richardson to meet 
  Two top North Korean diplomats were traveling to Santa Fe, New Mexico, to hold talks with Gov. Bill Richardson, the governor's spokesman said.
• Rifle-toting protester at Obama rally was staged 
  A man toting an assault rifle was among a dozen protesters carrying weapons while demonstrating outside President Obama's speech to veterans on Monday, but no laws were broken. It was the second insta...
• Columnist Robert Novak dies at 78 
  Conservative columnist and former CNN "Crossfire" host Robert Novak has died at age 78 after a battle with cancer, his family said Tuesday.
• Begala: My friend Bob Novak 
  In our innumerable debates, I delighted in calling Bob Novak "the finest mind of the 12th century." One time, though, he scowled and growled, "I prefer the 15th century. Spanish Inquisition. Those wer...
• Getting past the lingo of the health care debate 
  Are you confused by all the back and forth on health care reform? Here's a guide to some of the terms commonly tossed about in the debate.
• Commentary: No wonder voters are angry 
  The biggest political story of the month so far is clearly the populist rage on display at town halls across the country. Democrats say this rage is manufactured; Republicans say it is real.
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver's life and accomplishments in photos 
  ...

• An immodest proposal 
  My posts about baseball the way it used to be, including my nostalgia for pennant races, have prompted my conservative cousin from New York to offer what he "modestly consider[s] the best baseball ref...
• Dem Disarray 
  It's hard to say where the Democrats are on the "public option" at the moment. Over the weekend, the Obama administration signaled that it was open to dropping that piece of the health care "reform"...
• Republican Tide Rising 
  Republicans have pulled out to a five-point lead on the generic Congressional lead, matching their best performance of the past several years. In closely related news, Democrats say they will push ah...
• A health care sidebar 
  Quoting Ken Vogel's Politico story, Glenn Reynolds describes it as logrolling in our time: Two firms that received $343.3 million to handle advertising for Barack Obama's White House run last year...
• Against the virtual life 
  In the new Summer issue of the Claremont Review of Books (subscribe here), the master essayist Joseph Epstein reviews Mark Helprin's Digital Barbarism: A Writer's Manifesto. "Ostensibly a book about...
• What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? The Sequel 
  This morning I linked to Byron York's column on the demise of the antiwar movement, now that George Bush is no longer President. This really is a phenomenon that deserves more attention. It is widel...
• The Good Old Days 
  From the New York Times's obituary of Robert Novak, recalling his role in the 1972 Presidential election: In April 1972, Mr. Evans and Mr. Novak reported that Senator George S. McGovern, the Democrat...
• With puff-pieces like this, who needs to be attacked? 
  The Washington Post sends what it must consider a Valentine to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton: She talked chickens with female farmers in Kenya. She listened to the excruciating stories of rape...
• Brennan's bromides 
  Earlier this month Obama administration assistant for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism John O. Brennan gave a speech outlining the administration's deep thoughts on combating terrorism. The spe...
• The mask, such as it was, is dropped 
  Ed Whelan reports [note: Wendy Long, actually] that Sonia Sotomayor's first vote as a Supreme Court Justice was to stay the execution of an unquestionably guilty hitman. According to Ed, even Ohio's...

[ More from Fox News | Politics ] 

• Robert Novak, RIP 
  Robert Novak, the prominent Washington journalist, has died. As a teen-ager, I was a huge fan of the Evans and Novak columns which, nestled in between the ponderous writing (as it appeared to me at t...
• Bringing Guns to Political Events? 
  This strikes me as very dumb. Leave your guns at home!
• What Happened to the Antiwar Movement? 
  Byron York goes looking for it, without success. Now that George Bush is no longer President, opposing the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has dropped to dead last on the priorities of American leftists...
• The conservative challenge 
  "If we could first know where we are, and whither we are tending, we could then better judge what to do, and how to do it," Abraham Lincoln counseled in his great 1858 House Divided speech. In Lincol...
• Did Krupskaya cave? 
  We have closely followed the story of Obama administration flack Linda Douglass -- a cross between Nurse Ratched and Mrs. Lenin -- and her invitation to report fishy comments on Obamacare to the flag@...

• Gibbs Denies that White House, Dems Will Go It Alone on Health Care 
  Political Punch: As time for meaningful reform counts down, press secretary Gibbs says bipartisanship still the idea.
• Dem-GOP Split on Health Care Goes Beyond Public Option 
  Senate's No. 2 Republican opposes Obama's health insurance reform proposals.
• PHOTOS: Michelle Obama: Fashion Icon? 
  Michelle Obama shows off fit legs in shorts.
• Happy Birthday, Bubba! Clinton Turns 63 
  Former President Bill Clinton has plenty to celebrate this year.
• Political Punch: Will Bagram Be President Obama's Guantanamo? 
  Political Punch: The White House is tight-lipped regarding detainees imprisoned in Afghanistan.
• WATCH: Robert Novak Dies at Age 78 
  ...
• WATCH: Attacks Hit Pakistan Before Election 
  ...
• Punch: Clinton 'Provided Window' into North Korea 
  Secretary Clinton called her husband's recent trip to North Korea 'extremely helpful.'...
• U.S. and Egypt Push for Mideast Peace 
  Obama brings Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak into the peace process.
• 'Public Option' or Co-Op? Experts Sound Off 
  Experts say past nonprofit co-ops could not compete with private insurers.

[ More from ABC News | Politics ] 

• Punch: Behind the Scenes at the White House 
  The White House photo department releases never before seen images of the first family.
• PHOTOS: Barack Obama Behind the Scenes 
  White House photo dept. releases never before seen photos of the first family.
• The Note: 'Top Line' -- IL Gov Candidate Dan Proft: Banking on Obama Backlash 
  Republican fortunes in 2010 turn in no small part on perceptions of Democratic performance.
• The Note: Obama Trounces Palin in Poll 
  ...
• Sebelius: 'Death Panels' talk is "horrific" 
  HHS Sec. Kathleen Sebelius said it's "horrific" twisting of facts to say that "death panels" would be part of Obama's proposed health care overhaul.
• PHOTOS: Travels of the Obama Presidency 
  Highlights from President Obama's latest travels around the world.
• PHOTOS: Leisure-Time for Leaders 
  Through the years, politicians have shown they can kick back when on vacation.
• PHOTOS: Top Newsmakers on "This Week" 
  ...
• PHOTOS: The Life of Sonia Sotomayor 
  A look back at Obama's Supreme Court pick, Sonia Sotomayor.
• PHOTOS: Celebrities Storm Washington 
  Tinseltown's talent, avid athletes and standout singers visit D.C.
• PHOTOS: Politicians Who Cheat 
  Politicians and their paramours: Gov. Sanford joins the ranks of the unfaithful.
• PHOTOS: Obama: Out and About 
  A look at Washington, D.C.'s newest scenesters: the First Family.
• PHOTOS: President Barack Obama: The First 100 Days 
  Photos: Pressing events and memorable moments that shaped Obama's early days.
• PHOTOS: First 100 Days in Presidential History 
  A look back at fmr. presidential achievements at the start of their W.H. tenure.
• PHOTOS: Barack Obama Inauguration 
  The historic day in pictures, from Obama's oath to his inaugural ball debut.
• PHOTOS: Happy 200th, Abe 
  This holiday weekend, presidential history is all the rage.
• PHOTOS: Neighborhood Ball 
  This was the first ball open to the public and not just political dignitaries.
• PHOTOS: 10 Best Moments of the General Election 
  Revisit the most memorable moments on the 2008 campaign trail.
• PHOTOS: Inaugural Dos and Don'ts 
  A look back at inaugural fashion through the years.
• PHOTOS: Inaugural Celebrity Performers 
  The inaugural committee's "We are One" concert will be a star-studded event.
• PHOTOS: Bush Creates Marine Monuments in Historic Effort 
  Pres. Bush protects a huge expanse of the Pacific, leaving a bright blue legacy.
• PHOTOS: Kids in the White House 
  A look at children of the White House over the years.
• PHOTOS: Top Ten Moments of the GOP Nomination Fight 
  Republican highlights from the trail to the White House.
• PHOTOS: Top Ten Moments From the Democratic Nomination Fight 
  Revisiting the highlights from the 2008 campaign trail.
• PHOTOS: Travels of the Bush Presidency 
  A glimpse at the president's unique, notable and quirky trips abroad.
• PHOTOS: Political Scandals 
  Blagojevich is just the latest politican embroiled in scandal.
• PHOTOS: Politician's Mic Mishaps 
  These politicians probably wish they had a mic check.
• PHOTOS: The Faces of Victory and Defeat 
  ...
• PHOTOS: Election Day: History in the Making 
  Candidates and supporters brave their way to the polls on this historic day.
• PHOTOS: On The Campaign Trail 
  Unforgettable images from the campaign's final week.
• PHOTOS: Halloween Goes Political 
  Presidential Pumpkins, Sarah Palin Spoofs and Barack'0 Laterns...
• PHOTOS: On The Campaign Trail 
  ...
• PHOTOS: Quirky Political Paraphernalia 
  Designer Dresses to teddy bears, this election's quirky political paraphernalia.
• PHOTOS: Sarah Palin's Pricey Wardrobe 
  From moose-hunting hockey mom to fashion icon, Sarah Palin's best and worst.
• PHOTOS: On the Campaign Trail 
  ...
• PHOTOS: Obama Through the Years 
  Sen. Barack Obama lived for many years with his grandparents, the Dunhams.
• PHOTOS: On the Campaign Trail 
  Scenes from the trail as Obama, McCain enter campaign's last three weeks.
• PHOTOS: Presidential Debate Round II 
  ...
• PHOTOS: Remembering Historical Debates 
  The highlights and lowlights of presidential and vice presidential debates past.
• PHOTOS: Sarah Palin Takes New York 
  The GOP VP candidate travels to the Big Apple to meet with foreign leaders.

• TV News Giant Don Hewitt Dies At 86 
  CBS News Legend And "60 Minutes" Creator's Career Spanned 60 Years...
• Bombings Spark Baghdad's Deadliest Day 
  Nearly 100 Killed, 400 Wounded From Likely Coordinated Wave of Attacks, Officials Say...
• 7 New "DWTS" Contestants Have Rap Sheets 
  Almost Half of New Entrants on Popular Celebrity Dancing TV Show Have Faced Criminal Charge...
• Mission Critical for Troops in Afghanistan 
  Soldiers Conduct Covert Operations Against Taliban to Prevent Voter Suppression in Upcoming Election...
• Andy Warhol's Junk Yields Odd Treasures 
  22 Years after his Death, Cataloguers Open Artist's Boxes; Find Mummified Human Foot and Naked Picture of Jackie Onassis...
• Bombings Spark Baghdad's Deadliest Day 
  Nearly 100 Killed, 400 Wounded From Likely Coordinated Wave of Attacks, Officials Say...
• Report: Jackson Doc To Be Charged 
  Dr. Conrad Murray, Personal Physician for Michael Jackson, Will Reportedly Faces Manslaughter Charges...
• TV News Giant Don Hewitt Dies At 86 
  CBS News Legend And "60 Minutes" Creator's Career Spanned 60 Years...
• Health Care DEFCON 1 at The White House? 
  Obama & Co. Reportedly Ready to Go It Alone on Health Care Reform...
• Liberal Whole Foods Fans Feel Betrayed 
  Washington Post: Some Customers Are Angry at CEO Over His Views About Health Care Reform...

[ More from CBS News | Politics ] 

• Journalists Told to Ignore Afghan Violence 
  Reporters Reject Demand by Afghanistan to Not Broadcast Information on Possible Election Day Attacks...
• UBS To Divulge More Than 4,000 Clients 
  Swiss Bank To Hand Over Secret Account Information for 4,450 Clients to IRS; More Names Expected...
• White House Blurs Stance on Public Option 
  AP Factcheck: White House Denies Backtracking on Government-Run Health Care Option, but Record Begs to Differ...
• Unlikely Foods Pack Antioxidant Punch 
  Research Finds Whole-Grain Cereals, Popcorn Loaded with the Disease-Fighting Nutrients...
• Bikinied Britney Spears Jokes on Letterman 
  Shows Off New Figure While Delivering "Top Ten" on if She Were President...
• 40 Years Later, Boomers Still Getting High 
  Percentage of Americans in Their 50s Reporting Use of Illicit Drugs Doubles Between 2002 and 2007...
• Following Obama: A Day in the Life 
  CBS News Producer Kia Baskerville Shows What It's Like to Travel with the President...
• Bringing Clean Water To Third World 
  New Yorker Uses Talent for Promotion as Force for Good, Raising $10M for Clean Water Projects Worldwide...
• Special Section: Latest News on the Health Care Reform 
  ...

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• White House Is Seeking to Repair Intraparty Rift About Public Option 
  President Obama's advisers acknowledged Tuesday that they were unprepared for the intraparty rift that occurred over the fate of a proposed public health insurance program, a firestorm that has left t...
• White House Shuts Down E-Mail Tip Line for Health-Care Reform Misinformation 
  After complaints from Republicans, the White House has shut down a two-week-old e-mail tip line where people could report "disinformation about health insurance reform."...
• White House Backs Right to Bear Arms, Even Outside Obama Events, if State Laws Allow 
  Armed men seen mixing with protesters outside recent events held by President Obama acted within the law, the White House said Tuesday, attempting to allay fears of a security threat.
• Obama, Meeting With Mubarak, Says He's Optimistic About Mideast Peace Efforts 
  Acknowledging that the Middle East peace process is in a "rut," President Obama nonetheless voiced confidence Tuesday that a breakthrough can be achieved -- and he thanked Egyptian President Hosni Mub...
• Obama's Comments in Support of Public Option 
  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs says President Obama's support for a government-run -- or public -- insurance option has not changed. Here is a sampling of what the president has said about t...
• Virginia's Lack of Limits on Campaign Contributions Worries Some 
  Wealthy friends and accommodating campaign finance laws have allowed the two men running for governor of Virginia to compile tens of thousands of dollars from individual donors in what is expected to...
• Justice Department Adds Liaison to Gay Community 
  The Justice Department's Civil Rights Division has hired a veteran Senate staffer as a senior counselor also tasked with serving as a representative to the gay community. The hire comes amid efforts b...
• Congress Discovers Another Forged Advocacy Letter 
  A Congressional committee's inquiry has turned up a 13th forged letter criticizing a climate-change bill, this time in the name of a Charlottesville senior center, and sent to a lawmaker by a Washingt...
• Justice Dept. Hires Gay Activist as Senior Counselor 
  The Justice Department's civil rights division has hired a veteran Senate staffer and gay-rights activist as a senior counselor and liaison to the gay and lesbian community. The hire comes amid effort...

[ More from Wshington Post | Politics ] 

•  
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• Some Key Democrats Say Public Option is Essential to Health-Care Reform 
  Several leading Democrats voiced concern Monday about an apparent White House shift on health-care reform, objecting to signals from senior administration officials that they would abandon the idea of...
• Health Cooperatives Gain Backing as Alternative to Public Option 
  As prospects fade for a public, or government-run, option as part of health-care reform, key senators are considering another model to create competition for private insurers: member-owned, nonprofit...
• Most Virginians Satisfied With Health Care, Divided Over Reform, Poll Shows 
  Most Virginians are satisfied with their health care and, despite deep concerns about future costs, there is broad public skepticism about the reforms advocated by President Obama that are under consi...
• Obama Calls for Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act 
  The Obama administration distanced itself Monday from legal arguments it had made earlier this summer, taking pains to remove and renounce language that had outraged advocates in the gay community in...
• The Hearing: Health-Care Coverage vs. Costs 
  What began as an attempt to provide decent health care to all Americans has metamorphosed into a battle over health-care costs. As Lori Montgomery reported in this newspaper, both Republicans and some...
• Wisconsin Gov. Officially Announces He Will Not Seek Third Term 
  Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle (D) said Monday that he would not stand for reelection in 2010, paving the way for a wide-open contest next year in that politically divided state.
• Obama Delivers Remarks On Health-Care At Colorado Town Hall 
  [*] THE PRESIDENT: Thank you. Thank you. Hello, Grand Junction! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Thank you. Everybody please have a seat. It is good to be back in Southwest Colorado. (Applause.) Last ti...
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• Obama Delivers Remarks At the VFW National Convention 
  [*] OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you very much.
• Obama Backs Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act 
  President Obama made clear Monday that he favors the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act, and intends to ask Congress to repeal the 13-year-old law that denies benefits to domestic partners of feder...
• Japan Joins Recent Wave Of Economic Expansion 
  TOKYO, Aug. 17 -- Japan announced Monday that its economy has returned to growth, bouncing back from what had been the steepest slide of any industrialized nation during the global economic crisis.
• Under the Microscope: President's Coverage Promise Is No Keeper 
  The debate over health care has become an all-out battle, as the administration, lawmakers and a panoply of interest groups vie to promote their own agendas. In coming weeks, we'll be putting some of...
• Key Feature Of Obama Health Plan May Be Out 
  Racing to regain control of the health-care debate, two top administration officials signaled Sunday that the White House may be willing to jettison a controversial government-run insurance plan favor...
• For Security Trainees, a Threat Theater 
  Five minutes before his job interview, John Fisher parks at Ace Fire Extinguisher Services in College Park, his window open and his stomach jumpy. He is nibbling on spoonfuls of cottage cheese when sh...
• Pentagon Worries Led to Command Change 
  In mid-March, as a White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan was nearing completion, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met in a...
• Webb's Visit May Offer Opening With Burma 
  Sen. James Webb met with top officials in the hard-line military government of Burma on Saturday and arranged for the release of an American prisoner there, part of a mission that may open the door to...
• The Take: Obama, Advisers Turn to Lessons of the Campaign 
  Ask White House officials where the debate over health care stands and they sometimes sound as baffled as everyone else. They've watched the angry town hall meetings. They've gotten reports back from...
• The Sunday Talk Shows 
  Guests to be interviewed Sunday on major television talk shows:...
• Blogger's Case May Test Limits of Political Speech 
  CHICAGO -- Internet radio host Hal Turner disliked how three federal judges rejected the National Rifle Association's attempt to overturn a pair of handgun bans.
• Conservative Mainstays and Fledgling Advocacy Groups Drive Health-Reform Opposition 
  The rowdy protests that threaten President Obama's health-care reform efforts have been spurred on by a loose network of activists -- from veteran advocacy groups with millions of dollars in funding t...
• Fact Checker: Attack on McDonnell Over Hard-Hit Martinsville 
  To accuse a Virginian politician of turning his back on Martinsville, the beleaguered Southside mill town whose unemployment rate hit 21.6 percent in June, is almost like a slur.
• AP source: Wis. Gov. Doyle won't seek re-election 
  MADISON, Wis. -- Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle will not seek re-election in 2010, a person who was informed of the decision told The Associated Press on Saturday.
• Mims: Technology Secretary Can't Be VITA Chief 
  RICHMOND, Va. -- A state attorney general's opinion says Virginia's technology secretary, Leonard Pomata, can't double as the chief of the state's troubled information technology superagency.
• Featured Advertiser 
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• Webb's Trip to Burma May Be Litmus Test as U.S. Weighs Reengagement 
  Sen. James Webb arrived in Burma on Friday for talks with the country's military ruler, starting a 2 1/2-day diplomatic mission that is likely to prove a test of U.S. efforts to engage recalcitrant fo...
• Iowans Closely Watching Sen. Grassley on Health-Care Reform 
  DES MOINES -- Sen. Charles E. Grassley is one of the most important figures in the national health-care debate, a Republican whose support is being ardently pursued by the Obama White House. But when...
• Obama Pushes Insurance Reforms 
  BELGRADE, Mont., Aug. 14 -- President Obama on Friday promised a new era of protections against insurance companies that drop customers when medical crises hit and said people who already have coverag...
• Bill Cahir, 40, Dies; Journalist Moved to Join the Marines After 9/11 Attacks 
  Marine Sgt. Bill Cahir, 40, a former Washington-based journalist and congressional staffer who joined the Marines after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, was killed in Afghanistan on Aug. 13, his...
• GAO: Missile Site Costs Likely to Rise 
  The cost of building and operating the controversial U.S. anti-ballistic missile sites in Europe could substantially exceed the original estimate of more than $4 billion, the Government Accountability...
• President Obama Holds Town Hall in Belgrade, Mont. 
  SPEAKER: PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA [*] OBAMA: Hello, Montana! (APPLAUSE) Hello, Montana. Thank you, thank you, thank you. It's great to be here. Please, everybody, have a seat, have a seat. Thank you...
• The Fix: Polling the Town Halls 
  The protests that have dominated town halls -- and news coverage -- for the first two weeks of this month are being closely followed by much of the country and are largely regarded as appropriate, acc...
• Obama to Take On Health-Care Critics 
  President Obama is embarking on a final public relations push on health care Friday before heading off on vacation, wading into the same kind of often hostile town hall meetings that members of Congre...
• Deficit Plays Into Health Reform 
  With polls showing rising concern over the government's grim financial situation, key Republicans and a growing number of Democrats say it will be hard to push an ambitious health reform bill through...
• Reform Politics: The View From Both Sides 
  Raucous town hall meetings have become the political story of August. Images of angry Americans confronting their elected officials fill the screens on cable television and form the backdrop for the c...
• Presidential Vacations Carry Heavy Baggage 
  Summer vacations say a lot about a president. Ronald Reagan spent up to a month each season at his beloved Rancho del Cielo near Santa Barbara, Calif., much of the time on horseback. George H.W. Bush...
• Cheney Uncloaks His Frustration With Bush 
  In his first few months after leaving office, former vice president Richard B. Cheney threw himself into public combat against the "far left" agenda of the new commander in chief. More private reflect...
• Will Town Hall Mark a Turning Point for Specter's Reelection Bid? 
  The back-and-forth between Democratic Sen. Arlen Specter and several attendees of a town hall meeting in Lebanon, Pa., this week may become the lasting political symbol of the summer of 2009: a politi...
• Raucous Crowd Greets Cardin at Health-Care Town Hall in Hagerstown 
  President Obama's call for civility in the health-care debate fell flat Wednesday in Maryland's first congressional town hall meeting after his plea.
• Garrett Graff Gets Top Job at Washingtonian 
  Huge shakeup at the Washingtonian: After 40 years at the monthly magazine, top editor Jack Limpert is stepping down, replaced by Garrett Graff, the hotshot executive editor who joined the staff four y...
• With Death of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Generational Saga Comes Closer to a Close 
  Three days before John F. Kennedy won his first campaign, the 1946 Democratic primary in Boston's 8th District, the enormous Kennedy family threw an enormous party.
• U.S. Ambassador Seeks More Money for Afghanistan Reconstruction 
  The United States will not meet its goals in Afghanistan without a major increase in planned spending on development and civilian reconstruction next year, the U.S. ambassador in Kabul has told the St...
• House Judiciary Chairman Says U.S. Attorney Firings Were ‘Petty Patronage' 
  The dismissal of U.S. Attorney David C. Iglesias of New Mexico in December 2006 followed extensive communication among lawyers and political aides in the White House who hashed over complaints about h...
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  ...
• Clinton Condemns Attacks on Civilians in E. Congo 
  GOMA, Congo, Aug. 11 -- Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton on Tuesday called for the prosecution of Congolese soldiers and militiamen involved in a staggering epidemic of rape in eastern Congo...
• Iranian Exiles Accuse U.S. of Ignoring Pact to Protect Members in Iraq 
  PARIS, Aug. 11 -- An Iranian exile group accused the Obama administration Tuesday of betraying written U.S. promises to protect several thousand of its members confined in a camp north of Baghdad that...
• Obama Faces 'Scare Tactics' Head-On 
  PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Aug. 11 -- President Obama began a personal effort Tuesday to reclaim momentum for his health-care initiative with a direct rebuttal of what he called "scare tactics," rumors and mis...
• The Fix: Nevada Rep. Heller Won't Run Against Reid 
  Nevada Rep. Dean Heller has decided not to run against Harry Reid (D-Nev.), robbing Republicans of their top recruit against the Senate Majority Leader in 2010, according to an informed source.
• President Obama Delivers Remarks on Health Care at N.H. Town Hall Meeting 
  [*] OBAMA: Thank you. Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.
• Health-Care Town Hall a Platform for Obama's Economic Defense 
  On the day President Obama took the bully pulpit to New Hampshire to sell his health-care plan, it is clear that the debate has become a proxy for a much bigger fight over the size and power of the fe...
• White House Decries Physicians Committee's Poster, Which Mentions Obama Girls 
  The posters went up last week, 14 in Union Station. On each of the large displays, a thought bubble rises up from a picture of a beautiful 8-year-old: "President Obama's daughters get healthy school l...
• Ailing States Face Bleak Outlook in Next Fiscal Year 
  NEW YORK -- As states across the country grapple with the worst economy in decades, most have cut services, forced workers to take unpaid days off, shut offices several days a month and scrambled to f...
• Transcript: Voices of Power with Van Jones 
  INTERVIEW WITH VAN JONES, special adviser on green jobs to the White House Council on Environmental Quality.
• President Obama Holds a News Conference with Mexican President Felipe Calderon and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper 
  MEXICAN PRESIDENT FELIPE CALDERON (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Right Honorable Mr. Stephen Harper, prime minister of Canada, Right Honorable Mr. Barack Obama, president of the United States of America, ladie...
• The Fix: Breaking Down Crist's Pick for Senate 
  Florida Sen. Mel Martinez's (R-Fla.) surprise resignation announcement on Friday has put Gov. Charlie Crist (R) in the hot seat as he must pick a replacement to fill out the remainder of Martinez's te...
• The Monday Fix: Sotomayor and the 2010 Races 
  Sonia Sotomayor's confirmation to the Supreme Court last Thursday revealed the lingering concerns that many Republican officials and aspiring GOP candidates carry about angering their party's base.
• Key Democrat Feels the Heat in Indiana District After Voting for House Health-Reform Plan 
  BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- "The war's on," says Rep. Baron P. Hill, and he's not talking about a conflict overseas, but a battle over health care in his own back yard, where thousands of people are trying t...
• Featured Advertiser 
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• Clinton Building Ties With Angola 
  LUANDA, Angola, Aug. 9 -- Hillary Rodham Clinton made the first visit to Angola by a U.S. secretary of state in seven years, trying Sunday to strengthen relations with a growing oil producer that is b...
• Subway Oversight Panel Is Virtually Powerless, Despite Metro Safety Concerns 
  Before June's deadly subway crash, no federal agency stepped in to ensure that Metro found and fixed the electrical circuits now suspected of contributing to the worst accident in the system's history...
• D.C. Scholars Program Gives Students Unique Access to the Halls of Power 
  In one of the countless wood-paneled offices in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, which exudes both the formality and the tedium of the federal government, nine recent high school graduates si...
• Sotomayor Becomes First Hispanic Justice in Supreme Court History 
  Sonia Sotomayor was sworn in Saturday morning as the first Hispanic justice on the Supreme Court in a brief ceremony that completed a remarkable ascent for a Puerto Rican girl from the South Bronx.
• Sunday Take: For Obama, August Means Sharpening His Message, Rallying His Party 
  President Obama once looked to the August congressional recess as the moment to gain a decisive advantage in the fight to overhaul the nation's health-care system. Instead, he needs to use the month t...
• Seniors Remain Wary of Health-Care Reform 
  Senior citizens are emerging as a formidable obstacle to President Obama's ambitious health-care reform plans.
• Military Analysts Expect Long-Term, Costly U.S. Effort in Afghanistan 
  As the Obama administration expands U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, military experts are warning that the United States is taking on security and political commitments that will last at least a decad...
• The Sunday Talk Shows 
  Guests to be interviewed Sunday on major television talk shows:...
• Chemical Industry Gives Support to Reform 
  In a reversal, chemical industry leaders said last week they are joining environmentalists, public health groups and consumer advocates in seeking more robust federal regulation of chemicals.
• Sen. Martinez of Florida to Give Up Seat Soon 
  Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), who had previously said he would not seek reelection in 2010, announced on Friday that he will resign his seat as soon as a replacement is selected, probably by the end of...
• Anne Wexler, Political Adviser and Lobbyist, Dies at 79 
  Anne Wexler, 79, a prominent Washington lobbyist who was also one of the pioneering women in the lobbying arena, died Friday, it was announced on the PR Newswire. She had cancer.
• For Sotomayor, Life as a Supreme Court Justice Comes With a Deluge of Changes 
  If Sonia Sotomayor's spot on the Supreme Court is already known -- on the end, farthest from the chief justice's left -- the role she will play may become apparent only after years of service.
• Obama Gets Some Good News on Economy, Terror Fight 
  President Obama has encountered strong headwinds in his seven months in office, with the nation's unemployment rate undermining support for his economic vision, Republicans questioning his resolve to...
• UPS Employees Say They Were Forced to Lobby Against FedEx 
  In an increasingly bitter Washington battle between the nation's two largest shipping companies, some unionized UPS workers say they are being forced to write letters to their lawmakers in support of...
• Senate Votes 68 to 31 to Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to Supreme Court 
  The Senate, in a vote laden with history and partisanship, confirmed Sonia Sotomayor on Thursday as the 111th justice and the first Hispanic to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court.
• Congress Refuels 'Clunkers' Program 
  The government's "Cash for Clunkers" program won a much-anticipated extension Thursday night as the Senate voted to give an additional $2 billion in funding to the popular initiative aimed at boosting...
• A $191 Million Question 
  He called her Princess. She called him Bubba. They got together whenever they could, sailing on the Chesapeake Bay, traveling to business conferences, taking long walks. They exchanged e-mails night a...
• Clash of the Clunkers 
  It was a rather broad interpretation of the right to life.
• UPS Employees Say They Were Forced to Lobby Against FedEx 
  In an increasingly bitter Washington battle between the nation's two largest shipping companies, some unionized UPS workers say they are being forced to write letters to their lawmakers in support of...
• Health-Care Reform Negotiators in Senate Hoping to Keep Deal Alive During Recess 
  Senators headed home for their August break Thursday amid an escalating partisan battle over health-care reform, with a small band of lawmakers hoping to keep their delicately negotiated compromise al...
• Democrats Weigh the Calculus of Public Health Insurance 
  As Congress breaks for its August recess, the debate back home will center on Democratic proposals to create a government-run insurance option, which insurers and Republicans are casting as a step tow...
• Featured Advertiser Drain the Ocean - Sunday August 9 9P e/p 
  This is a world you have never seen before, a world normally hidden under miles of water...the landscape of the ocean bed. Click to learn more www.natgeotv.com/draintheocean   Ads by Pheedo...
• Senate Roll Call on Sotomayor Vote 
  The f ollowing is the roll call by which the Senate confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor on a 68 to 31 vote to be the nation's 111th Supreme Court justice.
• ICE to Strengthen Oversight of Immigrant Detention 
  The Obama administration announced plans Thursday to restructure the nation's much-criticized immigration detention system by strengthening federal oversight and seeking to standardize conditions in a...
• Intelligence Report Suggests Slower Timeline for Iranian Nuclear Capability 
  Despite Iran's progress since 2007 toward producing enriched uranium, the State Department's intelligence analysts continue to think that Tehran will not be able to produce weapons-grade material befo...
• Job Losses Slow but Still Weigh on Economy 
  After a terrible nine months, the pace of job losses finally appears to be slowing down, according to mounting evidence.
• Senate Committee's Bipartisan Health-Care Reform Talks Move Toward Center 
  Senate negotiators are inching toward bipartisan agreement on a health-care plan that seeks middle ground on some of the thorniest issues facing Congress, offering the fragile outlines of a legislativ...

• Oil Industry Backs Protests of Emissions Bill 
  Companies say new policies from Washington could cost them billions of dollars and raise prices for consumers at the pump.
• Fugitive Still Licensed to Fly by the F.A.A. 
  A man charged with domestic terrorism still has his pilot’s license and plane because federal agencies have apparently not shared information.
• F.B.I. Agents’ Role Is Transformed by Terror Fight 
  Some counterterrorism specialists question the value of threat squads that vet thousands of tips but find few leads.
• Officials Say Detainee Fatalities Were Missed 
  More than one in 10 deaths in immigration detention since October 2003 were omitted from an official list, the Obama administration said.
• Robert Novak, Pugnacious Columnist, Dies at 78 
  Mr. Novak was a political columnist and cable television fixture whose scoops reached across five decades.
• In North Korea, Clinton Helped Unveil a Mystery 
  Bill Clinton’s visit gave the Obama administration its first detailed look into a regime that looms as a major threat.
• Democrats Seem Set to Go It Alone on a Health Bill 
  With Republican opposition hardening, Democrats now say they see little chance of cooperation on an overhaul.
• Senator Moves to Block Medical Ghostwriting 
  Pressure from Washington may force changes in drug companies’ involvement with research papers.
• A Conservative’s Road to Same-Sex Marriage Advocacy 
  Theodore B. Olson’s decision to file a lawsuit challenging California’s ban on gay marriage has stirred up suspicion on both sides.
• Back to Business: In Appraisal Shift, Lenders Gain Power and Critics 
  A change meant to curb conflicts of interest may have opened new problems in the real estate industry.

[ More from New York Times | Politics ] 

• Seattle Votes Down Fee on Bags 
  A proposed 20-cent fee on plastic and paper bags at many retail stores in this city was headed for defeat in a voter referendum late Tuesday.
• National Briefing | West: California: Senate Race Shaping Up 
  Carly Fiorina, the former chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, took the first formal step toward seeking the Republican nomination in 2010 for a United States Senate race against the Democratic incumbe...
• National Briefing | Midwest: Illinois: A Kennedy Rejects a Senate Bid 
  Christopher Kennedy, a Chicago businessman and a son of Robert F. Kennedy, said he would not seek the United States Senate seat once held by President Obama.
• More Fake Letters to Congress on Energy Bill 
  Investigators have uncovered a total of nine letters sent to Congress falsely claiming to be from charities expressing opposition to climate change legislation.
• Baucus, and the Debate on Health Care, Go West 
  Montana has become an unlikely center of the donnybrook over health care. Senator Max Baucus has made the state a magnet for protester and president alike.
• Sotomayor Casts First Vote on Court 
  Justice Sonia Sotomayor cast her first vote in a Supreme Court death penalty case, aligning with the liberal wing.
• U.S. Presses Pakistan on Taliban 
  The Obama administration is concerned that Pakistan will turn its attention back to India.
• Obama Sees ‘Positive Steps’ in Mideast 
  Speaking after a meeting with President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, President Obama said Israel was moving in the right direction on settlements.
• Candidate for New Jersey Governor Apologizes for Failing to Report Loan 
  Christopher J. Christie appeared humbled, but defended his continuing financial link to the top aide to whom he lent $46,000.
• Stars Aligning on School Lunches 
  For the first time since a new wave of school food reform efforts began a decade ago, once-warring camps are sharing strategies to improve what kids eat.
• Alternate Plan as Health Option Muddies Debate 
  The option of a co-op instead of a government health plan is so ill defined that no one knows exactly what it would look like.
• Sidebar: Supreme Court to Hear Case on Executive Pay 
  Jones v. Harris Associates may to be the court’s first big statement on a culture that contributed to the recession.
• Tax Bills Put Pressure on Struggling Homeowners 
  Investors buy tax liens from local governments and charge high interest rates and thousands of dollars in fees.
• Obama Defends Strategy in Afghanistan 
  American involvement in Afghanistan is “a war of necessity” — not of choice — President Obama said in a speech to military veterans.
• U.S. Will Release More Members of an Iraqi Militia 
  Gen. Ray Odierno said that releasing members of Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq, which is believed responsible for attacks that have killed Americans, is a step toward reconciliation.
• Lack of Medicare Appointee Puzzles Congress 
  To some, trying to remake the health care system without a Medicare administrator is like fighting a war without a general.
• Supreme Court Orders New Look at Death Row Case 
  A federal court in Georgia was ordered to take a fresh look at the case of Troy Davis, who is on death row for the 1989 murder of an off-duty police officer.
• National Briefing | Rockies: Utah: Missionaries Will Be Left Out of Census 
  The Census Bureau said that Mormon missionaries from Utah — however visible they are all over the world in their white shirts and ties — would be left out of the 2010 census.
• National Briefing | Midwest: Wisconsin: Governor Says He Won’t Run Again 
  Gov. James E. Doyle, a Democrat, said he would not seek a third term in 2010 because he believes governors should limit themselves to two terms.
• House Ethics Inquiry Has Roots in Untidy Yard 
  An untended lawn and a delinquent mortgage may have led to a Congressional ethics investigation of Representative Laura Richardson, Democrat of California.
• Some Democrats Push for Keeping Public Insurance Option 
  Navigating the acrimonious debate among Democrats — between a public option and a health care cooperative — presents a significant challenge for the president.
• Anchorage Gay Rights Measure Is Set Back by Mayor’s Veto 
  The mayor of Anchorage on Monday vetoed a ban against discrimination based on sexual orientation, saying it was unclear that such discrimination existed.
• One Person’s Boondoggle, Another’s Necessity 
  Some criticized stimulus projects are popular locally and underscore that boondoggle is in the eye of the beholder.
• More Are Hired to Speed Up the Clunker Reimbursements 
  Some dealers say the government has paid them for only a small fraction of the deals they have made under the car rebate program.
• U.S. Extends Effort to Ease Tight Credit Into 2010 
  The agencies said they would extend their joint program to finance consumer and business lending for up to six more months.
• Arts Chief to See What Plays in Peoria 
  Rocco Landesman, who was confirmed this month as the new chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, has accepted an invitation to visit Peoria, Ill.

• N. Korean diplomats hold talks in N. Mexico 
  In a further sign of a thaw in U.S.-North Korean relations, two diplomats from the secretive nation are holding two days of meetings in Santa Fe with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson.
• Dem lawmaker blasts protester at town hall 
  Rep. Barney Frank lashed out at protester who held a poster depicting President Barack Obama with a Hitler-style mustache during a heated town hall meeting on federal health care reform.
• Jenny Sanford: Affair was like ‘punches to gut’ 
  In the latest issue of Vogue magazine, the wife of South Carolina  Gov. Mark Sanford says that finding out about her husband’s affair with an Argentine woman felt like “punches to the gut.” Re...
• NYT: Dems eye go-it-alone health bill 
  Given hardening GOP opposition to Congressional health care proposals, Democrats now say they are increasingly focused on drawing support for a final plan from within their own ranks.
• Whole Foods fans decry CEO's health care views 
  Liberal customer base takes feelings of betrayal online after grocery executive writes column saying health care is not an intrinsic right.
• Obama aims to fix intraparty rift 
  Advisers say they were unprepared for the intraparty rift over a proposed public health insurance program, a firestorm that has left the White House searching for a way to reclaim the initiative.
• NBC poll: Doubts over Obama health plan 
  Americans remain skeptical about the White House’s plans to reform the nation’s health system, according to a new NBC News poll.
• Obama hopes Egypt returns to fold 
  President Barack Obama won lavish praise from his Egyptian counterpart on Tuesday and spoke of an "extraordinary opportunity" for making peace in the Middle East.
• Political columnist Robert Novak dies 
  Newspaper columnist and TV commentator Robert Novak died Tuesday morning after a battle with brain cancer. He was 78.
• Fiorina takes step toward Senate bid 
  Former Hewlett-Packard Co. chief executive Carly Fiorina on Tuesday took the first formal step toward running for Democrat Barbara Boxer's U.S. Senate seat.

[ More from MSNBC | Politics ] 

• Analysis: Obama's missteps on health care 
  When the history of President Barack Obama’s first year in office is written, scholars will try to answer this question: What went wrong with health care? Howard Fineman gives his list of Obama mist...
• Obama facing public, political criticism of plan 
  President Barack Obama faces complaints from liberals and an overall lack of interest from conservative critics as he toys with axing a public option in his health care overhaul.
• Stand-ins hold spots for lobbyists 
  Call it the ultimate niche occupation in Washington's influence economy: holding places in line for lobbyists outside crowded congressional hearing rooms.
• Man with assault rifle attends Obama protest 
  About a dozen people carrying guns, including one with a military-style rifle, milled among protesters outside the convention center where President Barack Obama was giving a speech Monday...
• CQ: Burton facing tough GOP primary in Indiana 
  Now in his 14th term, Republican Rep. Dan Burton is accustomed to easy victories. One of the most conservative members in the House, he has repeatedly garnered overwhelming support from voters in his...
• Hot D.C. has presidents bailing 
  When Barack Obama heads to Martha's Vineyard this weekend, he'll be following in a long tradition of U.S. presidents bailing out of Washington's steamy summers.
• Q&A on health care co-ops 
  The Obama administration has signaled that it might accept health care cooperatives instead of a government-run health insurance program to compete with private insurers.
• Obama rips wasteful defense spending 
  President Barack Obama took on both the defense establishment and freespending lawmakers on Monday, saying they were draining the defense budget with "exotic projects."...

• New Server Signals Conservatives Are Making Gains Online 
  In a sign that the conservative movement is gaining traction online, RedState.com had to move to a new server to accommodate increased traffic demands.
• North Koreans Want to Discuss Clean Energy With Richardson 
  Clean energy is among the topics a North Korean delegation hopes to discuss today with New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, according to a Richardson aide.
• FCC Steps It Up Online 
  The Federal Communications Commission is taking steps to update its own communications. It launched its first-ever blog (http://blog.broadband.gov/) and signed up for a Twitter account (twitter.com/fc...
• Americans See Less Teamwork in Washington 
  Susan Davis reports on politics. So much for bipartisanship. According to the latest survey by Pew Research, Americans are increasingly sour about the ways of Washington as a growing number of peop...
• Book on Fed’s Future Comes as Lawmakers Debate Just That 
  A new book on the future of the Federal Reserve comes at a pivotal moment for the central bank: the debate over how best to overhaul supervision of financial markets will intensify when lawmakers retu...
• Gibbs: Obama Is Willing to Go Far for Health Care 
  Just how far is President Barack Obama prepared to go to ensure passage of a U.S. health care overhaul? Pretty far, it seems. "I think the president would orbit the moon if he thought it would help,"...
• Barney Frank Fights Back at Health Care Town Hall Meeting 
  The August recess has been rife with images of angry constituents shouting down local lawmakers over health care. And then there was Barney Frank, who dished it right back.
• NBC Poll: Myths Endure on Health Care, Highlighting Doubts on Overhaul 
  Nearly half of Americans believe that a proposed overhaul of the health care system means the government will decide when to stop providing medical treatment to senior citizens, according to the lates...
• More Problems Turn Up in Tracking Immigration Detainees 
  In a further indication of problems in the tracking system used for the nation’s immigration detainees, the Corrections Corporation of America said Tuesday that it had immediately and properly notif...
• GOP Leaders Reject Idea of Health Care Co-Ops 
  With attention increasingly focused on a proposal for health care cooperatives as part of a sweeping health overhaul, Republican leaders have begun making it clear they oppose the idea.