Obama Calls Cambridge Cop, Still Sees ‘Overreaction’ in Gates' Arrest  —  President Explains His Remarks About Henry Louis Gates Arrest In Surprise Appearance  —  President Obama called the Cambridge police officer who arrested his friend, prominent Harvard University Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. …

House healthcare talks break down in anger  —  House healthcare negotiations dissolved in acrimony on Friday, with Blue Dog Democrats saying they were “lied” to by their Democratic leaders.  —  The seven Blue Dogs on the Energy and Commerce Committee stormed out of a Friday meeting …

Jon Klein on Birthers: “It Seems This Story is Dead”  —  TVNewser has learned CNN/U.S. president Jon Klein sent an email to a handful of “Lou Dobbs Tonight” staffers last night regarding the coverage of the so-called birthers and the validity of Pres. Obama's birth in the U.S.

Perry raises possibility of states' rights showdown with White House over healthcare  —  AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, raising the specter of a showdown with the Obama administration, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking states' rights protections under the 10th Amendment to resist …

Obama: ‘Victory’ Not Necessarily Goal in Afghanistan  —  The enemy facing U.S. and Afghan forces isn't so clearly defined defined, Obama explained in a TV interview  —  President Obama has put securing Afghanistan near the top of his foreign policy agenda, but “victory” …

Common Sense May Sink ObamaCare  —  It turns out the president misjudged the nation's mood.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  This is big, what's happening.  President Obama appears to have misstepped on a major initiative and defining issue.  He has misjudged the nation's mood …

GOP Not Allowed to Say ‘Government-Run Healthcare’  —  Rep. John Carter (R-Texas), the secretary of the House Republican Conference and a former District Court Judge, is having his messages to constituents censored by Democrats on the Franking Commission.  Republicans are no longer allowed …

Has Global Warming Stopped?  —  Ezra Klein, Kevin Drum, and Ryan Avent all have posts up that attack George Will's statement that “If you're 29, there has been no global warming for your entire adult life.”  Kevin Drum describes this as “idiotic,” Ryan as “moronic,” and Ezra responds, of course, with a chart.

Fat Cat Limbaugh: Only Those Who Can Afford The Ritz Should Have Excellent Health Insurance  —  Rush Limbaugh was a guest for half of last night's On The Record (7/23/09) where he offered some breathtaking hatemongering about President Obama, the media, universal health care and more.

Limbaugh: Obama has a ‘chip on his shoulder’ because he's ‘black.’  —  In an interview with Fox News' Greta Van Susteren last night, right-wing radio host Rush Limbaugh said President Obama was more “passionate” during Wednesday night's news conference about the arrest of his friend …

We Blew Away MoveOn!  —  With about 36 hours to organize and no paid staff (unlike the other side), we dominated in front of Sen. Cornyn's office today (July 23rd); about 200 conservatives opposing maybe 20 MoveOn people; it was fantastic!  Everyone was polite; we always are.