White House: CBO ‘overstepped’ in its analysis  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — The White House has criticized the Congressional Budget Office's findings that the Obama administration's proposal to control Medicare costs would yield a moderate savings of $2 billion over the next decade.

Bite Your Tongue  —  Being obnoxious isn't a crime.  —  As we reflect on the arc of civil rights dramas from Jim Crow to Jim Crowley, my friend John Timoney, the police chief of Miami, observes: “There's a fine line between disorderly conduct and freedom of speech.

The evidence Bush tried to hide  —  Photos from US spy satellites declassified by the Obama White House provide the first graphic images of how the polar ice sheets are retreating in the summer.  The effects on the world's weather, environments and wildlife could be devastating

Axelrod: I'm not thinking about Palin's next move  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - David Axelrod, one of President Obama's most trusted political advisers, said Sunday that he does not spend time thinking about what Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin might do next.  —  “I can tell you with absolutely honesty …

What You Might Not Know About the Recovery  —  SIX months ago, when President Obama and I took office, we were confronted with an economic crisis unparalleled in our lifetime.  The nation was hemorrhaging more than 700,000 jobs a month, the housing market was in free fall, and the fate of the financial system hung in the balance.

Why markets can't cure healthcare  —  Judging both from comments on this blog and from some of my mail, a significant number of Americans believe that the answer to our health care problems — indeed, the only answer — is to rely on the free market.  Quite a few seem to believe that this view reflects the lessons of economic theory.

Clinton: Iran's pursuit of nukes ‘futile’  —  Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said on NBC's “Meet the Press” on Sunday that Iran will never achieve its goal of obtaining a nuclear weapon, declaring to Tehran: “Your pursuit is futile.”  —  “What we want to do is to send a message to whoever …

U.S. Command Considering Private Security on Afghan Front Lines  —  Firm Could Have Broad Protection Authority in Afghanistan  —  The U.S. military command is considering contracting a private firm to manage security on the front lines of the war in Afghanistan, even as Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates …

Sasquatchian  —  Is the only word to describe the carbon footprint of the Thomas Friedman estate:

Acorn Meets Their Waterloo in Commack!  They are NOT Happy Campers!  —  Another Outstanding Day for Tea Party Patriots!  —  ACORN and their new front group Act Now were pwned by Tea Party Patriots again on Long Island!  —  When they couldn't win their arguments with facts …

Health bill boils down to August battle  —  Congress's failure to deliver major health care legislation by President Obama's deadline next month transforms the traditionally sleepy August recess into what could be the decisive moment in the battle to win support for the legislation …

The Great Preventer  —  LAST week Ben Bernanke appeared before Congress, setting off a discussion over whether the president should reappoint him as chairman of the Federal Reserve when his term ends next January.  Mr. Bernanke deserves to be reappointed.  Both the conventional …