Bachmann blocks resolution declaring Hawaii to be Obama's birthplace.  —  Today, Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) introduced a resolution commemorating the 50th anniversary of Hawaii's statehood.  The resolution also proclaims the state as President Obama's birthplace, a point …

Officer said Gates was uncooperative  —  A Cambridge police officer handed out CDs of the recordings at today's news conference.  —  By Martin Finucane, Globe Staff  —  Sergeant James Crowley, the Cambridge police officer who ignited a national debate on racial profiling …

How Lou Dobbs scared Rush Limbaugh off the birther story  —  I can think of three (inadvertent) positives that came out of Lou Dobbs' ill-advised embrace of the birther movement:  —  1) The CNN host has permanently tarnished his reputation  —  2) The birther movement is officially kaput (like, stick-a-fork-in-it done)

GOP headache: The birther issue  —  When lawmakers return home for recess in August, they can expect to hear tough questions from constituents on the economy, health care and government spending.  —  But Republicans are preparing for something else: the birthers.

Voinovich slams DeMint and Coburn for GOP downfall; blames ‘the southerners’  —  Too many conservative senators like Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) are to blame for the GOP's downfall, one of their retiring Republican colleagues complained Monday.

Governor Palin, You're No Hillary Clinton  —  Over at Pollster.com, Brendan Nyhan (whom you should be reading) espouses a fairly common sentiment: that Sarah Palin's favorability numbers, while poor, are not a whole heck of a lot worse than Hillary Clinton's were at the same point in the electoral cycle.

AP IMPACT: Dodd, Conrad told deals were sweetened … WASHINGTON (AP) - Despite their denials, influential Democratic Sens. Kent Conrad and Chris Dodd were told from the start they were getting VIP mortgage discounts from one of the nation's largest lenders, the official who handled their loans has told Congress in secret testimony.

Mike Stark on Capitol Hill: Know Your Birthers  —  Mike Stark has been up on the Hill all week whipping Democrats to hold fast on the public plan, and in his spare time, he decided to ask Republicans if Barack Obama was born in the United States.  Not only do they not want to answer — they run.

Van Hollen: Senate may need to ‘pull the plug’ on talks  —  Senate leaders may need to “pull the plug” on bipartisan negotiations on healthcare reform legislation, Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said Monday.  —  Van Hollen, the head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC) …

Grassley to vote against Sotomayor confirmation  —  Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley said today he planned to oppose the confirmation of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the U.S. Supreme Court when the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on her nomination Tuesday.  —  The vote, which Grassley announced …

Bunning's not running  —  Cantankerous Kentucky Republican Sen. Jim Bunning has officially dropped out of next year's reelection campaign — citing his paltry fundraising efforts.  —  Bunning's office just put out the following statement:  —  I have the same conservative principles in 2009 …

In Study, Texting Lifts Crash Risk by Large Margin  —  The first study of drivers texting inside their vehicles shows that the risk sharply exceeds previous estimates based on laboratory research — and far surpasses the dangers of other driving distractions.

Must see: Cambridge cop says she won't vote for Obama again after Gatesgate  —  An amazing clip via Verum Serum.  God only knows how much heat she and Sgt. Lashley will take from the “authenticity” police for this; Crowley's a spectacularly lucky guy to have friends like them.

Birther leader: GOP is with me  —  Orly Taitz, the California attorney-dentist leading the charge of the so-called birthers movement, is boasting on her blog that she's made some high-profile “friends” on Facebook: Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor …

U.S. citizens wrongly detained, deported by ICE  —  (07-26) 18:37 PDT — The son of a decorated Vietnam veteran, Hector Veloz is a U.S. citizen, but in 2007 immigration officials mistook him for an illegal immigrant and locked him in an Arizona prison for 13 months.  —  Veloz had to prove his citizenship from behind bars.