Harvard Prof Gates Is Half-Irish, Related to Cop Who Arrested Him  —  Two Men at Center of Controversy Linked by Irish Heritage  —  Henry Louis Gates Jr., the black professor at the center of the racial story involving his arrest outside his Harvard University-owned house, has spoken proudly of his Irish roots.

The Health Care Bill Dies? … Well, as the French would say... Quelle surprise!  —  It's funny, earlier this summer I was watching the Federer-Roddick Wimbledon Final.  Great match in a way, final set was 30 games long, one of the all-time epic battles.  And yet, as I watched it …

Andrew Sullivan is Right  —  It doesn't happen terribly often, but I'm with Andrew Sullivan on the need to lay Obama birther-ism to rest— a subject on which he's been blogging with some energy over the last day.  —  Indeed, it's almost as if birthers have allowed an intense …

Bill Kristol Says Things That Are The Opposite of True … “One reason the price of health care is going up so fast is because of government programs,” says Kristol.  “The price of Medicare and Medicaid have gone up faster than private insurance.  That's well-documented.”

Palin tests radio waters.  —  Alaska's now former Governor is coy about her future political plans, but radio is at least one option she's leaving on the table.  While not exactly shopping the GOP's 2008 vice presidential candidate, sources say Palin representatives have been quietly testing …

LET IT DIE?  —  In light of reports that Senate Dems may strip the public option and the employer mandate from the health-care bill, Steve M. asks a good question: “Is this even worth it?  Is it even worth fighting to pass a compromised, inadequate bill?”  —  I largely agree with his take on the politics.

Democrats Say House May Miss Deadline on Health Care  —  U.S. House Democratic leaders, struggling to reach an accord with party dissidents on health care, said they're likely to miss President Barack Obama's August deadline for legislation overhauling the medical system.

Iowa parties agree on Saturday caucuses for 2010  —  Sources from both the Iowa Democratic Party and Republican Party of Iowa say they are getting ready to jointly announce a date for the 2010 Iowa caucuses.  For the first time, they'll be held on a Saturday afternoon in January.

Axelrod's Son Hired by Huffington Post  —  David Axelrod's son is following his father's career path — that is, the one he had before becoming a political strategist.  —  Ethan Axelrod is joining the Huffington Post, the liberal Web site that has been largely supportive of President Obama.

Keyes and Birthers, Buckley and Birchers … I've held fire for the last several months as I've watched the so-called “Birther” movement gain steam.  —  At first it was amusing, like playing a drinking game — you know, like taking a shot every time Chris Matthews explains why he insists …

Memo: No health vote before recess UPDATE  —  Democratic leaders may have thrown in the towel — telling their Republican counterparts that there will be no health care vote on the House floor before the August recess starts this Friday, according a Republican memo obtained by POLITICO.  —  The memo:

Police use Taser on deaf, disabled Alabama man  —  MOBILE, Alabama (AP) — Police in Mobile, Ala., used pepper spray and a Taser on a deaf, mentally disabled man who they said wouldn't leave a store's bathroom.  —  The family of 37-year-old Antonio Love has filed a formal complaint over the incident on Friday.

Chicago Sees Coldest July In 67 Years  —  Average Temperature Only 68.9 Degrees  —  CHICAGO (CBS) ― Have you left your air conditioner in the closet this summer, and worn long pants more often than shorts?  If so, you may not be surprised to find out that Chicago is seeing its coldest July in more than 65 years.

Feds Push Mortgage Companies to Modify More Loans  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration, scrambling to get its main housing initiative on track, extracted a pledge from 25 mortgage company executives to improve their efforts to assist borrowers in danger of foreclosure.

Born in the U.S.A.  —  Pres. Barack Obama has a birthday coming up, a week from Tuesday.  We hope he takes the day off—or even the whole week, the briefest of respites from his busy schedule of truncating our liberties while exhausting both the public coffers and our patience.

CSI: Watergate  —  Has an amateur historian found the key to the lost 18 ½ minutes?  —  Post Comment  —  ON JUNE 20, 1972, President Richard Nixon and his chief of staff, H.R. “Bob” Haldeman, met in Nixon's hideaway office at the Old Executive Office Building.

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Senate Panel Endorses Sotomayor  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama's nominee to the Supreme Court, Judge Sonia Sotomayor, moved closer to taking her seat on Tuesday as the Senate Judiciary Committee overwhelmingly approved her nomination and sent it on to the full Senate.

Political consultant Jack Shaw found dead in Jersey City  —  JERSEY CITY — Jack Shaw, a Jersey City political consultant who was among 44 people charged in a federal corruption probe, has died.  —  Two officials with knowledge of the investigation said Shaw was found at home with several bottles of pills nearby.

A Long, Long Post About My Reasons For Opposing National Health Care  —  I know, most of you have already figured out why I oppose national health care.  In a nutshell, I hate the poor and want them to die so that all my rich friends can use their bodies as mulch for their diamond ranches.

Y'feeling alright?  —  I had a rough day in the dentist's chair.  Okay, it wasn't a whole day, but it felt like it.  —  Lambert has been saying for some time that we should stop saying “Single-Payer” and start saying “Medicare for All”.  Paul Krugman has proof that he's right …

Shatner Does The Palin Farewell Speech  —  I haven't blogged on Sarah Palin's bizarre farewell speech, but Conan O'Brien's inspired idea to stage a dramatic reading by William Shatner has wakened me from my dogmatic slumbers:  —  Of course the definitive bizarre Shatner vocal performances can be found on his album The Transformed Man.