Obama Reverses Stand on Drug Industry Deal  —  WASHINGTON — Caught between a pivotal industry ally and the protests of Congressional Democrats, the Obama administration on Friday backed away from what drug industry lobbyists had said this week was a firm White House promise to exclude …

Video: Democrat screams at constituent for asking tough question on health care  —  And by “constituent,” I of course mean crypto-Nazi political terrorist.  You'll find the full unedited exchange right here but I'm giving you the news segment because it provides important context.

Palin: Obama's “Death Panel” Could Kill My Down Syndrome Baby  —  In a new posting on her Facebook account, former Gov. Sarah Palin (R-AK) made a dire statement about health care reform — that it could result in an Obama-created “death panel” killing her infant son with Down Syndrome:

Stop the violence at health care town halls  —  Things are turning ugly.  Town halls, which typically serve as open, safe environments to ask questions of elected officials, have degenerated into violent shouting matches.  —  Last night in St. Louis, Missouri, a reverend and member of SEIU was assaulted at a town hall.

August Is the Cruelest Month  —  Protesters are following members of Congress around this summer, disrupting their constituent meetings and shrieking about socialized medicine.  They claim to be following the great American tradition of dissent.  This must refer to the time back in colonial days …

Health Debate Turns Hostile at Town Hall Meetings  —  The bitter divisions over an overhaul of the health care system have exploded at town-hall-style meetings over the last few days as members of Congress have been shouted down, hanged in effigy and taunted by crowds.

Women at Risk  —  “I actually look good.  I dress good, am clean-shaven, bathe, touch of cologne — yet 30 million women rejected me,” wrote George Sodini in a blog that he kept while preparing for this week's shooting in a Pennsylvania gym in which he killed three women, wounded nine others and then killed himself.

As Economy Turns, Washington Looks Better  —  WASHINGTON — What if in the end they got it right?  —  What if, amid all their missteps and all the harsh criticism, the people in charge of battling the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression — Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner …

Embattled S.C. Governor Sanford, Wife Are Splitting Up  —  Jenny Sanford, the wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, announced Friday morning that she and their sons will leave the governor's mansion in Columbia and settle in the Charleston area, a split that comes after the couple tried for seven weeks to mend their marriage.

Nancy and the Astroturfers  —  This was the scene when I arrived at Stout Street Clinic in downtown Denver.  Nancy Pelosi is to pay a visit to the clinic within the hour.  About 200 people opposed to Obama's healthcare agenda braved the mile high Denver sun and high temperatures to show their opposition.

SEIU Gets Threatening Phone Call: “You're Gonna Come Up Against The Second Amendment”  —  An official with SEIU, which has been sending members to town halls to counterbalance the Tea Party brigade, sends over this audio of a phone call the union says it received on its central voicemail system …

Obama: Healthcare's ‘outlandish rumors’  —  With the White House this week gearing up a campaign to dispel “misinformation” about the healthcare reform that President Barack Obama is promoting, the president today says that it's important to quell the “outlandish rumors” circulating.

Trucks win in Cash for Clunkers game  —  Because of distorted sales figures, Ford's Escape cross-over SUV, not the Focus small car, tops the list for most popular ‘clunker’ buy.  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — What are people trading their clunkers in for?  It depends on who you ask.

Budget cuts put new textbook purchases on hold  —  The state and many California school districts look to save money by postponing approvals of updated books.  Some fear the moves may put students at a disadvantage.  —  History textbooks in many California classrooms won't mention the election …