‘Un-American’ attacks can't derail health care debate  —  Americans have been waiting for nearly a century for quality, affordable health care.  —  Health coverage for all was on the national agenda as early as 1912, thanks to Teddy Roosevelt's Bull Moose presidential run.

Taliban Now Winning  —  U.S. Commander in Afghanistan Warns of Rising Casualties  —  By YOCHI J. DREAZEN in Kabul and PETER SPIEGEL in Washington  —  The Taliban have gained the upper hand in Afghanistan, the top American commander there said, forcing the U.S. to change its strategy …

Dissent is patriotic - not  —  Imagine it's four years ago and an aide to President George W. Bush posted a blog on the Whitehouse.gov Web site that bemoaned Internet criticism of the Iraq war, then continued: “These rumors often travel just below the surface via chain e-mails or through casual conversations.

Averting the Worst  —  So it seems that we aren't going to have a second Great Depression after all.  What saved us?  The answer, basically, is Big Government.  —  Just to be clear: the economic situation remains terrible, indeed worse than almost anyone thought possible not long ago.

The Unfunny Truth  —  It's been a melancholy summer for social conservatives.  Their movement is fighting a rearguard battle in Barack Obama's Washington.  A cluster of family-values politicians — some of whom bunked down in the same Christian-sponsored D.C. townhouse …

No. 2 Senate Democrat ‘Open’ to Health Care Bill With No Public Option  —  The so-called public option is a hot topic of debate at town hall meetings across the country.  Supporters say it's needed to keep private insurance companies in check and extend affordable coverage to all.

Opposition Emerges to House's Jet Spree  —  WASHINGTON — Bipartisan opposition is emerging in the Senate to a plan by House lawmakers to spend $550 million for additional passenger jets for senior government officials.  —  The resistance to buying eight Gulfstream and Boeing planes comes …

'IT'S NOT IN THE BILL'.... The health care discussion between Howard Dean and Newt Gingrich on “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” yesterday was pretty good, and it covered a fair amount of ground in a short period of time.  There was one exchange, though, that stood out for me.

Does Linda Douglass know about this?  —  Last week White House flack Linda Douglass responded to a video of Barack Obama expressing support for a government takeover of the health care system (I.e., “single payer") with a vehement denial.  Douglass disparaged the video of Obama as “disinformation.”

Rep. Tsongas tries to explain why Congress is exempt from Obamacare.  Fails.  —  Herein lies the ultimate Achilles' Heel of Obamacare.  Watch as Democrat Rep. Niki Tsongas of Massachussetts attempts to explain why Congress is exempt from the government health care takeover mandates.

Banks make $38bn from overdraft fees  —  US banks stand to collect a record $38.5bn in fees for customer overdrafts this year, with the bulk of the revenue coming from the most financially stretched consumers amid the deepest recession since the 1930s, according to research.

House Dems set up healthcare ‘war room’  —  House Democratic leaders have set up a healthcare “war room” to help their rank-and-file members navigate a tumultuous August in which they find themselves on the defensive on their signature issue.  —  The effort is being run out of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer's …

Who Are These People?  —  This probably isn't the ideal way for congressmen to handle their constituents: … One has the sense that lawmakers are just stunned that ordinary citizens would have the temerity to speak up.  Spending most of their time with staffers, lobbyists, and fellow legislators …

Congressional Budget Expert Says Preventive Care Will Raise — Not Cut — Costs  —  In yet more disappointing news for Democrats pushing for health care reform, Douglas W. Elmendorf, director of the Congressional Budget Office, offered a skeptical view Friday of the cost savings that could result …

How the White House's Deal With Big Pharma Undermines Democracy  —  I'm a strong supporter of universal health insurance, and a fan of the Obama administration.  But I'm appalled by the deal the White House has made with the pharmaceutical industry's lobbying arm to buy their support.

Fed Focusing on Real-Estate Recession as Bernanke Convenes FOMC  —  Aug. 10 (Bloomberg) — The collapse in commercial real estate is preventing Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke from declaring the economy and financial markets are healed.  —  Property values have fallen 35 percent …

Bank Will Allow Customers to Deposit Checks by iPhone  —  The Internet has taken a lot of the paperwork out of banking, but there is no avoiding paper when someone gives you a check.  Now one bank wants to let customers deposit checks immediately — through their phones.

At AOL, It's Politics Daily, Not Hourly  —  After a quarter-century as a military correspondent, David Wood knew the drill as he reported from Afghanistan last week, in helmet and flak jacket, on the intricacies of the U.S. war effort.  —  But this time he was writing for a fledgling Web site …