Little girl at Obama town hall has not-so-random political connections  —  As we always like to point out: There are no coincidences in Obama world.  —  Via the Boston Globe: Surprise! … Tons of readers point to this AR15.com post tracking Hall's political footprint, including this Facebook page and photo:

Matthews to Obama protester: Why'd you bring a loaded gun to a town hall with the president?  —  Good question, especially given the sign this guy was carrying.  Considering the lengths to which the Secret Service normally goes to investigate threats against the president …

Obama's healthcare horror  —  Buyer's remorse?  Not me.  At the North American summit in Guadalajara this week, President Obama resumed the role he is best at — representing the U.S. with dignity and authority abroad.  This is why I, for one, voted for Obama and continue to support him.

Email: Rich Lowry Offered To Help White House Spin Firings  —  Here's a fun nugget from the U.S. attorney documents (h/t reader B.M.):  —  It looks like Rick Lowry of National Review offered the White House his services in doing some positive P.R. on behalf of Rove protege Tim Griffin …

President Obama's “Senior” Moment?  —  Rachel Martin and Jake Tapper report:  —  President Obama today suggested that the health care reform legislation for which he's pushing has been endorsed by the American Association of Retired Person.  —  “We have the AARP on board …

Santorum dips toes in 2012 Iowa waters  —  Add former Sen. Rick Santorum to the list of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates.  —  POLITICO has learned Santorum will visit first-in-the-nation Iowa this fall for a series of appearances before the sort of conservative activists …

Economists Call for Bernanke to Stay, Say Recession Is Over  —  Economists are nearly unanimous that Ben Bernanke should be reappointed to another term as Federal Reserve chairman, and they said there is a 71% chance that President Barack Obama will ask him to stay on, according to a survey.

2 U.S. Architects of Harsh Tactics in 9/11's Wake  —  WASHINGTON — Jim Mitchell and Bruce Jessen were military retirees and psychologists, on the lookout for business opportunities.  They found an excellent customer in the Central Intelligence Agency, where in 2002 they became the architects …

The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare  —  Eight things we can do to improve health care without adding to the deficit.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  “The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out  —  of other people's money.  —Margaret Thatcher

Back in the USPS  —  At his dog-and-pony show on health care — excuse me, health insurance — reform in Portsmouth yesterday, President Obama denied that adding a government plan to “compete” with private insurance plans would drive insurers out of business, creating a single payer system by indirection.

“Send Them Home With a Bullet in the Head”  —  I've gone on the record disagreeing with the term ‘Teabaggers’ and with the use of the word ‘un-American’ - I've done so because despite the astroturfing and the faux-grassroots opposition to health care reform, I place a premium on citizen activism …

Who cares if Stephen Hawking lives or dies?  Actually, we all do  —  So Barack Obama is facing the fight of his life (another one) as he attempts to reform the US healthcare system.  The “special interests” - doctors, healthcare companies - don't like it.  The “birthers” - crazy types …

Can't Make It Up: Dem Rep Who Opposes Photo ID To Vote Requiring Photo ID For Town Halls  —  This is Congressman Eugene Green (HT to an e-mailer), Democrat from Texas, telling the world that if you're not from his District, you're not welcome at his future town hall meetings — oh, and how he'll enforce his new rule (bold is his):

Air Congress Hits Turbulence  —  The Gulfstream jet scandal is over.  Next: unreturned per-diems.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Congressional scandals form a pattern.  First, there is the revelation that some members have acted in a high-handed, spendthrift or unethical manner.

Dem healthcare talking points: Change over status quo  —  Senate Democratic leaders are driving home a handful of key points during this month's town hall forums on healthcare: Reform will be fully funded, will not jeopardize current doctor-patient relationships, and is the only alternative to the current, broken system.

The ObamaCare Quagmire  —  Comparisons to Iraq sell President Bush short.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  President Obama's disastrous campaign to transmogrify American medicine has sent commentators and other observers in search of an equally dismal political failure to use as an analogy.

A President as Micromanager  —  WASHINGTON — In briefing President Barack Obama one day this spring, White House economist Jared Bernstein delved into such arcana as the yields on different forms of credit relative to the risk.  Later, Paul Volcker pulled Mr. Bernstein aside.

Japanese prices in record decline  —  Japanese wholesale prices were down by a record 8.5% in July compared with a year earlier, highlighting the growing deflationary pressure in the economy.  —  Weak demand during the downturn and the fall in the price of oil have put downward pressure on prices.

The Truth About Health Insurance  —  Only nine states have the costly rules that Obama wants to impose nationwide.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The White House is priming the defibrillator paddles to revive ObamaCare, and its new strategy is to talk about “health-insurance reform,” rather than “health-care reform.”

Morning Fix: Nelson Strikes Back  —  Criticized by two liberal groups about his approach to President Obama's health care reform proposal, Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson is hitting back, evidence of the issue's potential political peril for the 13 Senate Democrats who represent states carried by Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) in 2008.

Election 2009: Virginia Governor Election  —  2009 Virginia Governor: McDonnell (R) 47% Deeds (D) 38%  —  Republican candidate Robert F. McDonnell has opened a nine-point lead over Democrat R. Creigh Deeds in the race for governor in Virginia.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey …

What Really Happens When You Demand the President Produce His Birth Certificate?  —  You get a bunch of outrageous people — very nice people, mind you, but frustrated enough to believe anything about Obama — storming the offices of the attorney general, the secretary of state, and the FBI.