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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

What's the Point of These Health Care Town Halls?  —  Michael Crowley liked Senator Claire McCaskill's performance at a town hall earlier today: … I agree, but watching McCaskill on TV what I mostly thought of was that I don't understand why members of congress are holding these town halls.

“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 …

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

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.

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.

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):

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.”