Democratic senator: Public health insurance option dead  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A key Senate negotiator said Sunday that President Barack Obama should drop his push for a government-funded public health insurance option because the Senate will never pass it.

Ross: I refuse to kill old people  —  When a conservative Democrat takes the time to promise that he will not “kill old people,” you really know Democrats are struggling to maintain their footing on healthcare reform.  —  So it's pretty stunning that Rep. Mike Ross (D-Ark.) …

Row over Afghan wife-starving law  —  An Afghan bill allowing a husband to starve his wife if she refuses to have sex has been published in the official gazette and become law.  —  The original bill caused outrage earlier this year, forcing Afghan President Hamid Karzai to withdraw it.

Maddow Battles Dick Armey In “Meet The Press” Debut (VIDEO)  —  Rachel Maddow appeared on “Meet the Press” for the first time on Sunday, August 16th.  On a panel with former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.), former House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), and Sen. Tom Coburn …

White House will change e-mail rules  —  The White House said Sunday night that it will change its e-mail sign-up procedures after some recipients of a health-care e-mail complained that they had not asked to receive updates.  —  “We are implementing measures to make subscribing to e-mails clearer …

Swimmers are told to wear burkinis  —  British swimming pools are imposing Muslim dress codes in a move described as divisive by Labour MPs.  —  Under the rules, swimmers - including non-Muslims - are barred from entering the pool in normal swimming attire.

MEGHAN MCCAIN, BLONDE BOMB SHELL  —  JOHN MCCAIN WOUNDED THE GOP; HIS DAUGHTER IS OUT TO FINISH THE JOB  —  I liked Meghan McCain.  In her faux hipster Urban Outfitter threads, she attempted to humanize her cantankerous, over-the-hill father during the presidential election with her “cute” bloggette.

Who Is Human Rights Watch's Joe Stork?  —  He is, of course, the author of last week's Human Rights Watch report, which claimed that IDF soldiers murdered white-flag-waving Palestinian civilians in cold blood.  He is also the deputy director of HRW's Middle East and North Africa programs.

Are we having a conversation yet?  —  “I think that there is going to have to be a conversation that is guided by doctors, scientists, ethicists.  And then there is going to have to be a very difficult democratic conversation that takes place.”  —  Conversation?

Why “Reading the Bill” Won't Matter  —  USA Today notes that even forcing legislators to read the health care legislation in the House probably wouldn't do much good.  The bill is so bogged down with bureaucrat-eze, few of them are likely to understand it.