Administration Official: “Sebelius Misspoke.”  —  An administration official said tonight that Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius “misspoke” when she told CNN this morning that a government run health insurance option “is not an essential part” of reform.

Overhauling health-care system tops agenda at annual meeting of Canada's doctors  —  SASKATOON — The incoming president of the Canadian Medical Association says this country's health-care system is sick and doctors need to develop a plan to cure it.  —  Dr. Anne Doig says patients …

Telling Grandma ‘No’  —  When Democratic congressmen dream these days, they're tongue-tied in town halls, fumbling with their microphones while they're shouted down by slavering, pitchfork-wielding Limbaugh listeners.  —  But Barack Obama is wiser than most Democratic congressmen, and his nightmares are savvier.

Obama Misread His Mandate  —  After a rough week for health care reform, Democratic leaders appear to be pulling back on their demand for a public option.  It remains to be seen whether liberal Democrats, especially in the House where they are more numerous, will go along with this.

Desperately seeking Russ  —  From a reader/listener email who spotted the below in their neighborhood:  —  Hysterical.  It appears to be Russ Carnahan's face on a milk carton, and while the bottom says “no reward offered” I can only assume that constituents - concerned for their congressman …

The Swiss Menace  —  It was the blooper heard round the world.  In an editorial denouncing Democratic health reform plans, Investor's Business Daily tried to frighten its readers by declaring that in Britain, where the government runs health care, the handicapped physicist Stephen Hawking …

Pentagon Worries Led to Command Change  —  McKiernan's Ouster Reflected New Realities in Afghanistan — and Washington  —  In mid-March, as a White House assessment of the war in Afghanistan was nearing completion, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen …

Lupica: President Obama is the real target of health care protesters  —  The woman went to an airplane hangar in Belgrade, Mont., the other day, prepared to actually listen to President Obama talk about health care reform in America.  —  She has watched, the way the rest of us have watched …

Self-Described Gypsy Challenges Montgomery County's Ban on Fortunetelling  —  Self-Described Gypsy Who Wants To Open Shop Says Law Is Biased  —  Nick Nefedro didn't need to have his palm read or look to Tarot cards to know that his plan to work as a fortuneteller in Bethesda would fail.

Obama Pushes States to Shift on Education  —  Holding out billions of dollars as a potential windfall, the Obama administration is persuading state after state to rewrite education laws to open the door to more charter schools and expand the use of student test scores for judging teachers.

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 …

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.) …