Alternate Plan as Health Option Muddies Debate  —  WASHINGTON — The White House has indicated that it could accept a nonprofit health care cooperative as an alternative to a new government insurance plan, originally favored by President Obama.  But the co-op idea is so ill defined …

Thousands Quit AARP Over Health Reform  —  Tens of Thousands Don't Like the Health Care Overhaul  —  (CBS) CBS News has learned that up to 60,000 people have cancelled their AARP memberships since July 1, angered over the group's position on health care.  —  Elaine Guardiani has been with AARP …

Obama Joker artist unmasked: A fellow Chicagoan  —  When cryptic posters portraying President Obama as the Joker from “Batman” began popping up around Los Angeles and other cities, the question many asked was, Who is behind the image?  —  Was it an ultra-conservative grassroots group …

White House says it did send unwanted e-mails … WASHINGTON (AP) - After insisting no one was receiving unsolicited e-mails from the White House, officials reversed their story Monday night and blamed outside political groups for the unwanted messages from the tech-savvy operation.

Twelve Carry Guns — Including Assault Rifle — Outside Obama Event  —  About 12 people were carrying guns, including at least one semi-automatic assault rifle, outside a building where President Obama was speaking today.  —  No one was arrested outside the VFW National Convention in Phoenix …

Obama's MySpace page: I'm 52 years old, not 48  —  Would place president's birth during time Hawaii was a territory  —  If President Obama were indeed born in Hawaii, was it while the islands were a territory of the United States?  —  A new wrinkle in the dispute over his birth …

Yale Surrenders  —  Why did Yale University Press remove images of Mohammed from a book about the Danish cartoons?  —  The capitulation of Yale University Press to threats that hadn't even been made yet is the latest and perhaps the worst episode in the steady surrender to religious extremism …

Supreme Court Orders New Look at Death Row Case  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a federal trial court in Georgia to consider the case of Troy Davis, who is on death row in state prison there for the 1989 murder of an off-duty police officer.

DNA Evidence Can Be Fabricated, Scientists Show  —  Scientists in Israel have demonstrated that it is possible to fabricate DNA evidence, undermining the credibility of what has been considered the gold standard of proof in criminal cases.  —  The scientists fabricated blood …

Blue Dog: ‘Excellent idea’ to start over on health care reform  —  PERRY, Florida (CNN) - Acknowledging his amazement at the crowds gathered to debate health care at his town halls, Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Florida, faced three large gatherings on Monday with many questioners voicing skepticism about the proposals being debated in Washington.

Winning By Losing  —  Charlie Cook just said something very profound (which is unusual.)  Chris Matthews asked whether or not the Democrats would lose the House next year and he said he didn't think so, but that they might lose 20 seats.  And then he said this:

Why Obama's Ratings Are Sinking  —  Americans will put up with a lot.  But not with someone who imperils their future.  —  Washington Wire  —  White House Issues Q&A on Health Plan  —  The White House, seeking to reassure allies that it hasn't abandoned plans for a government-sponsored …

Wal-Mart, CVS, Best Buy ditch Glenn Beck (plus 5 more companies)  —  Cross-posted at Jack and Jill Politics, Firedoglake, and Daily Kos.  —  Big news today.  We've confirmed that eight more major advertisers have pulled their support from Glenn Beck's show — Wal-Mart, Best Buy, CVS …

Obama Underwrites Offshore Drilling  —  Too bad it's not in U.S. waters.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  You read that headline correctly.  Unfortunately, the Obama Administration is financing oil exploration off Brazil.  —  The U.S. is going to lend billions of dollars …

Rep. Massa: I will vote against the interests of my district  —  Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) addressed an intimate group of Netroots activists during their annual Netroots Nation gathering in Pittsburgh this weekend.  Mr. Massa reiterated his support for a single-payer health care bill.

Iraq May Hold Vote on Early U.S. Withdrawal  —  As American Focus Turns to North, Troops Could Be Forced to Leave Early  —  U.S. troops could be forced by Iraqi voters to withdraw a year ahead of schedule under a referendum the Iraqi government backed Monday, creating a potential complication …

Fla. population drops for 1st time since 1946  —  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Researchers say Florida's population has declined for the first time in 63 years and economists are blaming - what else? - the recession.  —  The head of the University of Florida's Bureau of Economic and Business Research …

Innocent Man Freed, But Shabby Prosecutor Still Works as Judge  —  This June, District Attorney David Capeless of Berkshire County, Massachusetts announced that he was dropping all charges against 44-year-old Bernard Baran, a man who has spent half his life behind bars on child molestation charges …

Obama Calls for Repeal of Defense of Marriage Act  —  Justice Dept. Filing Distances Administration From Arguments That Angered Gays  —  The Obama administration distanced itself Monday from legal arguments it had made earlier this summer, taking pains to remove and renounce language …

Christie Failed to Disclose Loan to Federal Prosecutor  —  In 2007, while he was New Jersey's ranking federal prosecutor, Christopher J. Christie — now the Republican candidate for governor — lent one of his top aides $46,000.  But he failed to report the loan as required under federal and state ethics rules.

Black cats  —  I really had no intention of writing more about Niall Ferguson.  Regular readers may recall that he wrote an article in the Financial Times that began, … I asked, are there no editors?  —  But Professor Ferguson demands that I (and James Fallows) print his response: