U.S. Military Says Its Force in Afghanistan Is Insufficient  —  BAGRAM, Afghanistan — American military commanders with the NATO mission in Afghanistan told President Obama's chief envoy to the region this weekend that they did not have enough troops to do their job, pushed past their limit by Taliban rebels who operate across borders.

Less Than Half of Top Obama Appointees Are in Place  —  WASHINGTON — As President Obama tries to turn around a summer of setbacks, he finds himself still playing without most of his own team.  Seven months into his presidency, fewer than half of his top appointees are in place advancing his agenda.

Senator to actor: ‘Make my day’  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former Democrat Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut has a simple message for Hollywood actor Alec Baldwin: bring it on.  —  Asked Sunday on CNN's State of the Union about Baldwin's recent comments that he might move to Connecticut and mount …

Paul Krugman on “This Week”: “The Argument Against the Public Option is Sheer Nonsense”  —  Really great points made here, both by Robert Reich and Paul Krugman.  —  Reich notes that alienating your base while negotiating with yourself is a losing strategy (true, unless the administration's goal …

Conyers looks vulnerable in 2010 reelection poll  —  House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) could face a tough reelection race in 2010, according to a new, independent poll released this weekend.  —  40 percent of Conyers's constituents said he deserved reelection …

Outed blogger blames model for ‘skank’ stink  —  Sorry seems to be the hardest word for the blogger who anonymously scorned a model as a “ho” and a “skank,” igniting a legal and media maelstrom.  —  Speaking out for the first time since a court order forced Google to reveal her identity …

PEEVED OBAMA TRUMPS PATERSON'S RACE CARD  —  By FREDRIC U. DICKER in Albany and MAGGIE HABERMAN in New York  —  President Obama's aides were so furious that Gov. Paterson dragged him into a rant about racism that they sent a message sharply criticizing the governor's comments just hours after he made them, The Post has learned.

THE REAL REASON AMERICANS ARE ANGRY  —  IT'S THE BIG GOVERNMENT, STUPID  —  It's been a hilarious August, watching media supporters of President Obama's health care package puzzle over the obscure motivations of the noncompliant Americans rallying against it.  —  “Racial anxiety,” guessed New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.

Justice Dept. Report Advises Pursuing C.I.A. Abuse Cases  —  WASHINGTON — The Justice Department's ethics office has recommended reversing the Bush administration and reopening nearly a dozen prisoner-abuse cases, potentially exposing Central Intelligence Agency employees and contractors …

The risk of a double-dip recession is rising  —  The global economy is starting to bottom out from the worst recession and financial crisis since the Great Depression.  In the fourth quarter of 2008 and first quarter of 2009 the rate at which most advanced economies were contracting was similar …

Pro-Israel group: Obama settlements policy backs ‘ethnic cleansing’ of Jews  —  A pro-Israel lobby group in the U.S. has launched a project intent on shifting the focus of the Obama administration away from West Bank settlements, claiming they are not an obstacle to peace and that their evacuation would amount to “ethnic cleansing.”

All the President's Zombies  —  The debate over the “public option” in health care has been dismaying in many ways.  Perhaps the most depressing aspect for progressives, however, has been the extent to which opponents of greater choice in health care have gained traction — in Congress …

Rebuilding New Orleans still a priority, Obama says  —  President Barack Obama said his administration remains focused on rebuilding New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, that anything less “would be a betrayal of who we are as a country, ” and that he plans to visit New Orleans by the end of the year.