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.

Don't Blame Obama  —  Throughout the 2008 campaign, Barack Obama's most loyal constituencies were the national press corps and the left wing of the Democratic Party.  —  Those on the left loved him because they thought he was one of them.  They tolerated all the happy talk about bipartisanship …

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 …

In control?  Think again.  Our ideas of brain and human nature are myths  —  The notion of individual autonomy underpins our society, yet new research suggests this guiding principle is an illusion  —  It was browsing in a bookshop that got me started.  I was confronted by a bank …

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 …

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.

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 …

Same old story from the same old jerk  —  Joe Lieberman's love of spending hundreds of billions on freedom through explosions knows no bounds.  There are no limits to how much Lieberman would ask the American tax-payer over generations to pay for his beloved wars.

Goldman's Trading Tips Reward Its Biggest Clients  —  Goldman Sachs Group Inc. research analyst Marc Irizarry's published rating on mutual-fund manager Janus Capital Group Inc. was a lackluster “neutral” in early April 2008.  But at an internal meeting that month, the analyst told dozens …

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 …

BERNIE ‘DYING’ IN JAIL  —  ‘20 PILLS FOR CANCER’  —  Bernie Madoff had little to lose by confessing to masterminding the world's biggest Ponzi scheme — he's dying of cancer, sources told The Post.  —  Madoff, who is serving 150 years at a North Carolina federal lockup after pleading guilty …

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 …

Obama Approves New Team to Question Key Terror Suspects  —  Move Shifts Interrogation Oversight From the CIA to the White House  —  President Obama has approved the creation of an elite team of interrogators to question key terrorism suspects, part of a broader effort to revamp U.S. policy …

STATUS-QUO ANXIETY  —  There are times when Americans' attitude toward health-care reform seems a bit like St. Augustine's take on chastity: Give it to us, Lord, but not yet.  In theory, the public overwhelmingly supports reform—earlier this year, polls showed big majorities in favor of fundamental change.

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 …

The Competition Cure  —  A better idea to make health insurance affordable everywhere.  —  Washington Wire  —  Obama Has Message for Press Corps: ‘Relax’  —  President Barack Obama, his family and First Dog Bo left Washington for Martha's Vineyard this afternoon, after delaying their flight …

Journalists, Left Out of The Debate  —  Few Americans Seem to Hear Health Care Facts  —  For once, mainstream journalists did not retreat to the studied neutrality of quoting dueling antagonists.  —  They tried to perform last rites on the ludicrous claim about President Obama's death panels …

Obama's on vacation, but the healthcare debate isn't  —  The president arrives on Martha's Vineyard for some family time, but may not be able to keep from responding to Republican jabs at healthcare reform.  —  The president, First Lady Michelle Obama and their two daughters are set to spend …

Learning From '37's Stalled Comeback  —  WASHINGTON — A few months ago, Obama administration officials were sounding the alarm about another 1929.  These days, it's 1937 that has them in a sweat.  —  The Great Depression was W-shaped.  The stock-market collapse led to a steep economic decline.

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 …

Millions face shrinking Social Security checks  —  Next year marks first time in a generation that payments won't increase  —  WASHINGTON - Millions of older people face shrinking Social Security checks next year, the first time in a generation that payments would not rise.