Ted Kennedy Dies of Brain Cancer at Age 77  —  ‘Liberal Lion’ of the Senate Led Storied Political Family After Deaths of President John F. Kennedy, Sen. Robert F. Kennedy  —  Sen. Edward Moore Kennedy, the youngest Kennedy brother who was left to head the family's political dynasty …

1 suspect in custody following Dem HQ vandalism in Denver  —  A 24-year-old arrested this morning on suspicion of smashing 11 windows at Colorado Democratic Party headquarters tried to conceal his identity while allegedly committing the crime, according to police descriptions.

The New Republican Plan to Bankrupt America  —  Michael Steele, chairman of the Republican National Committee, this week revealed a secret Republican plan that would end up eliminating all federal farm subsidies; closing down Yellowstone and Yosemite national parks; selling off the interstate highway system …

Some Surprised By ‘Clunker’ Tax  —  The Cash For Clunkers program is adding to the activity at treasurers' offices all around South Dakota.  First, people were asking for proof of ownership, so they could show they owned their vehicle for a full year, allowing them to cash it in.

Fox News' Shep Smith debunks McCain's charge that reconciliation would be a ‘drastic change.’  —  This afternoon in his town hall, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said he is “unalterably opposed” to using the budget reconciliation process to pass health care reform.

The Evidence Mounts Still Further  —  I'll write at more length when I'm back off my summer bloggatical, but the question of torture - and the United States' embrace of inhumanity as a core American value under the presidency of George W. Bush - remains, in my view, the pre-eminent moral question in American politics.

Report Shows Tight C.I.A. Control on Interrogations  —  WASHINGTON — Two 17-watt fluorescent-tube bulbs — no more, no less — illuminated each cell, 24 hours a day.  White noise played constantly but was never to exceed 79 decibels.  A prisoner could be doused with 41-degree water but for only 20 minutes at a stretch.

Federal prosecutor who took loan from GOP governor candidate Chris Christie resigns  —  TRENTON — The federal prosecutor at the center of the controversy over a loan made by New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has resigned.  —  In her resignation letter dated today …

The Pelosi-Obama Deficits  —  Even $9 trillion might be too optimistic on current spending trends.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Earlier this year when President Obama was selling his first budget blueprint, he promised to end years of “borrow and spend” budgeting.  Yesterday, reality struck.

Obama on brink of Middle East peace breakthrough  —  • US to adopt much tougher line over Iran's nuclear ambitions  —  • Israel to freeze construction of settlements on West Bank  —  • France and Russia offer to host Middle East peace conference

Deaths, Missing Detainees Still Blacked Out in New CIA Report  —  Inspector General Reportedly Discovered Three Died, Many Unaccounted For by CIA  —  The CIA and the Obama Administration continue to keep secret some of the most shocking allegations involving the spy agency's interrogation program …

Sounds of Silence  —  Fiji remained silent on a day that should have been filled with songs of praise.  —  The government canceled an annual Methodist choir festival scheduled for Saturday in Suva, the archipelago's capital.  The decision to cancel the 160-year-old competition fueled tensions …

Plumbing the Depths  —  The Washington Post's Greg Sargent is worked up about the fact that “big news orgs” have not declared Dick Cheney a liar for claiming that EITs were effective.  (For the record, many people still consider the Washington Post a big news org.)

Feingold: 'We're headed in the direction of absolutely nothing'  —  Russ Feingold tells a Wisconsin crowd of the prospects for health care legislation:  —  “Nobody is going to bring a bill before Christmas, and maybe not even then, if this ever happens,” Feingold said.  “The divisions are so deep.

Lose the Foreskin!  —  The responses to the Center for Disease Control's proposal this week to require all American boys to be circumcized are predictably hysterical.  Hundreds of commenters wrote into the New York Times today to complain about “child abuse” and “genital mutilation” and one …