Busted.  Van Jones Linked to 9-11 Truther Movement Back in **January 2002**  —  Yesterday, news broke out that Barack Obama's communist Green Czar was a 9-11 Truther.  The administration much later in the day released a statement saying Van Jones was “not now or ever” involved in the 9-11 Truther movement.

White House defends stimulus despite rising unemployment  —  The Obama administration beat back criticism of its economic policies Friday as the nation's unemployment rate jumped to 9.7 percent.  —  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs said the 216,000 jobs the economy lost in August …

Gates: AP decision ‘appalling’  —  Defense Secretary Robert Gates is objecting “in the strongest terms” to an Associated Press decision to transmit a photograph showing a mortally wounded 21-year-old Marine in his final moments of life, calling the decision “appalling” and a breach of “common decency.”

IT'S COME TO THIS.... In 1988, then-President Reagan spoke to students nationwide via C-SPAN telecast.  Among other things, he talked about his positions on political issues of the day.  Three years later, then-President Bush addressed school kids in a speech broadcast live to school classrooms nationwide.

Public Option Not Vital to Health Reform, Teamsters' Hoffa Says  —  Sept. 4 (Bloomberg) — Teamsters President James Hoffa said dropping the so-called public option wouldn't be a “deal killer” for health-care legislation, signaling a split among leaders of unions that are a core constituency of President Barack Obama.

Why ‘GQ’ Doesn't Want Russians To Read Its Story … text sizeAAA  —  For war journalist Scott Anderson, the most confounding part of his recent assignment for GQ magazine to explore the root of terrorist acts in Russia a decade ago wasn't the suggestion of treachery and subterfuge he found.

Pawlenty sides with critics  —  Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty today gave his support to parents and schools wary about showing President Obama's televised back-to-school address in classrooms next week.  —  Pawlenty said that showing the address, slated to be telecast at 11 a.m. Central Time on Tuesday …

GOP gov. candidate Chris Christie not issued traffic ticket after accident that injured motorcyclist in 2002  —  Adding to Chris Christie's campaign trail headaches over his driving record, officials in Elizabeth confirmed tonight the Republican gubernatorial candidate was in a traffic accident …

Despite Best Efforts, Rep. Baron Hill Ends Up on YouTube In a Compromising Position  —  Rep. Baron Hill (D., Ind.) cannot possibly be this big a jerk all the time.  At a recent town hall, a young woman raised her hand and identified herself as a journalism student working on a school project …

Let's Get Fundamental  —  If I were magically given an hour to help Barack Obama prepare for his health care speech next week, the first thing I'd do is ask him to read David Goldhill's essay, “How American Health Care Killed My Father,” in the current issue of The Atlantic.

Rep. Bachmann: Dems Want To Sabotage Me Because I Might Become President  —  On Mike Gallagher's radio program yesterday, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) offered a novel theory as to why Democrats want her out of office: They don't want her to become the first woman president.

Franken Talks Down Angry Mob!!!  —  I got to witness something really special the other day.  About a dozen tea party activists had staked out Sen. Al Franken's booth at the Minnesota State Fair and confronted him loudly when he arrived.  But within minutes, he'd turned an unruly crowd into a productive conversation on health care.

White House to reveal visitor names  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration plans to change White House policy by releasing the names of thousands of visitors whose comings and goings traditionally are kept secret by presidents.  —  President Obama's announcement scheduled for today follows a lengthy legal review.

Bleeding Independents  —  OBAMA'S AGENDA HAS FANNED FEARS THAT GOVERNMENT IS EXPANDING TOO FAR, TOO FAST.  —  Listening to two briefings — one by a Democratic pollster who had just conducted a survey for a group favoring health care reform, the other by a Republican pollster more skeptical …

Obama Regulation Czar Advocated Removing People's Organs Without Explicit Consent  —  (CNSNews.com) - Cass Sunstein, President Barack Obama's nominee to head the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA), has advocated a policy under which the government would “presume” …

Health Bills Might Not Protect Some Needy Americans, Experts Say  —  Patrick Gilbert, an uninsured lumber company worker in upstate New York, is in a predicament that President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats believe they can solve.  Gilbert and his wife have two children …

Could Texas' Gingrich-Based High School History Curriculum Go National?  —  While Republicans are busy gnashing their teeth over President Obama's imminent indoctrination of the nation's schoolchildren, there's an education story bubbling up in Texas that could have considerably more far-reaching consequences.