Defiant Wilson raises more than $200,000 after outburst  —  (CNN) — Less than a day after Rep. Joe Wilson formally apologized to President Obama over his “you lie” outburst, a campaign aide confirms to CNN the South Carolina Republican has raised “more than $200,000″ in the wake of the now-infamous moment.

Poll: Obama's Speech Buoyed Public Support  —  President Obama attempt to explain his plans for health care reform to the American public Wednesday night appear to have been successful — to some extent.  —  A CBS News poll shows that Americans now give him the best marks of his presidency …

Anti-abortion activist shot in front of Owosso High School … OWOSSO, Michigan — State police at the Corunna post have confirmed a well-known anti-abortion activist was shot multiple times and killed this morning in front of Owosso High School.  —  The victim's identity has not yet …

Says ‘checking would be good’  —  White House press secretary Robert Gibbs chastised CNN Friday morning for its reporting on a Coast Guard training exercise on ...  ... the Potomac River, which suggested a security incident was in progress in the nation's capital.

PATRIOT DAY AND NATIONAL DAY OF SERVICE AND REMEMBRANCE, 2009  —  BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA  —  Through the twisted steel of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, the scarred walls of the Pentagon, and the smoky wreckage in a field in southwest Pennsylvania …

Second Video Shows ACORN Officials Helping ‘Pimp,’ ‘Prostitute’ in Washington Office  —  One day after two ACORN officials in Baltimore were fired for offering to help a man and woman posing as a pimp and prostitute to engage in child prostitution and a series of tax crimes …

Judge angered by special treatment for Andrew Sullivan  —  Political commentator, author and writer for The Atlantic magazine Andrew M. Sullivan won't have to face charges stemming from a recent pot bust at the Cape Cod National Seashore — but a federal judge isn't happy about it.

How one becomes “crazy” in Washington culture  —  (updated below)  —  Politico has an article on how certain mainstream Republican leaders are worried that “crackpots” are dominating their party's image (h/t reader jv): … While the Republican Party is absolutely dominated by people who are exactly that …

The Dime Standard  —  On Wednesday night, Barack Obama delivered the finest speech of his presidency.  The exposition of his health care views was clear and lively.  The invocation of Teddy Kennedy was moving and effective.  The rumination at the end about the American character and the role …

Obama Faces Doubts From Democrats on Afghanistan  —  WASHINGTON — The leading Senate Democrat on military matters said Thursday that he was against sending more American combat troops to Afghanistan until the United States speeded up the training and equipping of more Afghan security forces.

Different Month, Same Story  —  For the umpteenth month in a row Richard Burr's approval rating is mediocre but he nevertheless leads all his potential Democratic challengers by healthy margins.  —  38% of North Carolina voters like the job Burr is doing while 32% disapprove.

PAWLENTY'S ACUTE CASE OF ROMNEY-ITIS.... We've seen this dynamic before.  In fact, we saw it just a couple of years ago.  —  Mitt Romney was known as a relatively moderate Republican governor of a reliably “blue” state, who could present himself, with a straight face, as a pragmatic, sane policymaker.

GOP ‘cranks’ dominating debate  —  Joe Wilson's outburst Wednesday night earned more than a personal rebuke from the president and a dagger-eyed gasp from the speaker of the House; it drew winces from Republicans worried that their party is becoming known less for the power of its ideals and more for the pettiness of its vitriol.