Wilson took caffeine pills in 2007  —  Rep. Joe Wilson (R-S.C.), who shouted “you lie!” at President Obama during his Wednesday night address to Congress, admitted to regularly consuming caffeine pills in 2007.  —  It is unclear if Wilson still takes NoDoz, a brand of pill that contains 200 milligrams …

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 …

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 …

Sept. 11 Training Exercise Sparks Confusion in DC  —  Coast Guard conducts training exercise on Sept. 11 anniversary, stirring confusion  —  The Coast Guard conducted a training exercise in the Potomac River near the Pentagon amid Sept. 11 commemorations Friday, sparking confusion …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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.

Betraying our dead  —  Forgetting the vows we made  —  Eight years ago today, our homeland was attacked by fanatical Muslims inspired by Saudi Arabian bigotry.  Three thousand American citizens and residents died.  —  We resolved that we, the People, would never forget.  Then we forgot.

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 …

Eight years later: Remembrance and resolve  —  Remember: Project 2,996.  —  Remember: “Let's roll!”  —  Remember: The angels on loan from God.  —  Remember: The 9/11 babies.  —  Remember: Falling Man.  —  Remembrance is worthless without resolve.  Resolve is useless without action.

Is America coming apart?  —  Flying home from London, where the subject of formal debate on the 70th anniversary of World War II had been whether Winston Churchill was a liability or asset to the Free World, one arrives in the middle of a far more acrimonious national debate right here in the United States.