OBAMA CALLS KANYE ‘JACKASS’  —  ABC's Terry Moran set the Twitter-sphere all aflutter when he wrote:  —  We've reached out to Moran and will update this post when we learn more.  —  Now, an ABC spokesperson explains to POLITICO what happened:  —  “In the process of reporting on remarks …

Breaking: Senate votes to cut off federal funding for ACORN; Update: Child-Whoring Pimp Assistance 7 identified; Update: Brooklyn DA “taking a look”; Update: ACORN disappointed  —  Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE) introduced an amendment to the HUD and Transportation appropriation bill to strip ACORN of all federal funding.

So far, Obama's failing miserably  —  When he ran for president, George W. Bush promised to be a modest reformer at home and a humble representative of the United States on the world stage.  The Al Qaeda-organized-and-funded terrorist attacks of eight years ago changed all that.

Congratulations Mr. President on a job well done.  —  Many of our more contrarian commenters here at POWIP may be surprised by this post's lede, as well as those who generally agree with my theses.  But as I have said since his election, Mr. Obama is our President, and I will support …

New Objections to Baucus Health Care Proposal  —  WASHINGTON — Two of the three Republicans in a small group trying to forge a bipartisan compromise on health care have requested numerous major changes in a proposal drafted by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, reducing the chances that he can win their support.

Tourism boycott threatened over Wilson's ‘You lie’ outburst  —  WASHINGTON — State and local tourism officials are being flooded by emails and calls from people across the country, saying they won't vacation in South Carolina because they're upset by GOP Rep. Joe Wilson's outburst at President Barack Obama.

Rights Group Assailed for Analyst's Nazi Collection  —  A leading human rights group has suspended its senior military analyst following revelations that he is an avid collector of Nazi memorabilia.  —  The group, Human Rights Watch, had initially thrown its full support behind the analyst …

Film heartthrob Swayze dies of cancer at 57  —  LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Patrick Swayze, whose hunky good looks and sympathetic performances in such films as “Dirty Dancing” and “Ghost” made him a romantic idol to millions, died Monday.  He was 57.  —  Swayze died of pancreatic cancer, his publicist, Annett Wolf, told CNN.

Bill Clinton to Back Gavin Newsom for California Governor Over 1992 Rival Jerry Brown  —  Former President's Endorsement Called ‘Potential Game-Changer’  —  Former President Bill Clinton is backing San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom for California governor over state Attorney Gen. Jerry Brown …

Congressional Sclerosis  —  Rangel Suffers From a Case of Entitlement  —  Once upon a time, before I began an interview with Rep. Charles Rangel, I was warned by an aide not to bring up the 1970 race in which the upstart Rangel defeated the virtually legendary Adam Clayton Powell to gain his House seat.

Terrorism Task Force Raids Queens Apartments  —  WASHINGTON — At least two apartments in Queens were raided on Monday after they had been visited in the last week by a suspected associate of Al Qaeda, according to officials.  —  No arrests were made and no explosives or other weapons …

WWE's Linda McMahon prepares Senate run  —  World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) CEO Linda McMahon appears primed to run for Senate in Connecticut and should make an announcement very soon, according to sources with knowledge of her deliberations.  —  “A decision is imminent …

“Victory” in Afghanistan  —  I participated in an interesting Twitter dialogue yesterday.  Spencer Ackerman floated the idea that maybe the Obama administration won't ask for more troops for Afghanistan after all.  Eli Lake responded “You think Obama would risk alienating Petraeus …

Questions about Bush's conservative principles  —  How many times during the last eight years did you hear that George W. Bush was a dangerous right-wing extremist?  Probably too many to count.  —  What you heard less often were expressions of the deep reservations some conservatives felt about Bush's governing philosophy.

Morning Fix: 42 and 44 Make Peace  —  President Obama will address the annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative next week, the latest in a series of public — and private — signs that he and former president Bill Clinton have made peace after a very rocky relationship during the 2008 campaign.

Poll Finds Most Doctors Support Public Option … text sizeAAA  —  Among all the players in the health care debate, doctors may be the least understood about where they stand on some of the key issues around changing the health care system.  Now, a new survey finds some surprising results …

Biden makes surprise trip to Iraq  —  Vice President Joe Biden made a surprise visit to Iraq on Tuesday.  —  Biden flew into Iraq this morning, where he will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and Prime Minister Jalal Talibani, among other top officials.

Hypocrisy Alert: Dem Rep. Pete Stark Called Bush Liar On House Floor... Twice (Video)  —  The House democrats will vote today to discipline Rep. Joe Wilson for calling President Obama a liar on the House floor during his speech to the nation that was riddled with misleading statements, misrepresentations and, well... lies.

Sen. Schumer Is Wrong About Risks of Flash Trading  —  We are replying to Sen. Chuck Schumer's Sept. 4 letter concerning our Aug. 27 op-ed, “In Defense of ‘Flash’ Trading.”  —  Sen. Schumer makes the incendiary charge that flash trading “seriously undermines market integrity” by leading to front-running.