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 …

Wilson's wife: “I said 'Joe, who's the nut who hollered out, “You lie”?'”  —  The latest entry in Rep. Joe Wilson's energetic online efforts to reclaim control of his narrative, and raise a bundle off his new high profile, is an unusually entertaining testimonial from his wife.

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Obama Is Pushing Israel Toward War  —  President Obama can't outsource matters of war and peace to another state.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Events are fast pushing Israel toward a pre-emptive military strike on Iran's nuclear facilities, probably by next spring.  That strike could well fail.

US credit shrinks at Great Depression rate prompting fears of doubledip recession  —  Both bank credit and the M3 money supply in the United States have been contracting at rates comparable to the onset of the Great Depression since early summer, raising fears of a double-dip recession in 2010 and a slide into debt-deflation.

A Protectionist President  —  Like Hoover, Obama is abdicating U.S. trade leadership.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  President Obama traveled to Wall Street yesterday to press his case for more financial regulation, but the bigger economic issue of the day concerned other White House policies.

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.

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.

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 …

Christie continues to lead  —  New Jersey voters have a dimmer view of both Jon Corzine and Chris Christie since PPP last polled the state in late July but the overall picture remains the same with the Republican challenger holding a 44-35 lead over the Democratic incumbent.

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.

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 …

EIA stunner: By year's end, we'll be 8.5% below 2005 levels of CO2 — halfway to climate bill's 2020 target.  —  The Energy Information Administration released its monthly Short-Term Energy Outlook (STEO) last week with a bombshell prediction for near-term carbon dioxide emissions:

Patrick Swayze  —  Won't be down to breakfast.  Star of Red Dawn and ... some other films,* dead of cancer at 57.  —  One of the greatest films ever made ... Wolverines! ...  Damn, you'd have to really hate America or be some kind of commie pinko or think no one could ever possibly actually …