Roman Polanski: backlash as Whoopi Goldberg says director didn't commit ‘raperape’  —  Whoopi Goldberg is facing a fierce backlash after saying that film director Roman Polanski didn't commit “rape-rape” when he had unlawful sex with a 13-year-old girl.  —  Goldberg, star of The Color Purple …

Obama Risks a Domestic Military ‘Intervention’  —  There is a remote, although gaining, possibility America's military will intervene as a last resort to resolve the “Obama problem.”  Don't dismiss it as unrealistic.  —  America isn't the Third World.  If a military coup does occur here it will be civilized.

Where Did ‘We’ Go?  —  I hate to write about this, but I have actually been to this play before and it is really disturbing.  —  I was in Israel interviewing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin just before he was assassinated in 1995.  We had a beer in his office.  He needed one.

Gore Vidal: 'We'll have a dictatorship soon in the US'  —  The grand old man of letters Gore Vidal claims America is ‘rotting away’ — and don't expect Barack Obama to save it  —  A conversation with Gore Vidal unfolds at his pace.  He answers questions imperiously, occasionally playfully, with a piercing, lethal dryness.

Schumer: 'We Don't Have 60 Votes.'  —  Sen. Chuck Schumer's public option amendment failed, 13 to 10.  Kent Conrad, Max Baucus and Blanche Lincoln opposed it.  Moments before the roll call, Baucus explained that he was going to vote no, but not because he opposed the measure.

What Obama won't say about the Afghan war today, at least publicly  —  This is a messy time for the nation's politics.  And this seemingly serene autumn day is quietly crucial.  —  Despite all the excitement and promise of a fresh Barack Obama administration cleaning house from eight years …

Grayson: GOP wants ‘you to die’  —  Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., warned Americans that “Republicans want you to die quickly” during an after-hours House floor speech Tuesday night.  —  His remarks, which drew angry and immediate calls for an apology from Republicans, were highlighted by a sign reading …

Bette Midler Warns Glenn Beck Could Set Off a Rwanda-Like Civil War in U.S.  —  It's just what the primetime cable news lineup needed - another hour-long program tilted toward left-of-center politics with character assassination on conservatives.  —  CNN Headline News debuted its …

Sarah's lectures a tough sell  —  SARAH Palinis said to have pocketed a $7 million advance for the 400-page memoir she turned in four months early, but she might not have such an easy time on the lecture circuit.  —  After quitting as governor of Alaska in July, Palin signed …

Corzine Creeps Up On Christie In New Jersey Gov Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Voters Favor Property Tax Cap 8-1  —  Democratic incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine has cut Republican challenger Christopher Christie's lead in half and now trails the former federal prosecutor 43 …

Lifting Iran's Nuclear Veil  —  THE disclosure of Iran's secret nuclear plant has changed the way the West must negotiate with Tehran.  While worrisome enough on its own, the plant at Qum may well be the first peek at something far worse: a planned, or even partly completed, hidden nuclear archipelago stretching across the country.

Nike to quit Chamber post  —  Nike will relinquish its spot on the board of directors at the Chamber of Commerce to protest the business lobby's opposition to climate-change legislation.  —  “We believe that on the issue of climate change the Chamber has not represented the diversity …

Why Obama Bombed on Health Care  —  The public wasn't dumb enough to believe the public option would save money.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Someday this country will have a health-care debate that's not abject in its idiocy.  —  It will involve a term used by Congressional Budge …

Sarah Palin, a Soon-to-Be Publishing Phenom  —  Barracuda goes rogue.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Sarah Palin may no longer be governor of Alaska, but she's certainly destined to become a best-selling author.  HarperCollins, her publisher, has announced the print-run of her memoir …

VIDEO: Kelsee Brown is not — repeat, is not — a right-wing extremist  —  MANCHESTER, Ky. — Having a late dinner Tuesday with Manchester Enterprise news director Morgan Bowling at the Huddle House here, our interview was interrupted by the cook.  —  “Are you a reporter?” she asked …

We've Been Talking to Iran for 30 Years  —  The seizure of the U.S. embassy followed the failure of Carter administration talks with Ayatollah Khomeini's regime.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The Obama administration's talks with Iran—set to take place tomorrow in Geneva …

Goldberg Calls Out Fox News Hosts ‘Pretending To Be Journalists’...On Fox News  —  Something happened on Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor last night that rarely occurs in cable news - criticism of a network, on that network.  FNC Contributor and weekly Factor guest Bernie Goldberg was on with Bill O'Reilly …

Many in U.S. See Health Insurance as Personal Responsibility  —  Majorities place responsibility on government when no alternative is presented  —  PRINCETON, NJ — In a recent Gallup survey, 89% of Republicans, 64% of independents, and 61% of Americans overall say Americans themselves …

Pentagon airs criticism of 'don't ask'  —  Journal article backs gay troops; May signal brass open to debate  —  WASHINGTON - An article in the Pentagon's top scholarly journal calls in unambiguous terms for lifting the ban on gays serving openly in the armed forces, arguing that the military …

Jindal to GOP: Work with Obama  —  Louisiana Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal urged his party in an interview Tuesday to shift to offering health care solutions instead of just rejecting what President Barack Obama and the Democratic majority in Congress are proposing.

Sarkozy Sees Obama As Incredibly Naive & Grossly Egotistical  —  Jack Kelly from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette told Greta Van Susteren that Sarkozy is furious with President Obama over his Iran speech and his misguided global disarmament obsession.  —  French President Sarkozy thinks President Obama …