Roman the Rapist  —  A Commentary By Susan Estrich  —  He had sex with a 13-year-old girl.  He got her to go to Jack Nicholson's house by promising that she would be in a photo shoot.  When she got there, he fed her a Quaalude and alcohol — champagne for a 13-year-old, how enticing — and then he raped her.

Sarah Palin on Islam and China  —  I've been bluntly critical of Sarah Palin before when I felt it warranted, but I've never had anything but respect for her formidable intellect and political saavy.  I think she's easily the most credible challenger to President Obama in 2012 and while I still …

Republicans decide not to introduce Grayson resolution  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - House Republicans changed course on Wednesday and decided not to move forward with a resolution condemning Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Florida, for saying that the GOP health care plan calls for sick people to “die quickly.”

Stimulus Spending Doesn't Work  —  Our new research shows no evidence of a Keynesian ‘multiplier’ effect.  There is evidence that tax cuts boost growth.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  The global recession and financial crisis have refocused attention on government stimulus packages.

Politico: Freaky-deaky Edwards love child scandal even freaky-deakier than thought  —  Add six cups of freaky, a quart of deaky, stir well, then let chill overnight.  The next day: Voila.  If you're reading this on the east coast, where it's already past nine, I'd advise turning on a light …

Carper quietly devises third option  —  Sen. Tom Carper bided his time on health care reform.  —  Rarely in the spotlight, and unfailingly restrained, the Delaware Democrat never staked out a public position on the government insurance option, solidifying his status as the model of an undecided moderate in need of persuading.

Officials: U.S. to demand access to Iran nuke facility  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A recently revealed nuclear facility in Iran will be the centerpiece of talks that began in Switzerland Thursday among representatives of the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, Germany and Iran's nuclear chief.

Obama's not-so-secret plan to raise taxes  —  Does President Obama have a secret plan to raise taxes on middle-class Americans — and,well, pretty much everybody else — with a European-style, value-added tax?  Actually, it's not such a big secret.  Connect the dots:

National Review's John Derbyshire: Women Should Not Have The Right To Vote  —  John Derbyshire, a British-American conservative author and columnist for the National Review, has written a new book titled We Are Doomed: Reclaiming Conservative Pessimism.  The book contains a section called “The Case Against Female Suffrage.”

Pawlenty preps 2012 campaign team  —  Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty has been quietly assembling the blueprint of a presidential campaign and will announce Thursday the support of a group of high-level political strategists and donors, complemented by a handful of top new media consultants, POLITICO has learned.

Grayson: I'll apologize to the “dead”  —  Rep. Alan Grayson is not so apologetic — on the House floor:  —  And he ups the ante by comparing the lack of good health care to the Holocaust.  Oy.  —  Last night, I gave a speech and I'm not going to recount everything I said but after that speech …

Reality Check: Trying to Turn a Point of Pride into a Moment of Shame  —  Last night Fox News continued its disregard for the facts in an attempt to smear the Administration's efforts to win the Olympics for the United States.  In the past, hosting the Olympics has been a source of pride …

Portsmouth PD: Shea-Porter was removed from Bush town hall by two police officers  —  Two officers of the Portsmouth, New Hampshire Police Department removed Carol Shea-Porter and Susan Mayer from a February 2005 town hall event hosted by then-President George W. Bush at the request of the owner …

Pennsylvania Senate Seesaw Tips To Toomey, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama's Approval Drops Below 50 Percent  —  The seesaw 2010 Senate race in Pennsylvania tips to Republican Pat Toomey, who has 43 percent to recently converted Democrat Sen. Arlen Specter's 42 percent, too close to call …

Obama Can't Outsource Afghanistan  —  George Bush succeeded in Iraq by talking to his generals regularly.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  So our top commander in Afghanistan, Gen. Stanley McChrystal, has told CBS's “60 Minutes” that he has spoken with President Barack Obama only once since June.

Obama, Dictators and democrats  —  How many rogue nations can President Obama hold in one hand?  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  In his Inaugural Address, President Obama spoke directly to the world's rogue nations.  “[W]e will extend a hand,” he said, “if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

Possibility of a Nuclear-Armed Iran Alarms Arabs  —  CAIRO — As the West raises the pressure on Iran over its nuclear program, Arab governments, especially the small, oil-rich nations in the Persian Gulf, are growing increasingly anxious.  But they are concerned not only with the prospect …

Key Dems confident card-check will pass  —  A key Senate negotiator trying to advance a contentious union-organizing bill said a modified version could pass the upper chamber this year, despite his reservations with the changes.  —  Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is one of a half-dozen senators trying …

Senate Rankings, September 2009 Lightning Round Edition  —  Well, there are all of about five hours left in September, and I haven't gotten the monthly Senate rankings out to you.  What follows is an abbreviated version; it's been a relatively dull month, besides, for movement in most of these Senate races.

Burned by Obama  —  Wall St. execs feel betrayed  —  In the depths of the financial crisis last year, people like Morgan Stanley's John Mack, BlackRock's Larry Fink, Greg Fleming (then of Merrill Lynch), JP Morgan's Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs' Lloyd Blankfein were telling everyone …

White House Proposes Changes in Bill Protecting Reporters' Confidentiality  —  WASHINGTON — The Obama administration has told lawmakers that it opposes legislation that could protect reporters from being imprisoned if they refuse to disclose confidential sources who leak material about national security …

Consumers Union joins health care battle  —  The venerable advocacy group Consumers Union, best known for publishing Consumer Reports, will dive into the health care fray Monday with a television ad making the case for passing health care reform legislation.

Director Adam McKay Strikes Back  —  I have apparently raised the ire of Adam McKay, the rich and powerful film director who brought us “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy” and “Step Brothers.”  In a Tweet on Tuesday, McKay says that my last article (about Will Ferrell decrying insurance executives) was “sub-moronic.”