White House's botched ‘op’  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama yesterday rolled out the red carpet — and handed out doctors' white coats as well, just so nobody missed his hard-sell health-care message.  —  In a heavy-handed attempt at reviving support for health-care reform …

The demise of the dollar  —  In a graphic illustration of the new world order, Arab states have launched secret moves with China, Russia and France to stop using the US currency for oil trading  —  In the most profound financial change in recent Middle East history, Gulf Arabs are planning …

The Obamas' Ego Trip to Copenhagen  —  In the Niagara of words spoken and written about the Obamas' trip to Copenhagen, too few have been devoted to the words they spoke there.  Their separate speeches to the International Olympic Committee were so dreadful, and in such a characteristic way …

Castle running for the Senate  —  Rep. Mike Castle (R-Del.) will be running for Vice President Joe Biden's old Senate seat in Delaware, according to two GOP sources connected to the congressman, instantly giving Republicans the opportunity to flip a traditionally-Democratic seat in their column.

Gen. McChrystal Has a Right to Speak Up on Afghanistan  —  Gen. Stanley McChrystal, the U.S. commander in Afghanistan, has come under fire for making public comments about the war.  While answering questions after an Oct. 1 speech — in which he avoided taking sides in the policy debate …

MSNBC's Ratigan battles McCaughey  —  Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy  —  Anthony Weiner and Betsy McCaughey brought their act to MSNBC this morning, where Weiner — unlike last night — was a relatively mellow presence while host Dylan Ratigan tangled bitterly with McCaughey.

Sotomayor Takes Active Role on Court's First Day  —  The Supreme Court began its new term Monday with an inquisitive new justice and a case from Maryland about how long police must honor a suspect's request for an attorney.  —  Justice Sonia Sotomayor displayed no reticence …

Obama Team Says Zazi Case Illustrates Balanced Approach to Terror Threat  —  President Obama will make his first visit to the National Counterterrorism Center in McLean on Tuesday morning, telling intelligence officials that their recent successes have proved how effectively multiple agencies can perform when they work in concert.

Does Obama Get It?  —  The big question on the domestic front right now is whether President Obama understands the gravity of the employment crisis facing the country.  Does he get it?  The signals coming out of the White House have not been encouraging.  —  The Beltway crowd and the Einsteins …

As Job Loss Rises, Obama Aides Act to Fix Safety Net  —  WASHINGTON — With unemployment expected to rise well into next year even as the economy slowly recovers, the Obama administration and Democratic leaders in Congress are discussing extending several safety net programs as well as proposing …

Burden of Proof on Obama's Origins  —  A dentist and lawyer, Orly Taitz has plenty to keep her busy.  But a side passion is what consumes her these days: challenging Barack Obama's eligibility to be president.  —  RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA, Calif.  —  The dental office of Orly Taitz, DDS …

Another Prestigious Error from The Atlantic  —  It's Only a Draft: The prestigious Atlantic's Chris Good—perhaps as exhausted by the magazine's time-consuming Corporate Lobbyist Moneysuck as prestigious Atlantic columnist Andrew Sullivan after a “marathon twelve-hour session of passion” …

Bachmann: ‘Strong investigation’ into non-profits needed  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) on Tuesday called for a “strong investigation” into a wide variety of non-profit organizations in the wake of allegations of political corruption in ACORN.  —  Bachmann, who has been an outspoken critic of ACORN …

Pelosi says new tax is ‘on the table’  —  A new value-added tax (VAT) is “on the table” to help the U.S. address its fiscal liabilities, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Monday night.  —  Pelosi, appearing on PBS's “The Charlie Rose Show” asserted that “it's fair to look at” …

Conservative Bible Project Cuts Out Liberal Passages  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Lo and behold, the Bible has gotten too liberal, according to a group of conservatives.  And it needs a little editing.  —  That's the inspiration behind the Conservative Bible Project …

AMA Endorses Largest Denier of Health Care Claims  —  What appears to be the official blog of President Obama's administration is all aflutter because the President will welcome, “doctors from across the United States to the White House to share their unique perspective on the struggles …

Acorn CEO Blasts Critics  —  Nomaan Merchant reports on politics.  —  Acorn CEO Bertha Lewis called the uproar over hidden-camera videos “Acorn McCarthyism.”  —  And as for the threatened cutoff of federal funding, she said the community organizing and housing group will survive without it.

Memo to Kevin Jennings: Your reputation is on the line  —  [Note: Kevin Jennings is the current “Safe Schools Czar” for the Obama administration.]  —  Mr. Jennings —  Please read my plea.  Your shining career may soon be tarnished.  You're about to be blindsided.  And I'd like to help you save your reputation.

Marco Rubio raises nearly $1 million  —  Charlie Crist ought to start worrying.  The Marco Rubio campaign says the underdog Republican candidate for U.S. Senate raised nearly $1 million in the last fundraising quarter — a giant improvement over his last quarter and a number sure to help eliminate doubts about his viability.

ARE YOU “THE UNKNOWN LIBERAL”?  Pick me, pick me!  —  Jerry Falwell's offspring of Liberty University, the Liberty Counsel has a wonderful new idea! … How does it work, you ask? … I nominate myself as “The “Unknown Liberal.  No, really, that's a choice.  You can't make this crap up.

Video: CNN helps Obama out by ... fact-checking SNL's skit  —  Via Greg Hengler.  Heaven forbid that the average half-drunk late-night Saturday TV viewer be “misinformed” about our savior by a comedy show reminding them that health care's “not done” (which it isn't) and that Afghanistan's gotten worse this year (which it has).

Labor Department comes clean about fake jobs  —  FINALLY, a confession!  —  I've been writing in this column for years that the way the Labor Department calculates the number of jobs in this country is deceptive.  —  In 11 of the 12 months, the government adds massive numbers of jobs …