Bill Ayers No Dream  —  There I was, sitting in Reagan National Monday morning, sipping a Starbucks by the United counter before going through security.  I had a little time, so I was browsing through the news.  Some military guys had borrowed a chair from my table.

Obama Rules Out Large Reduction in Afghan Force  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama told Congressional leaders on Tuesday that he would not substantially reduce American forces in Afghanistan or shift the mission to just hunting terrorists there, but he indicated that he remained undecided …

Deep Denial  —  Toughened by their frontier ethos, steeled by serial wars, Israelis are not prone to flattery.  Most, in fact, eschew using the closest equivalent to the Hebrew word for flattery—chanupa— in favor of the derisive Yiddish-derivative, firgun.

Latest Internal Whip Count: Nearly Three-Fourths Of House Dems Support Robust Public Option  —  Still more grounds for cautious optimism about the public option:  —  I've got the latest internal whip count numbers from Dem Rep. Raul Grijalva, the co-chair of the Congressional Progressional Caucus …

Carter Joins New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Buffalo News, Minneapolis Star-Tribune in Calling for Chairman to Step Down  —  (WASHINGTON, DC) - House Members Wednesday will have to cast a recorded vote on whether it is acceptable …

Fox Pats Itself On The Back For Being ‘Enemy Number One’ Of The Obama White House  —  White House adviser David Axelrod recently met with Fox News Chairman and CEO Roger Ailes to discuss “news coverage and the relationship between the organizations.”  Last month, Fox found itself shut …

A Bold and Modern White House  —  The Obamas' taste in art is as broad as abstract canvases by Josef Albers, American Indian scenes by George Catlin and paintings by little-known figures like Alma Thomas, the African-American Expressionist painter.  Works by those artists were among …

THE CARPER COMPROMISE.... The Wall Street Journal reports today that a public option compromise measure crafted by Sen. Tom Carper (D) of Delaware seems to be gaining steam.  The piece noted that Carper's measure “won praise from some in his party Tuesday as a way of bridging differences among them.”

Gun Show Undercover  —  Ever wonder how criminals are able to get guns so easily?  It's depressingly simple.  On any given weekend, at dozens of gun shows held in states across the country — criminals can buy guns from “private sellers” who are not required to perform background checks.

McCaughey And Me  —  I said my piece about this on this blog a while back.  I do not think it's professional to air the specifics of internal battles after the fact, and I take full responsibility for being the editor of the magazine that published the piece.  I accepted an award for it.

4 Senators' Concerns Reflect Health Care Challenge  —  WASHINGTON — Senator John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia is upset that a health care bill poised for approval by the Finance Committee would turn nearly a half-trillion dollars over to insurance companies, whose profits he says are “out of sight.”

Senate passes Franken amendment aimed at defense contractors  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — In one of the most public tests of his political skills since taking office in July, Sen. Al Franken pushed through an amendment Tuesday that would withhold defense contracts from companies like Halliburton …

Support Builds for Tax Credit to Help Hiring  —  The idea of a tax credit for companies that create new jobs, something the federal government has not tried since the 1970s, is gaining support among economists and Washington officials grappling with the highest unemployment in a generation.

Feds strip Arpaio of immigration authority  —  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has stripped Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio of his authority to arrest suspected illegal immigrants based solely on their immigration status.  —  But Arpaio said Tuesday he plans to continue his controversial …

First on the Ticker: Obama enlists Hollywood in new ad  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Obama is turning to a handful of Hollywood stars to judge a contest that asks grassroots supporters to create a television commercial promoting health care reform.  —  Musician Will.I.Am, actor John Cho …

Survivors in Afghanistan Need Immediate Help - 56 Soldiers Lost EVERYTHING  —  UPDATE as of 7 OCT 09 1300 hrs  —  STILL NEED  —  Winter Wool Hiking Socks - mostly size 9-12 but a few 13+  —  Boxer briefs - have received none.  Need 6 small, 60 medium, 42 large and 4 XLarge

Parties Nearly Tied for Congress in 2010  —  Voter preferences for Congress split 46% Democratic vs. 44% Republican  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Roughly a year before the 2010 midterm elections, Gallup finds the Republican and Democratic Parties nearly tied in the congressional ballot preferences of registered voters.

The Supreme Court mauls the law banning animal-cruelty videos.  —  Witness the American deputy solicitor general in his natural habitat—the Supreme Court.  As Neal Katyal roams softly across the cool marble chamber, he has no idea what awaits him.  He is here to protect his tribe …

Rep. Louie Gohmert: Hate crimes bill will lead to Nazism, legalization of necrophilia, pedophilia, and bestiality.  —  Led by Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-PA) last night, lawmakers convened for a special session of floor speeches urging a repeal of Don't Act Don't Tell.

Chicago Violence Haunts Obama as Gun-Control Backers Left Cold  —  Oct. 7 (Bloomberg) — At least 47 school-age children in Chicago have been killed in homicides, mostly by guns, since the month President Barack Obama took office.  —  The latest youth homicide in his adopted hometown …

Q&A: Tom DeLay Schools Us on Birthers, ‘Dancing,’ and the Texas Corrections System  —  Tom DeLay's final dance Monday night—a samba.  —  Tom DeLay was the first politician on Dancing With the Stars, and now his campaign is over.  The former Republican House majority leader had to drop …