Most support public option for health insurance, poll finds  —  Americans still divided on overall packages  —  A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows that support for a government-run health-care plan to compete with private insurers has rebounded from its summertime lows and wins clear majority support from the public.

DeMint watches out for all of us  —  Recently your newspaper published a letter from state Rep. Bakari Sellers attacking U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint and his opposition to congressional earmarks.  —  There is a saying that the Jews who are wealthy got that way not by watching dollars …

Scozzafava Calls the Cops  —  Lowville, N.Y.  —  Tonight, Dede Scozzafava, the Republican candidate for the November 3 special election in the 23rd congressional district, spoke to about 100 Republicans at the Lewis County GOP dinner at the Elks Lodge 1605.

Maryland Scientist Charged with Attempted Espionage  —  A Maryland scientist who once worked in varying capacities for the Department of Energy, the Department of Defense and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration has been arrested for attempted espionage, David Kris …

Iran Double-Crosses Obama  —  This morning, I noted that Iran's government is telling the Iranian people that the Obama administration has consented to Iranian enrichment of uranium, thereby dismaying our European allies.  I linked to, but did not discuss in detail, a Time article that appeared today.

Financial Giants Donating Little to Obama Party  —  WASHINGTON — The Wall Street giants that received a financial lifeline from Washington may have no compunction about paying big bonuses to their dealmakers and traders.  But their willingness to deliver “thank you” gifts to President Obama …

Finance Committee bill has been filed  —  Senate Finance Committee members have been notified that the committee's health reform bill was filed today.  S. 1796 weighs in at 1,502 pages.  It's still not up yet on the Finance Committee website or Thomas.gov. We'll post a link as soon as we get one.

Losing: Helen Thomas, NYT, and The Nation Object to White House Fight With Fox News  —  Well, it's not the first time the Grande Liberal Dame of the press corps has had words for the Obama White House, but today Helen Thomas is voicing more unlikely sentiments by telling the White House attack dogs to heel in the Fox News fight.

Sen. Kerry's Colossal Error of Judgment  —  Over the weekend, Sen. John Kerry provided some covering fire for President Obama's dithering about his strategy for Afghanistan, telling CBS News that:  —  “I don't see how President Obama can make a decision about the committing of our additional forces …

Christie May Have Gotten Improper Aid  —  When news broke in August that the former United States attorney, Christopher J. Christie, had lent $46,000 to a top aide in the federal prosecutor's office, he said he was merely helping a friend in need.  He also said the aide, Michele Brown …

CNBC, Reuters fall for climate hoax  —  In a dramatic shift, the Chamber of Commerce announced Monday that it is throwing its support behind climate change legislation making its way through the U.S. Senate.  —  Only it didn't.  —  An e-mail press release announcing the change is a hoax, say Chamber officials.

Afghan Leader Said to Accept Runoff After Election Audit  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — Under heavy international pressure, President Hamid Karzai appears set to concede as early as Tuesday that he fell short of a first-round victory in the nation's disputed presidential election …

‘You Have Atomic Bombs, but We Have Suicide Bombers.’  —  A NERVOUS-LOOKING Pakistani soldier pointed a rocket-propelled grenade at our pickup truck in late January.  The Taliban guard beside me loaded his rifle and ordered me to put a scarf over  —  my face.

Rights Watchdog, Lost in the Mideast  —  AS the founder of Human Rights Watch, its active chairman for 20 years and now founding chairman emeritus, I must do something that I never anticipated: I must publicly join the group's critics.  Human Rights Watch had as its original mission …

Gates Blindsided by Rahm  —  Yesterday, in light of Rahm Emanuel's comments on delaying the decision on troops for Afghanistan, I asked: “Are Sunday talk show declarations by Emanuel and political advisor David Axelrod an appropriate way to announce the considered judgment of the president …