THE TALKS THAT MAY SAVE HEALTH CARE REFORM.... Over the last few days, it's become increasingly evident that congressional Democrats aren't sure how, when, or whether to move forward on health care reform.  There is an obvious course that would deliver an extraordinary victory …

Right-Wing Flame War!  —  Charles Johnson has been writing a blog for almost as long as the word “blog” has existed.  A bearish, gentle-voiced, ponytailed man who for three decades enjoyed a successful career as a jazz guitarist accompanying the likes of Al Jarreau and Stanley Clarke …

Campaign Finance Case Calls 24 States' Laws Into Question  —  In Wisconsin, conservative and pro-business groups said Friday that they were considering a lawsuit to block a proposed law that would ban corporate spending during political campaigns.  —  In Kentucky and Colorado …

J.D. Hayworth says he'll run against John McCain  —  Former Arizona Congressman J.D. Hayworth says he is planning to run against John McCain for his U.S. Senate seat.  —  Hayworth, a Republican, told The Associated Press late Friday he stepped down as host of his radio program on KFYI-AM, a conservative radio talk show in Phoenix.

Obama's Train Wreck of a Town Hall in Ohio — By: Jim Geraghty  —  Earlier this week, during a radio interview, I had said that Obama's appearance for Martha Coakley on Sunday was the least effective stump appearances I had seen from a president.  A lot of factors contributed to that …

Et Tu, Fox News Channel?  —  It's a horrible, unspeakable tragedy that gets you right in the core of your humanity.  The poorest country in the Western Hemisphere is flattened by a huge earthquake.  Hundreds of thousands killed, thousands of children orphaned, more than 1.5 million now homeless.

Ayla Brown acknowledges it: She voted for Kerry  —  (NECN: Boston) - Her father is the talk of Washington Republicans, but Ayla Brown says she has an independent streak - and a voting record to prove it.  In an interview with Beth Shelburne of New England Cable News Friday, Ayla Brown …

Video: GE/MSNBC political commentator pretty upset about political influence of corporations  —  Irresistible as a follow-up to Stewart's takedown, which I took to be a green light from one of the left's arbiters of cool that it's officially okay not to like this grandstanding bottom-feeder anymore.

SEIU Chief: If Dems Pass Scaled-Down Health Bill, Labor Will Have Trouble Staying “Focused On National Politics”  —  SEIU chief Andy Stern took a hard shot at Dem leaders just now for considering a scaled-down health care bill, strongly hinting that labor might not work as hard for Dem candidates …

Alert: Female Suicide Bombers May Be Heading Here From Yemen  —  U.S. Agents Told Women Believed Connected to Al Qaeda May Have Western Appearance and Passports  —  American law enforcement officials have been told to be on the lookout for female suicide bombers who may attempt to enter the United States …

UK terror threat level ‘severe’  —  The UK terror threat level is being raised from “substantial” to “severe”, the Home Office has said.  —  The new alert level means a terrorist attack is considered “highly likely”.  It had stood at substantial since July.