House may try to pass Senate health-care bill without voting on it  —  After laying the groundwork for a decisive vote this week on the Senate's health-care bill, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested Monday that she might attempt to pass the measure without having members vote on it.

What Obama is Actually Trying to Do in Israel  —  There is much speculation that this kerfluffle over 1,600 theoretical apartments on the wrong side of the green line in Jerusalem will lead to a rupture in American-Israeli relations, but analysts who suggest this are missing the point of President Obama's maneuverings.

THIS IS CNN?.... If I didn't get independent confirmation of this, I honestly would have assumed the announcement was some elaborate practical joke.  Alas, it's true. … This is easily the worst decision CNN has ever made.  That the network probably reviewed Erickson's work before hiring him …

Everything David Brooks says about reconciliation is wrong  —  Jon Chait did a very funny job taking apart David Brooks's column on reconciliation.  I want to do a serious job on it.  The factual statements Brooks uses in his argument are wrong.  Not arguable, or questionable, or suspicious.

Dems Still Don't Have the CBO Score They Want  —  As Democrats have delayed releasing their final health care reconciliation bill, they've consistently tried to create the impression that they're essentially finished, but are merely waiting on the Congressional Budget Office.

Opinions Harden on Health  —  Nearly half call plan a ‘bad idea’ in latest Journal/NBC poll, but Democrats who oppose it risk alienating base  —  Democratic lawmakers may be tempted to vote against the health-care overhaul plan pending in Congress because it remains unpopular with a broad swath of the public.

DNC mocks tea party numbers  —  Tea Partiers planned to “flood the halls of Congress” to protest health care legislation, a plan that prompted Democratic leaders to instruct their members to respond with politeness and Twinkies.  —  The 10 a.m. Washignton, D.C. rally, though, wasn't quite on the scale of some earlier events.

Reid wary of earmark restrictions; defends Congress's constitutional authority  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sounded a cautious note today on banning earmarks, suggesting restrictions could limit Congress's constitutionally-mandated authority.

Barack Obama threatens to withdraw support from wavering Democrats  —  Barack Obama has said he will not campaign for any Democratic congressmen who fails to support health care reform.  —  The president will refuse to make fund-raising visits during November elections to any district whose representative has not backed the bill.

Petraeus: 'I Believe The Time Has Come To Consider A Change To Don't Ask, Don't Tell'  —  “I believe the time has come to consider a change to Don't Ask, Don't Tell,” General David Petraeus told the Armed Services Committee today, in his most direct public comments about the policy.

Court rules Tea Party can proceed with effort to recall Sen. Robert Menendez … A state appellate panel today ruled New Jersey's secretary of state must accept a petition a citizens group filed to recall U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez.  —  The court stayed its decision to allow Menendez (D-N.J.) to appeal its ruling.

US forces not flying the flag in Haiti?  —  With apologies to Cole Porter — France does it, the UK does it, and even humanitarian Croats do it.  The only one who won't do it is the country that has sent the overwhelming majority of supplies and resources to Haiti after their devastating earthquake.

Limbaugh prompts healthcare calls, ties up House phone lines  —  The congressional switchboard was nearing overload Tuesday after Rush Limbaugh asked listeners to phone in their objections on healthcare.  —  The House e-mail system was also deluged on Tuesday in what the House's technology office called …