On Today's Ruling in Virginia  —  Since the enactment of health reform legislation in March, several state Attorneys General have filed lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.  Having failed in the legislative arena, opponents of reform are now turning to the courts …

Harman buys Newsweek, Meacham out  —  The Washington Post Co. has sold Newsweek to Sidney Harman, a wealthy industrialist and husband of Rep. Jane Harman (D-Calif.), and Jon Meacham will not remain as the magazine's editor, the company has confirmed.  —  The terms of the deal were not announced …

Rudy: GZ Mosque is a ‘desecration,’ ‘decent Muslims’ won't be offended  —  This went way under the radar three weeks ago, but Rudy Giuliani made what, as best as I can tell, were his first public comments about the planned mosque near Ground Zero on the Jeff Katz show on radio (someone will I'm sure correct me if I'm wrong).

WashPost TV critic smears ABC's Amanpour as possible Taliban sympathizer  —  This is really just beyond the pale.  —  Everyone knows that Post critic Tom Shales can't stand Christiane Amanpour and has what is now officially a creepy obsession with belittling her work.

Maxine Waters Second Democrat Headed for Trial On Ethics Charges  —  Things went from bad to worse for Congressional Democrats Monday when the House ethics committee officially announced that Rep. Maxine Waters, a senior California Democrat, is headed to a public trial on charges that she violated House ethics rules.

GOP Resumes Favorable Standing on Generic Ballot  —  Democratic enthusiasm for voting in midterms is the lowest seen this year  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters favor Republicans by 48% and Democrats by 43% in Gallup's generic congressional ballot for the week of July 26 through Aug. 1.

THE EMPTY CHAMBER  —  Just how broken is the Senate?  —  “Sit and watch us for seven days,” one senator says of the deadlocked chamber.  “You know what you'll see happening?  Nothing.” … KEYWORDS … “This is just one of those days when you want to throw up your hands and say, ‘What in the world are we doing?’ ”

Breitbart to get RNC invite  —  California event rescheduled, not canceled  —  The Republican National Committee will invite Andrew Breitbart to its rescheduled “big donor” fundraiser in Southern California, which had been set to feature the conservative columnist and online-media mogul …

QUOTE OF THE DAY.... Throughout July, Republican leaders were aggressive in touting their belief in the Tax Fairy — there's no need to worry about paying for tax cuts, because they magically pay for themselves.  It was a startling example of “invincible ignorance,” but from the Senate Minority Leader …

What Social Science Does—and Doesn't—Know  —  In early 2009, the United States was engaged in an intense public debate over a proposed $800 billion stimulus bill designed to boost economic activity through government borrowing and spending.  James Buchanan, Edward Prescott, Vernon Smith …

Anti-Chinese sentiment fuels extreme nationalism  —  Alarm sounds over rise of extreme groups such as Tsagaan Khass who respect Hitler and reject foreign influence  —  Their right hands rise to black-clad chests and flash out in salute to their nation: “Sieg heil!”  They praise Hitler's devotion to ethnic purity.

Arizona Sheriff: ‘Our Own Government Has Become Our Enemy’  —  (Correction: As initially posted, this story inaccurately said that Pinal County was contiguous with the Mexican border.  It is in southern Arizona, but not on the border.)  —  (CNSNews.com) - Pinal County (Ariz.) …

WikiLeaks must be stopped  —  Let's be clear: WikiLeaks is not a news organization; it is a criminal enterprise.  Its reason for existence is to obtain classified national security information and disseminate it as widely as possible — including to the United States' enemies.

Dudley, Former N.B.A. Player, Stands Out on Campaign Trail  —  PORTLAND, Ore. — Among politicians in this state, Chris Dudley stands out.  Especially when he is standing up.  —  In a visit to a rodeo in the coastal town of Tillamook, Dudley dwarfed a port commissioner who asked for greater investment in salmon hatcheries.

Defining Prosperity Down  —  I'm starting to have a sick feeling about prospects for American workers — but not, or not entirely, for the reasons you might think.  —  Yes, growth is slowing, and the odds are that unemployment will rise, not fall, in the months ahead.  That's bad.

Remarks by the President at Disabled Veterans of America Conference in Atlanta, Georgia  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you so much.  Thank you.  Thank you.  Everyone, please have a seat.  Thank you.  Thank you very much.  Thank you.  —  AUDIENCE MEMBER: Happy birthday!

Go Find Me the Peak of the Laffer Curve  —  My New Year's Plea from 2007 has been getting some attention in the recent discussions over whether cutting tax rates will raise revenue.  In this post, I'd like to follow up on the last line of that plea, which I have not seen recently quoted:

Rand Paul: Congress has no business protecting miners  —  Reform-minded lawmakers in both the House and Senate are pushing legislation to bolster the work-safety protections for miners working underground.  But don't try to convince Rand Paul.  —  The Republican running to replace outgoing Sen. Jim Bunning …

A new headache for Giannoulias?  Another Rezko loan  —  His family bank lent $22.75 million, in newly uncovered deal  —  By February 2006, businessman and political fixer Tony Rezko was already politically radioactive, caught up in a federal investigation that would see him criminally charged by the end of that year.

MSNBC Libtalker Announces Election Boycott, Rosie Stands Firm  —  I'M CONFUS-ED  —  Schultz Can't Decide Whether To Vote Ten Times Or Not At All  —  Introducing America's most confused voter: Ed Schultz.  —  Just months after advocating ballot-stuffing in order to keep Scott Brown …

Could Pot Drive Turnout In Key Elections?  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Putting the question of marijuana legalization on state ballots in 2012 may be one of the most effective ways for a dispirited Democratic Party to get reluctant voters out to the polls.

Democrats increase pressure on Senate GOP ahead of critical vote on state aid  —  Democrats sought Monday to pressure Senate Republicans ahead of an expected vote on a state aid bill.  —  Republicans who vote against the legislation, which extends aid to state governments' health and education programs …