Dem group launches ‘F*ck Tea’ campaign  —  Last summer, Democrats argued that the Tea Party movement was the astroturf creation of corporate groups.  Now that the grassroots conservative resurgence has emerged as a clear force on the right, the left is making a different case: That tea parties are simply the enemy.

GOP plan to extend tax cuts for rich adds $36 billion to deficit, panel finds  —  A Republican plan to extend tax cuts for the rich would add more than $36 billion to the federal deficit next year — and transfer the bulk of that cash into the pockets of the nation's millionaires …

But It's Awesome Broccoli for the Rich!  —  Matt Bai writes about the Paul Ryan's budget plan ... without writing about Paul Ryan's budget plan: … Unless, of course, you're wealthy, because the plan cuts upper-income tax brackets by 10 percent, so that “households with incomes …

The vulgarity of liberal female “comedians”  —  Left-wing female comedians are proving that they can be as crude and stupid as their male counterparts.  Who knew that striving for gender equality meant pursuing the dream that one day, someday, liberal women would be able to mock …

Congressman Rangel's Party a Display of Defiance  —  It was a dramatic but fitting start to an evening that brimmed with political defiance.  About 5:45 p.m. Wednesday, as guests began strolling into the Plaza Hotel to celebrate Representative Charles B. Rangel's 80th birthday …

Opinion on Same-Sex Marriage Appears to Shift at Accelerated Pace  —  In April, 2009, when we last took a survey of gay marriage polls, we found that support for it had converged somewhere into the area of 41 or 42 percent of the country.  Now, it appears to have risen by several points …

‘Ground Zero Mosque’ Imam Was A Bush-Era Partner For Mideast Peace  —  Tuesday, Reps. Peter King (R-NY) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) called Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf — best known for his work with multicultural Cordoba Initiative to build a mosque and community center in Lower Manhattan …

The stunning decline of Barack Obama: 10 key reasons why the Obama presidency is in meltdown  —  The last few weeks have been a nightmare for President Obama, in a summer of discontent in the United States which has deeply unsettled the ruling liberal elites, so much so that even the Left has begun to turn against the White House.

Bill McCollum unveils controversial immigration reform plan  —  GOP front-runner Rick Scott says his rival can't be trusted to be tough on immigration issues after Bill McCollum proposed a law that goes beyond Arizona's controversial measure.  —  Florida Attorney General …

George W. Bush makes surprise visit to U.S. troops  —  Former President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura, made a surprise visit to U.S. troops this afternoon.  —  They showed up at the USO in the Dallas-Fort Worth airport.  There they mingled with the returning soldiers, thanked them …

Six essential questions about the deficit, Wall Street and Washington  —  Fiscal expert Stan Collender points out that the bond market is not demanding deficit reduction — in fact, quite the opposite.  So where is the Washington establishment's obsession with the deficit coming from?

Say Goodbye to Fannie and Freddie  —  THE Federal National Mortgage Association — known as Fannie Mae — and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation — Freddie Mac — were poorly structured from the time, 40 years ago, when they were set up as so-called government-sponsored enterprises.

Housing crisis reaches full boil in East Point; 62 injured  —  Thirty thousand people turned out in East Point on Wednesday seeking applications for government-subsidized housing, and their confusion and frustration, combined with the summer heat, led to a chaotic mob scene that left 62 people injured.

Iraq army ‘not ready’ until 2020  —  Iraq's most senior military officer has said that his security forces will not be able to secure the country until 2020 and that the US should delay its planned withdrawal.  —  The US government plans to withdraw its combat troops by the end of August, and to remove all troops by the end of 2011.

The First Wave of Weary Aides Heads for the Exits  —  WASHINGTON — Linda Douglass slept nearly 12 hours the day after she left her job as a communications aide at the White House.  And the day after that and the day after that.  It took two weeks until she finally felt rested.

Take Back the Sports Page?  —  The political wing of the women's sports movement is in trouble.  These activists are accustomed to challenging timid bureaucrats and university administrators.  But in taking on TV sports coverage, they are challenging the market itself.

CBS 5 Poll: Fiorina Widens Lead Over Boxer  —  Dead Heats In Governor, Lt. Governor Races; Marijuana Prop.  16 Passing  —  SAN FRANCISCO (CBS 5) ― California Republican U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina has increased her lead over Democratic incumbent Barbara Boxer …

Borrowers Refuse to Pay Billions in Home Equity Loans  —  PHOENIX — During the great housing boom, homeowners nationwide borrowed a trillion dollars from banks, using the soaring value of their houses as security.  Now the money has been spent and struggling borrowers are unable or unwilling to pay it back.

Civil Unrest: The Death of Decorum in Washington?  —  Has Civility Reached an Historic Low in Congress?  —  There was an extraordinary moment during the final senate debate on Elena Kagan's Supreme Court confirmation.  While Senator Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) delivered remarks, Senator Al Franken …

Netanyahu, the anti-Obama  —  Two photographs adorn the office of Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu.  Together they illuminate a portentous fact: No two leaders of democracies are less alike — in life experiences, temperaments and political philosophies — than Netanyahu …

Will its offbeat candidates hurt GOP?  —  A former professional wrestling executive, a libertarian ophthalmologist and a man who thinks bicycle use could empower the United Nations filed to run in elections.  That's not the start of a joke: that's a sampling of the deeply unusual pool of candidates running …

Durbin has tumor removed; aide says no cancer found  —  U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin underwent surgery today at the University of Chicago Medical Center to have a small mass removed from his stomach, aides said.  —  His office initially said the tumor was a rare form of stomach cancer.

New claims for unemployment aid reach 484K  —  New applications for jobless benefits rise to highest since February as layoffs continue  —  Companies:  —  Related Quotes  —  SymbolPriceChange  —  CFN  —  22.70  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The employment picture is looking bleaker …