FULL AUDIO: Dr. Laura Schlessinger's N-word rant  —  On August 10, Dr. Laura Schlessinger launched into a racially charged rant, during which Schlessinger — in her own words — “articulated the ‘n’ word all the way out — more than one time.”  Among other things, Schlessinger also told …

U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN: Angle, Reid race still tight  —  More voters picking sides as senator's clout comes into play  —  Locked in a dead heat, both U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and Sharron Angle picked up support in the past two weeks, according to a poll for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and 8NewsNow …

Sacrilege at Ground Zero  —  A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).

Disappointed, down, despondent  —  And not about to rush to the polls in November, either  —  WHY, asks a Democrat leading a training session for fellow activists, doesn't “Yes we can” work as a slogan any more?  “Because we haven't,” a jaded participant responds.

Legislator resigns after ‘dead Palin’ comment  —  State Rep. Timothy Horrigan made the remarks Wednesday night in a thread discussing the Alaska plane crash that killed former Sen. Ted Stevens.  —  “Well a dead Palin wd be even more dangerous than a live one...she is all about her myth …

Defense chief Gates orders review of Marines' role  —  Acknowledging concerns among current and former Marines that the Corps has evolved into another ground combat force, the Defense secretary aims to define the service's future path.  —  Reporting from San Francisco …

‘Professional left’ not ready to back an Obama primary challenger in '12  —  As angry as they might be, the professional left isn't ready to back a primary challenger to President Obama just yet.  —  Two high-profile liberals on Thursday said they are not interested in running against the president in 2012 …

Op-Ed Columnist: Paralysis at the Federal Reserve  —  Ten years ago, one of America's leading economists delivered a stinging critique of the Bank of Japan, Japan's equivalent of the Federal Reserve, titled “Japanese Monetary Policy: A Case of Self-Induced Paralysis?”

Elizabeth Warren, likely to head new consumer agency, provokes strong feelings  —  Somewhere along the line, Elizabeth Warren became a symbol.  —  She's either the plain-spoken, supremely smart crusader for middle-class families that her supporters adore, or she's the power-hungry headline seeker …

OUR DAUGHTER ISN'T A SELFISH BRAT; YOUR SON JUST HASN'T READ  —  ATLAS SHRUGGED.  —  I'd like to start by saying that I don't get into belligerent shouting matches at the playground very often.  The Tot Lot, by its very nature, can be an extremely volatile place—a veritable powder keg …

Fun With Paul Ryan and the Washington Post  —  The Washington Post really really hates Social Security.  They hate Medicare almost as much.  Therefore they are willing to give its critics space to say almost anything against the program (the real cause of September 11th) …

Are We At War With All Of Islam?  Right Wingers Think So  —  Nearly every oath of service in this nation includes the phrase “Defend and protect the Constitution of the United States of America” in some form or the other.  Not having a King we needed an object of loyalty, something bigger than the individual to focus our loyalty on.

Democratic Seats Vulnerable on Jobs  —  ALBION, Mich.—Michelle Rena Jones cheered when candidates Barack Obama and Joe Biden visited south-central Michigan in 2008.  She supported Mr. Obama that November along with a slate of Democrats, including Mark Schauer in the 7th congressional district.

The Anti-Obama Democrats  —  Democrats in deep-red states who voted against health reform and higher spending may yet survive the midterm.  —  It's 81 days to the election.  Expect many of them to be filled with the explanations Democrats are now serving up as to why Nov. 2 is likely to be a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day.

San Francisco proposal would limit toys in kids' meals  —  A serious move is afoot to force fast-food giants to make kids meals more nutritionally viable if they want to sell them with kid-luring toys.  —  In San Francisco, newly proposed legislation would ban toys from most kids meals sold at McDonald's …

Lessig On Obama  —  Very nicely put: … I am crestfallen over two profound issues: civil rights and accountability for war crimes.  Maybe in the long run, it will come out all right.  And I understand the necessity of pragmatism and the awful legacy this president inherited.

WikiLeaks preparing to release more Afghan files  —  LONDON — WikiLeaks spokesman Julian Assange said Thursday his organization is preparing to release the rest of the secret Afghan war documents it has on file.  The Pentagon warned that would be more damaging to security and risk more lives …

The “Neutral Story Line” and How The Media Uses It To Justify Its Perpetual Game of “Guess That Party!”  —  Several months ago I wrote one of my better-received pieces.  If you've read that you can skim and get to the new stuff; if not, I think (IMHO) it's worth reading.  Excerpts below:

Rare Sharing of Data Leads to Progress on Alzheimer's  —  In 2003, a group of scientists and executives from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, the drug and medical-imaging industries, universities and nonprofit groups joined in a project that experts say had no precedent …

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 …

Can Ken Buck buck the system?  —  Ken Buck is congratulated by a supporter after winning the Republican Senate nomination.  AP  —  DENVER — Among political candidates, there has always been a familiar type: the white-hot ambitious prosecutor with an Ivy League degree …

Turkey Accused of Using Chemical Weapons against PKK  —  German experts have confirmed the authenticity of photographs that purport to show PKK fighters killed by chemical weapons.  The evidence puts increasing pressure on the Turkish government, which has long been suspected of using such weapons against Kurdish rebels.

Brief Post on Immigration  —  The Pew Research Center has a new report on the children of unauthorized immigrants: … I've noticed that defenders of the birthright citizenship status quo are emphasizing that unauthorized immigrants can't immediately obtain citizenship by virtue of giving birth …