U.S. SENATE RACE: Poll: Voters wish for other choices  —  Angle's backers indicate preference for another Republican  —  Nevadans would like a do-over.  —  Two-thirds of voters who say they back Sharron Angle wish another Republican had won the nomination, according to a poll …

Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler  —  TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie fired state education commissioner Bret Schundler this morning after Schundler refused to resign in the wake of the controversy over the state's loss of up to $400 million in federal school funding, two officials briefed on the situation said.

Miller says he is concerned Murkowski will ‘pull an Al Franken’  —  Joe Miller, the Republican candidate who is poised to knock off Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) in a primary contest, said Thursday he is concerned she will launch a protracted legal battle to save her seat.

Miss. school drops race-based rules for student elections  —  Under former district policy, some class positions rotated by race each year  —  A page from the original memo sent home with children.  —  Following an uproar over a policy it said was designed 30 years ago to achieve racial equality …

Crist says he ‘misspoke’ on healthcare  —  Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (I) is walking back comments he made in an interview earlier today about the recently enacted healthcare law.  —  Crist is mounting an independent bid for Senate against Republican Marco Rubio and Democratic Rep. Kendrick Meek.

Muslims Give Obama Highest Job Approval; Mormons, Lowest  —  Jews and those with no religious affiliation also give Obama above-average ratings  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Muslim Americans continue to give President Barack Obama the highest job approval rating of any major religious group in the U.S. …

Administration halts prosecution of alleged USS Cole bomber  —  The Obama administration has shelved the planned prosecution of Abd al-Rahim al-Nashiri, the alleged coordinator of the Oct. 2000 suicide attack on the USS Cole in Yemen, according to a court filing.

Nicole John, daughter of US ambassador to Thailand Eric John, dies after falling at high-rise party  —  Nicole John (far left) fell 25 floors to her death Friday morning at the Herald Towers in midtown Manhattan.  John is the daughter of U.S. ambassador to Thailand, Eric John (below).

The last refuge of a liberal  —  Liberalism under siege is an ugly sight indeed.  Just yesterday it was all hope and change and returning power to the people.  But the people have proved so disappointing.  Their recalcitrance has, in only 19 months, turned the predicted 40-year liberal ascendancy (James Carville) into a full retreat.

This Is Not a Recovery  —  What will Ben Bernanke, the Fed chairman, say in his big speech Friday in Jackson Hole, Wyo.?  Will he hint at new steps to boost the economy?  Stay tuned.  —  But we can safely predict what he and other officials will say about where we are right now …

Conservative Group Accused of Abusing Tax Status  —  WASHINGTON — Democrats are charging that political commercials financed by an increasingly prominent conservative foundation with ties to the Tea Party violate the foundation's tax-exempt status by crossing the line into political campaigning.

The Parent Model  —  During the first half of this year, German and American political leaders engaged in an epic debate.  American leaders argued that the economic crisis was so bad, governments should borrow billions to stimulate growth.  German leaders argued that a little short-term stimulus …

La Russa, Pujols will appear at Washington rally  —  WASHINGTON  • Cardinals first baseman and three-time NL Most Valuable Player Albert Pujols will be among several honorees at a highly publicized and potentially politically charged Saturday morning rally expected to draw more than 20,000 to The Mall.

The Economic Outlook and Monetary Policy  —  The annual meeting at Jackson Hole always provides a valuable opportunity to reflect on the economic and financial developments of the preceding year, and recently we have had a great deal on which to reflect.  A year ago, in my remarks to this conference …

Ground Zero Muslim center may get public financing  —  (Reuters) - The Muslim center planned near the site of the World Trade Center attack could qualify for tax-free financing, a spokesman for City Comptroller John Liu said on Friday, and Liu is willing to consider approving the public subsidy.

DCCC threatens to cut off funding  —  Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Chris Van Hollen sent a cold-blooded message Friday to under-performing party candidates: Get your act together, or you're on your own.  —  Facing a perilous political environment that has left …

GOP plans wave of White House probes  —  If President Barack Obama needed any more incentive to go all out for Democrats this fall, here it is: Republicans are planning a wave of committee investigations targeting the White House and Democratic allies if they win back the majority.

Obama, Democrats got 88 percent of 2008 contributions by TV network execs, writers, reporters  —  Senior executives, on-air personalities, producers, reporters, editors, writers and other self-identifying employees of ABC, CBS and NBC contributed more than $1 million to Democratic candidates …

TODAY'S PAPER |  LAST 7 DAYS |  ARCHIVE |  SUBSCRIPTIONS |  E-PAPER |  TIME OUT |  OUR PHOTOS |  YOUR PHOTOS |  VIDEO |  FORUMS |  BLOGS |  MARKETPLACE MINER  —  The resisting-arrest conviction last week of Felicia Gibson has left a lot of people wondering.

Extend and Pretend about to Bite the Banksters in the Butt  —  I would be laughing my ass off at this if I weren't about to put my home on the market for what the house next door sold as a foreclosure several years ago.  (h/t CR) … Extend and pretend always assumed that at some point things would start turning around.

Federal Circuit Rules No Link between Autism and Vaccine  —  “We are obviously extremely disappointed.  Michelle has a very strong case.  The facts in her medical records speak for themselves.  Our lawyers are currently reviewing the decision to see what legal options are available.”

White House plans new housing push  —  Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan revealed to CNN Friday that the Obama administration plans next week to unveil two new initiatives to deal with the crumbling housing market.  —  Washington (CNN) - Housing and Urban Development …