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 …

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.

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 …

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. …

Tea Party Spells KKK, Rights Leader Says  —  Black Leaders Outraged Over ‘Restoring Honor’ Rally  —  A civil rights activist and former congressman equated the Tea Party with the Ku Klux Klan today as he blasted a conservative rally planned in Washington, D.C., this weekend.

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.

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.

Among Democrats, economic pressures are changing tax-cut dynamics  —  With the economy rapidly weakening, some senior Democrats are having second thoughts about raising taxes on the nation's wealthiest families and are pressing party leaders to consider extending the full array …

Levi Johnston takes back his apology to Palin … ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — Levi Johnston, the father of Sarah Palin's grandson, says he wishes he hadn't apologized for telling lies about the former Alaska governor because he's “never lied about anything.”  —  Johnston said in an interview on CBS' …

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.

Opponents of same-sex marriage target Iowa judges  —  DES MOINES - Politics is as much a mainstay of the Iowa State Fair as the deep-fried food and the cows sculpted out of butter.  But the crowds searching for a remote corner under the grandstand this week were not headed for one of the presidential hopefuls who routinely drop by.

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 …

Union Brothers and Sisters, Join Our Commonsense Cause!  —  Two years ago almost to the day, I was thrilled to meet with union members at the Alaska AFL-CIO Convention in Anchorage to sign important job-creation legislation related to the Alaska Gasline Inducement Act.

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).

Want to be class president?  Not if you're black, in one Miss. school  —  Mother moves her family after learning about segregation in class elections  —  If you're black and a student at one public middle school in Mississippi, you can't run for president - only whites need apply.