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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Miss. school reverses race-based rules for student elections  —  Under former policy, blacks could not be class president  —  A page from the original memo sent home with children.  —  NBC News and msnbc.com  —  updated less than 1 minute ago  —  The school board in Nettleton, Miss. …

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. …

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.

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.

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 …

Crist stumbles on health care question  —  Charlie Crist misspoke when answering a health care question, his campaign says.  —  (CNN) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist said Friday he “misspoke” when he told a television interviewer that he would have voted for President Obama's health care reform package.

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 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 …

Snapshot of economy about to get a lot bleaker  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - The government is about to confirm what many people have felt for some time: The economy barely has a pulse.  —  The Commerce Department on Friday will revise its estimate for economic growth in the April-to-June period …

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 …

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.

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.

Polling on the Spill  —  The oil spill in the Gulf may be mostly out of the headlines now but Louisiana voters aren't getting any less mad at Barack Obama about his handling of it.  Only 32% give Obama good marks for his actions in the aftermath of the spill, while 61% disapprove.

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.

Blagojevich holdout explains vote  —  Battling stomach pains and fatigue, JoAnn Chiakulas would take the train into the city each morning knowing that her resolve was disappointing some people and infuriating others.  —  But the 67-year-old grandmother said she also knew that as a juror …

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' …