The Democrats' New Normal  —  I don't usually like to comment on individual polls.  Most of the time, when a poll produces an “unusual” result, it simply reflects random noise and the best advice is to wait for the next edition of the poll to come along, when more often than not it will revert to its previous position.

Education secretary urged his employees to attend Sharpton's rally  —  President Obama's top education official urged government employees to attend a rally that the Rev. Al Sharpton organized to counter a larger conservative event on the Mall.  —  “ED staff are invited to join Secretary Arne Duncan …

Boehner Assails Obama on Iraq  —  In advance of President Obama's Tuesday night speech on Iraq, Representative John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House Republican leader, was set to remind thousands of veterans attending the national convention of the American Legion that Mr. Obama and other Democrats …

Miller sees prospect of bad blood with fellow Republicans  —  Miller says he sees the prospect of bad blood with fellow Republicans.  —  Anchorage, Alaska (CNN) - As Republican Joe Miller eyes what could be a major victory in the Alaska Senate GOP primary, the upstart candidate believes it's possible …

ABC NEWS EXCLUSIVE: Two Men on United Flight from Chicago Arrested on ‘Preparation of a Terrorist Attack’ in Amsterdam  —  Suspects Had Been Cleared Sunday by TSA in Chicago, Birmingham Despite Security Concerns  —  Two men taken off a Chicago-to-Amsterdam United Airlines flight in the Netherlands …

Lomborg wants $100bn climate fund  —  Exclusive ‘Sceptical environmentalist’ and critic of climate scientists to declare global warming a chief concern facing world  —  • Climate change voice who changed his tune  —  • Rajendra Pachauri under pressure to stand aside

HATCH GETS IT RIGHT ON RELIGIOUS LIBERTY.... If anyone should be sympathetic to the problems facing Muslim Americans right now, it should be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  After all, in many respects, Mormons have endured similar difficulties for many years …

Palin's Speaking Demands Confirmed: $75K, SUVs, Deluxe Hotel Suites, Bendable Straws, And No Public Access  —  In April, two students at Cal State Stanislaus found a partial copy of a speaker's contract for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.  The partial copy revealed that Palin …

CBO: Eight Years of Iraq War Cost Less Than Stimulus Act  —  As President Obama prepares to tie a bow on U.S. combat operations in Iraq, Congressional Budget Office numbers show that the total cost of the eight-year war was less than the stimulus bill passed by the Democratic-led Congress in 2009.

EXCERPT: Meghan McCain's ‘Dirty Sexy Politics’  —  Sen. John McCain's Daughter Writes About Life on the Campaign Trail and in the Republican Party  —  “Dirty Sexy Politics,” written by Meghan McCain, daughter of former Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona …

Updated: Judge sides with UVa in climate case, dismissing Cuccinelli demands  —  An Albemarle County judge has dismissed Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's demand that the University of Virginia turn over documents related to the research of a prominent climate change expert.

Wealthy lawmakers increased their riches as economy sputtered in '09  —  The wealthiest members of Congress grew richer in 2009 even as the economy struggled to recover from a deep recession.  —  The 50 wealthiest lawmakers were worth almost $1.4 billion in 2009, about $85.1 million …