Coast Guard: Platform on fire in Gulf; 13 workers rescued  —  [Updated at 2:14 p.m.] For continuing coverage of the incident involving a production platform on fire in the Gulf read the full story here.  —  [Updated at 2:08 p.m.] U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer Elizabeth Bordelon tells CNN …

Dept. of stage fright  —  Arizona Governor Jan Brewer's opening statement in last night's debate reflects either an amazing lack of preparation, or sheer panic.  —  (The video caption isn't mine.)

Economist Christina Romer serves up dismal news at her farewell luncheon  —  Lunch at the National Press Club on Wednesday caused some serious indigestion.  —  It wasn't the food; it was the entertainment.  Christina Romer, chairman of President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers …

Sixty Days to Go  —  The Crystal Ball's Labor Day Predictions  —  Larry J. Sabato, Director, U.Va. Center for Politics  —  For decades I've advised students to let the facts speak for themselves, while avoiding the indulgence of shouting at the facts.  In other words, we should take in …

Dodge Charger owner upset vehicle crushed by suicidal fall  —  Tweet  —  Her car was crushed — and so is she.  —  A New Jersey woman is devastated that her precious sports car — just repaired and fully gassed up — was wrecked by a suicidal man's 40-story attempted death leap on the Upper West Side.

Democrats unlikely to repeal tax cuts for the rich  —  WASHINGTON — Democrats in Congress are poised to play a leading role this month in thwarting their party's effort to raise income tax rates on the wealthy.  —  Tax cuts enacted in 2001 and 2003 expire at the end of this year.

Warren fuels speculation by dropping class  —  When fall classes began Wednesday at Harvard Law School, Elizabeth Warren was scheduled to be teaching contract law to first-year students.  But something happened on the way to the chalkboard.  —  “I'm writing to let you know that Professor Jerry Frug …

Deval Patrick on Beck rally: “It's a free country.  I wish it weren't.”  —  And you thought that a libtalker declaring a public space too sacred for God would be the dumbest quote from the Left on the Restoring Honor rally hosted by Glenn Beck.  Michael Graham from Boston's WTKK posts a clip …

Dan Gaffney Audio: Christine O'Donnell for Senate Interview  —  With just days left before her primary election day challenge against Mike Castle (R) here is the complete interview with Christine O'Donnell (R) from today's Dan Gaffney Show.  —  2 Responses  —  O'Donnell Can't Take the Spotlight : Delaware Liberal says:

How Barack Obama Became Mr. Unpopular  —  The Barack Obama that most Hoosiers remember voting for can still be found on YouTube.  He stands before a cheering Elkhart high school gymnasium in August 2008, tireless, aspirational, promising a new America of jobs and hope.

It's Important To Be Right  —  I previously expressed hope that Markos Moulitsas' American Taliban: How War, Sex, Sin, and Power Bind Jihadists and the Radical Right would be better than the publicity material suggested.  Jamelle Bouie read it for The American Prospect and reports back that it isn't.

Rupert Murdoch's War On The New York Times  —  “I read the Journal a little less now.  I find that I can skim it in a way I couldn't before.  If the Journal is gaining market share I'd guess it is more at the expense of USA Today than the Times,” New York Times executive editor Bill Keller tells Vanity Fair writer Sarah Ellison.

FTC Subpoenas 48 Food Companies Regarding Marketing to Kids  —  Follow-up to 2008 Report Unlikely to Lead to More Regulation  —  NEW YORK (AdAge.com) — The Federal Trade Commission is once again handing out subpoenas to companies that market food to children and teens.

McConnell says he's locked up the votes to remain GOP leader  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday he's confident he will remain in that position when new senators head to Washington next year.  —  McConnell, who's served as Senate GOP leader since early 2007 …

A Dream House After All  —  IF you read the coverage of the latest figures on the sales of existing homes from the National Association of Realtors, you may well have come to the conclusion that the American dream is dead.  It is indeed worrisome that sales in July were down 25 percent from a year ago.

Poll: Republican Robert Hurt continues to show commanding lead in 5th District  —  Compared to an identical survey six weeks ago, Hurt has increased his lead over Democratic incumbent Tom Perriello by three points.  — News7 SurveyUSA poll results  —  A new poll in the 5th District …

Barbara Boxer and Carly Fiorina battle hard in first Senate debate  —  Candidates discuss hot topics from the economy to climate change to abortion.  Boxer gives scathing critiques of Fiorina's record as Hewlett-Packard CEO and Fiorina calls Boxer ‘bitterly partisan.’

GOP Rep. Cao: ‘I love the president’  —  Rep. Joseph Cao (R-La.) said he loves President Obama on a personal level, and believes that the president likes him very much, too.  —  Cao, a Republican elected in 2008 in a heavily Democratic district in New Orleans, said that he gets along …