White House considering major tax breaks for businesses, sources say  —  With the recovery faltering less than two months before the November congressional elections, President Obama's economic team is considering another big dose of stimulus in the form of tax breaks for businesses …

Few options for Barack Obama on 9/11  —  Every year it's a challenge for the White House: how to commemorate the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.  This year is especially awkward, given the controversy around President Barack Obama's remarks in support of an Islamic cultural center …

Fewer Young Voters See Themselves as Democrats  —  FORT COLLINS, Colo. — The college vote is up for grabs this year — to an extent that would have seemed unlikely two years ago, when a generation of young people seemed to swoon over Barack Obama.  —  Enlarge This Image

AFL-CIO president to Sarah Palin: Change or be linked with McCarthyism  —  AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka charged that if Republican political star Sarah Palin is not more careful in her choice of words, the political movement she has helped to create will be linked with 1950s McCarthyism.

The Alternate History  —  The Democrats could be heading toward a defeat of historic proportions in November, but it is possible to imagine a scenario in which things might have turned out differently:  —  On Dec. 16, 2008, President-elect Barack Obama and his senior aides gathered for a briefing on the state of the U.S. economy.

Sestak backs off Israel letter  —  Bill Kristol and Gary Bauer's hawkish Emergency Committee for Israel has been attacking a series of members of Congress who were among the 54 signatories to a letter, circulated by the liberal group J Street, which pressed Israel to ease conditions in Gaza …

New evidence undermines feds' case against Arizona  —  You've heard a lot about the Justice Department's lawsuit to stop the new Arizona immigration law.  But that's just one part of the Obama administration's multi-front war on immigration enforcement in Arizona.

AP: ‘Combat in Iraq is not over, and we should not uncritically repeat suggestions that it is’  —  Sent: Thursday, September 02, 2010 5:30 PM  —  Subject: Standards Center guidance: The situation in Iraq  —  Many AP staffers are producing content that refers to the situation in Iraq.

Senate poll: Giannoulias, Kirk neck and neck  —  Cash could be deciding factor as Tribune/WGN-TV survey finds weak spots for both candidates  —  Democrat Alexi Giannoulias and Republican Mark Kirk are wounded rivals running neck and neck for the U.S. Senate seat once held by President Barack Obama, a new Tribune/WGN-TV poll shows.

The Real Story  —  Next week, President Obama is scheduled to propose new measures to boost the economy.  I hope they're bold and substantive, since the Republicans will oppose him regardless — if he came out for motherhood, the G.O.P. would declare motherhood un-American.

Meeting Mr. Palin  —  WASILLA, Alaska — The young lady at the desk of the Dorothy Page Museum and Visitor Center has blue hair — not the blue-silver of advanced age, but a punk-rock razor-cut style dyed cerulean blue.  She is friendly and helpful to out-of-towners who stop by the Main Street museum …

TRENDING: Palin's ‘impotent’ comments make rounds  —  Sarah Palin has set the blogosphere ablaze again.  —  (CNN) - Sarah Palin has managed to set the blogosphere ablaze again, this time after appearing to use sexual metaphors to slam mainstream media reporters who rely on anonymous sources.

Our distracted commander in chief  —  Many have charged that President Obama's decision to begin withdrawing from Afghanistan 10 months from now is hampering our war effort.  But now it's official.  In a stunning statement last week, Marine Corps Commandant James Conway admitted that the July 2011 date is …

McCain defends Pawlenty travel  —  Senator John McCain made a stop onto Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty's radio show this morning, going out of his way to defend what's become a local problem for Pawlenty — his national political travel.  —  “You are working hard for the people of Minnesota …

PRIVATE-SECTOR JOB GROWTH.... In the last post, we talked about the new monthly jobs report, with the chart we've all come to know and love.  But many of you have emailed to suggest it's time for a slightly different chart — one showing just the private sector job market.  —  It's a fair request.

Harry Reid Campaign: Saying ‘War is Lost’ Helped Win the War!  —  Harry Reid is a genius when it comes to military tactics — just ask him.  —  The Las Vegas Review-Journal recently questioned the Harry Reid and Sharron Angle campaigns on various issues.  —  Here's part of the Reid …