“Middle Class” Tax Cuts  —  I know I saw this on some of the other wonky progressive blogs last week (or maybe the week before) but it didn't really hit home until I saw it again.  The point is that when we talk about a distinction between the “Bush tax cuts for the rich” and the …

Terry Jones Accused of ‘Spiritual Abuse’ at Cologne Church  —  US fundamentalist pastor Terry Jones, who wants to burn copies of the Koran on Sept. 11, ran a church in the western German city of Cologne until last year when members of the congregation expelled him.

Time for Emergency Economic Reform  —  How about a payroll tax holiday, funded by a federal spending, hiring and pay freeze?  —  Ronald Reagan enjoyed telling of the elderly Blitz victim rescued from her demolished London flat in World War II.  A fireman found a bottle of brandy under …

Right Wing Leaders Plan To Use September 11th Anniversary To Make Money  —  Last year, Glenn Beck and a variety of right-wing organizations and corporate front groups exploited the anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks to stage a protest of President Obama.

CNN/Time Poll: Heated battle for Florida Senate  —  Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek are part of a close three way race for Senate in Florida.  —  (CNN) - A new poll indicates that the three way-battle for Florida's open Senate seat, arguably the most fascinating Senate contest this year, is deadlocked at the top.

Health Insurers Plan Hikes  —  Rate Increases Are Blamed on Health-Care Overhaul; White House Questions Logic  —  Health insurers say they plan to raise premiums for some Americans as a direct result of the health overhaul in coming weeks, complicating Democrats' efforts to trumpet …

This Is Where We Begin to Say No  —  On the Ground Zero mosque, Americans reject the opinion elites that empower the Islamists.  —  A tectonic shift is in motion: How fitting that its focal point is Ground Zero, the inevitable fault line between Islam and the West.

Barbara Boxer aide charged with possession of pot  —  A senior aide for Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was arrested Tuesday for attempting to bring marijuana into the Hart Senate Office Building, according to U.S. Capitol Police reports.  —  Marcus Stanley, who served as a senior economic adviser …

Paul campaign: Online impersonator was impersonated  —  I posted yesterday that DailyKos appeared to have caught a Rand Paul staffer pretending, in the comments, to be a progressive with doubts about Jack Conway.  Paul aide Gary Howard, however, tells me — and has evidence to back it up …

GOP House Candidate On Civil Rights: ‘We Need To Get Our Federal Government Out Of The Way’  —  Fireworks occurred during a town hall in Canton, OH, last night when Rep. John Boccieri (D-OH) unexpectedly showed up at his Republican opponent's public event.  Challenger Jim Renacci …

Why aren't politicians speaking out against the would-be Quran-burner who's endangering our troops? … Like This Story Follow Slate's Politics … - Dickerson: Democrats Finally Get the Feisty, Fired-Up Obama They Want- The Flirty Repartee of the New Parker Spitzer Rom-Com- You're Not Responsible for Quran Burners.

Light bulb factory closes; End of era for U.S. means more jobs overseas  —  WINCHESTER, VA. - The last major GE factory making ordinary incandescent light bulbs in the United States is closing this month, marking a small, sad exit for a product and company that can trace their roots to Thomas Alva Edison's innovations in the 1870s.

Long Island Man Arrested For Defending Home With AK-47  —  Says Many Gang Members Were Coming After His Family  —  UNIONDALE, N.Y. (CBS 2) — He was arrested for protecting his property and family.  —  But it's how the Long Island man did it that police say crossed the line.

CNN/Time Poll: All tied up in California races  —  It's neck and neck in California's Senate and gubernatorial battles, according to a new poll.  —  (CNN) - It's too close to call in California's Senate and gubernatorial battles, according to a new poll.  —  A CNN/Time/Opinion Research …

Fidel: 'Cuban Model Doesn't Even Work For Us Anymore'  —  There were many odd things about my recent Havana stopover (apart from the dolphin show, which I'll get to shortly), but one of the most unusual was Fidel Castro's level of self-reflection.  I only have limited experience with Communist autocrats …

Obama may look inside for Rahm job  —  Amid mounting signs that Rahm Emanuel will leave the White House to run for mayor in Chicago, Democratic insiders say President Barack Obama is likely to choose a new chief of staff who's already in his orbit but has experience with previous administrations.

Court Sides With C.I.A. on Seizure of Terror Suspects  —  WASHINGTON - A sharply divided federal appeals court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit involving the Central Intelligence Agency's practice of seizing terrorism suspects and transferring them to other countries for imprisonment and interrogation.

Obama For Mayor!  —  He knows Chicago's neighborhoods.  He built a diverse coalition in a city sorely in need of new leadership.  Maybe Barack Obama is in the wrong job.  —  Richard Daley's decision to retire as mayor of Chicago at the end of his term has thrown the city into a minor panic.

Andy Griffith throws away 50 years of good faith in 30 seconds  —  Recently, HHS recruited none other than Andy Griffith to shill for Obamacare:  —  That's right, folks, just forget everything you know and trust ol' Sheriff Andy.  Would Opie's pa lie to ya?  'Course he wouldn't.

Merkel to honor Mohammed cartoonist at press award  —  (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel risked angering Muslims by speaking at an awards ceremony on Wednesday for a Dane whose cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed provoked sometimes violent protests by Muslims five years ago.