President Obama to Pastor Jones: ‘Stunt’ Endangers Troops - Full Transcript of Exclusive Interview  —  I covered a lot of ground with the president in Cleveland yesterday: His decision to make John Boehner the midterm punching bag.  Will he veto a sanction of Bush tax cuts for the wealthy?

Opposition to ‘mosque’ directly linked to anti-Islam sentiment, poll shows  —  We now have clear evidence that there's a direct link between public anti-Islam sentiment and public opposition to the construction of Cordoba House, a.k.a. the “Ground Zero mosque.”

Health Outlays Still Seen Rising  —  The health-care overhaul enacted last spring won't significantly change national health spending over the next decade compared with projections before the law was passed, according to government figures set to be released Thursday.

Murkowski Likely to Lose Leadership Spot if Campaign Continues  —  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) will likely be forced out of her party leadership position should she decide to launch a write-in or third-party candidacy, a Senate Republican said Wednesday.  —  Murkowski, who conceded …

(2 of 2)  —  The Rev. Steve Freeman of Grace Baptist Church in Springfield said he disagrees with the teachings of Islam.  But since Muslims revere the Quran, he said, Christians should respect it.  —  Freeman said Jesus taught his followers to love their neighbors and enemies.

Whatever Happened to Obama's Army?  —  What happened to Barack Obama's once vaunted political machine?  The outfit that put upwards of 8 million volunteers on the street in 2008 — known as Organizing for America — is a ghost of its former self.  Its staff has shrunk from 6,000 to 300 …

Marco Rubio Holds Double-Digit Lead in Senate Race  —  GOP candidate even beats Crist among independent voters, poll finds  —  Republican Marco Rubio, garnering surprising strength among independent voters, holds a double-digit lead over his two chief rivals in Florida's U.S. Senate race, a new Sunshine State News Poll reports.

Biden: Bush deserves ‘a lot of credit’  —  Vice President Joe Biden on Wednesday night said that former President George W. Bush deserves ‘a lot of credit’ for his handling of the initial Iraq war drawdown.  —  Speaking to Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert, who conducted a rare …

Super PACs Flourish to Influence U.S. Vote After Companies Freed to Give  —  At least 25 “super PACS,” including one linked to Karl Rove, are fueling a surge in money for this year's elections following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down limits on corporate campaign spending.

NOT MUCH OF A ‘COMPROMISE’.... Our discourse can be awfully frustrating sometimes. … Boehner's Senate counterpart is offering a similar pitch. … So, let's be clear about what kind of “compromise” is on the table.  Going into the dispute, Republicans want to keep all the Bush-era tax rates for everyone …

Emanuel moves event for Rep. Halvorson, prompting speculation  —  Illinois Rep. Debbie Halvorson (D) was planning to get some fundraising help from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel on Sunday.  But the event has been rescheduled amid growing speculation Emanuel is planning to run for mayor of Chicago.

Obama wins the right to invoke “State Secrets” to protect Bush crimes  —  (updated below - Update II)  —  In a 6-5 ruling issued this afternoon, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals handed the Obama administration a major victory in its efforts to shield Bush crimes from judicial review …

Christine O'Donnell, running for U.S. Senate in Delaware, has a new TV ad bashing her Republican primary opponent, Rep. Mike Castle.  —  But O'Donnell's ad looks eerily similar to one recently produced by Intrepid Media for Americans for New Leadership, in support of Nevada candidate Sharron Angle …

CRISIS ON THE COURTS.... Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy recently noted the problems with the Senate's inability to confirm judicial nominees.  “It's important for the public to understand that the excellence of the federal judiciary is at risk,” Kennedy said.

Florida College Shuts Down Conservative Event After Seeing Anti-Obama Literature (Video)  —  It begins... School officials at Palm Beach State College kicked members of the Young America's for Freedom off campus after they saw anti-Obama literature at their table.  —  It was offensive.

Wall Street fills coffers of top GOP candidates  —  Wall Street and financial interests are putting their money behind a handful of top-tier Senate Republican candidates as the GOP looks to win back power in the midterm elections.  —  The industry's contributions, which favored Democrats …

The “Ever-Expanding” Government Sector, Illustrated  —  Just some numbers to bring reality into the general discussion:  —  Figure 1: Employment in government (blue), in thousands, seasonally adjusted (blue), and excluding temporary Census workers (red).  Total series is “USGOVT” from FREDII.

U.S. Voters Say Afghanistan Is No Vietnam, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; President Gets Better Grades For War Than Economy  —  Despite increased casualties, American voters say 58 - 33 percent that eliminating the threat of terrorists operating from Afghanistan is a goal …