The GOP's bad idea  —  “America is more than a country,” begins the GOP's ‘Pledge to America.’ America, it turns out, is an “idea,” an “inspiration,” and a “belief.”  And the GOP wants to govern it.  —  Their policy agenda is detailed and specific — a decision they will almost certainly come to regret.

House Dems Also Punt On Upper-Income Bush Tax Cuts  —  The Senate's decision not to address the Bush tax cuts until after the election is the strongest indication yet that the game is over.  After a House Democratic caucus meeting this morning — but before the news broke on the Senate side …

Liberal blogger directly confronts David Axelrod, accuses White House of “hippie punching”  —  Top Obama adviser David Axelrod got an earful of the liberal blogosphere's anger at the White House moments ago, when a blogger on a conference call directly called out Axelrod over White House criticism …

Gov. Christie confronts heckler at California GOP candidate's political rally  —  LOS ANGELES — True to his tough-guy persona, Gov. Chris Christie mixed it up today with a political naysayer, who heckled California Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman at a political rally.

Little-Known New York Attorney General Candidates Tied, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Gillibrand Up By Only 6 Points  —  Two little-known candidates for New York State Attorney General, Democratic State Sen. Eric Schneiderman and Republican Staten Island District Attorney Dan Donovan …

Man's home sold out from under him in foreclosure mistake  —  (Robert Duyos, Sun Sentinel / September 22, 2010)  —  When Jason Grodensky bought his modest Fort Lauderdale home last December, he paid cash.  But seven months later, he was surprised to learn that Bank of America had foreclosed on the house …

Sarah Palin: I'll run if nobody else steps up  —  Former Alaska GOP Gov. Sarah Palin gave her strongest indication yet that she may run for president Wednesday night, saying she would jump into the race if “nobody else were to step up” with the proposals she wants to see.

House approves small-business bill; Obama laments ‘needless’ stall  —  On a 237-187 vote, the House on Thursday approved a $42 billion bill to provide aid to small businesses.  —  The Senate approved the legislation last week, and President Obama plans to sign the legislation on Monday.

Senate again fails to advance campaign finance bill with ‘no’ vote from Snowe  —  Senate Democrats again failed to advance stalled campaign finance legislation on Thursday, dealing another blow to the bill's chances of final passage.  —  The legislation, known as the Disclose Act …

The election campaigners we can't see  —  All of Washington is in a frenzy, speculating about the outcome of the fall elections.  Yet the development that could most tip the scales is getting far too little public attention.  That hidden factor is the audacious stealth campaign being mounted …

Landrieu to block OMB nominee unless oil drilling ban lifted  —  Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is vowing to block a Senate vote to confirm President Obama's choice to head the White House Office of Management and Budget unless a temporary ban on offshore oil-and-gas drilling is removed.

A Claim of Pro-Islam Bias in Textbooks  —  HOUSTON — Some conservative members of the Texas Board of Education assert that the history books used in this state have a pro-Islamic bias, and they are upset about it.  —  Never shy about wading into the culture wars, they are planning …

Independents Oppose Party in Power ... Again  —  More Conservative, More Critical of National Conditions  —  For the third national election in a row, independent voters may be poised to vote out the party in power.  The Republican Party holds a significant edge in preferences …

Lying With Graphs, Republican Style  —  The Republican “Pledge to America” is out, and I'll give them some credit: there are more concrete policies in there than I've seen Republicans suggest in a long while.  Sure, they ideas are largely terrible, overly simplistic, or some combination of the two.

National Survey Highlights Dem Problems in Key Seats  —  Last week, I conducted a national survey for American Action Network.  The two key political environment questions show the significant opportunity Republicans have this year.  While the overall numbers on the President's approval rating …

Obama's Fire Sale  — trending topics - CLINTON GLOBAL INITIATIVE - COLLEGE RANKINGS - GET AMERICA BACK TO WORK - FASHION WEEK - CHRISTINE O'DONNELL  —  Six weeks before the election, President Obama couldn't fill the ballroom at the Roosevelt Hotel, despite cheap tickets on offer.

The GOP's Fiscal Fraudulence  —  One tiny part of me hoped that after the GOP spending binge of the Bush years, and the alleged Tea Party commitment to turn the page on growing government, the Republicans, like the Tories in Britain, would run on a clear platform of massive spending cuts …

Bill Clinton to John F. Harris: Obama's way to win in 2010, 2012 - Obama at U.N.: ‘teachings of tolerance’ can help Israeli-Palestinian standoff - House GOP ‘Pledge to America’: Cut Congress' budget  —  DAVID AXELROD e-mails JON WARD: “I'll be here well into 2011.

Getting Radical on Spending Cuts  —  I'm pretty sure nobody at CAP favors the 100 percent cuts scenario outlined in our “A Thousand Cuts” report detailing possible approaches to achieving primary balance of the budget by 2015.  But the econ team tried to be rigorous about what would be a good way to do that …

Democrats Push Forward on Goodwin Liu, Other Judge Nominees  —  The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines today to advance the nomination of law professor Goodwin Liu to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, signaling they're not ready to give up on one of President Barack Obama's most controversial nominees.

Paul Ryan is a Man Who Takes His Responsibilities as a Public Official Seriously  —  My colleague Zaid Jilani has an excellent post dining Paul Ryan for massive hypocrisy on the subject of the budet reconciliation process, a procedural tactic that allows (some forms of) legislation …