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 …

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 …

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.

The Milquetoast GOP “Pledge”  —  I want to like the new GOP Pledge to America.  I want to endorse it, but it's so milquetoast that it proves to me that these guys just aren't ready to lead.  —  In order to prevent a return of the big-spending Republican ways during the Bush years …

Gates and Mullen Don't See Big Changes to Afghan Strategy in December  —  ABC News' Luis Martinez reports:  —  Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Adm. Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, both said today that they do not anticipate big changes in December when the White House reviews the Afghan war strategy.

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.

U.S. delegates walk out of Ahmadinejad's U.N. speech  —  The U.S. delegation to the U.N. walked out of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's speech before the general assembly Thursday after the controversial leader said some believe Americans were behind the 9/11 terror attacks.

DeMint chides GOP senators for protecting Murkowski  —  South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint is publicly criticizing his Senate GOP colleagues for allowing Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski to keep her ranking membership on a key committee less than a week after she announced a write-in campaign to try to retain her seat.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

Lies, Damned Lies - Obamacare 6 Months Later; It's Time to Take Back the 20!  —  It's now six months since President Obama took control of one-sixth of the private sector economy with his health care “reform,” and the first changes to our health care system come into effect today.

Angle slams mandated coverage for autism treatment in new video from Democrats' tracker  —  As key provisions of new federal health care legislation come into effect tomorrow, Democrats are emphasizing Republican senate candidate Sharron Angle's opposition to mandating insurance coverage for basic illnesses.

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.

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 …

Chrysler Auto Workers Busted  —  Jefferson North Plant in Detroit  —  myFOXDetroit.com Staff - We're all rooting for the auto industry to come back stronger than ever.  It affects every one of us here in metro Detroit and across the country because it's so important to our economy.

Landrieu to block OMB nominee unless oil drilling ban lifted  —  A Gulf Coast Democrat is vowing to block Senate confirmation of President Obama's budget director until the administration agrees to lift or ease a federal freeze on deepwater oil-and-gas drilling.

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 …

Joe Miller: Social Security Is Something The Federal Government 'Shouldn't Have Gotten Into'  —  Earlier today, Alaska GOP Senate candidate Joe Miller was a guest on KWHL's Bob and Mark show.  ThinkProgress called in to ask him to clarify his previous suggestions that Social Security is unconstitutional.

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 …

Castle will test waters with poll  —  Rep. Mike Castle is planning on polling a potential three-way Senate race to test his chances as a write-in candidate, a Delaware Republican tells POLITICO.  —  Castle, who lost his GOP primary by a 6-point margin to tea party upstart Christine O'Donnell nine days ago …

Newly Declassified Documents Show Bush Administration Looked For Excuse To Start War In Iraq In Nov. 2001  —  The Bush administration has long maintained they had not decided to invade Iraq until the days before it actually began and that they did “everything” they could to “avoid war in Iraq.”