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.

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.

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.

Remarks by the President at the Millennium Development Goals Summit in New York, New York United Nations Headquarters, New York, New York  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon.  Mr. Secretary General, fellow delegates, ladies and gentlemen.  —  In the Charter of this United Nations …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

Outrage Is Overdue  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  Let's call Tuesday's pitifully embarrassing Senate performance on the defense authorization bill exactly what it was: shameful.  They blocked debate because the bill included repeal of the federally imposed ban on gays in the military …

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.

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 …