Tea-Party Movement Gathers Strength  —  The tea party has emerged as a potent force in American politics and a center of gravity within the Republican Party, with a large majority of Republicans showing an affinity for the movement that has repeatedly bucked the GOP leadership this year …

Obama's University Visit Was Not Simple  —  Would it be all right if the Leader of the Free World stopped by your campus for a little while?  —  He wants to surround himself with hordes of enthusiastic young people, toss out a few oratorical gems — as you know, he's got the gift — and reinvigorate his anxious political party.

Poll: Obama, Dems Poised to Lose Grayson House Seat  —  Republican Dan Webster jumps to a 7-point lead  —  In one of the most closely watched U.S. House races in the nation, Republican Daniel Webster now holds a 7-point lead over Democratic Rep. Alan Grayson in Central Florida's 8th Congressional District …

Dukakis shared his strategy for midterm elections at the White House  —  WASHINGTON — Former Massachusetts Governor Michael S. Dukakis, the failed 1988 presidential nominee, recently visited the White House and delivered his strategy for the midterm elections: pound key precincts across …

‘Credible But Not Specific’: Threat of New Terrorist Attack  —  Officials in Europe, US on High Alert for Commando-Style Raids After Capture of Suspected German Terrorist  —  US and European officials said Tuesday they have detected a plot to carry out a major, coordinated series …

Being Glenn Beck  —  Glenn Beck was sprawled out on his office couch a couple of weeks ago, taking — as self-helpers like to say ­— an inventory.  “I think what the country is going through right now is, in a way, what I went through with my alcoholism,” he told me.  “You can either live or die.

Assistant attorney general blogs against gay student body president  —  (CNN) — For nearly six months, Andrew Shirvell, an assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan, has waged an internet campaign against college student Chris Armstrong, the openly gay student assembly president at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Distrust in U.S. Media Edges Up to Record High  —  Perceptions of liberal bias still far outnumber perceptions of conservative bias  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the fourth straight year, the majority of Americans say they have little or no trust in the mass media to report the news fully, accurately, and fairly.

Democrats, Obama differ over whether to lock in Bush's tax cuts  —  Senate Democrats are peeling away from President Obama over permanent extension of the middle-class tax cuts, saying that locking in low rates for the vast majority of taxpayers is an unaffordable luxury.

Four More Reasons Why Democrats Will Retain Control of House and Senate  —  What's Your Reaction:  —  Over the last several weeks, the Pollster.com average of polls testing the generic choice of Republican versus Democrat for Congress has begun to close from a spread of almost 5% down to only 2.3% advantage to Republicans.

Progressives: Obama remarks are ‘condescending’  —  Activist: ‘The least he could do is acknowledge that progressives have legitimate concerns’  —  President Barack Obama's lecture to his supporters to snap out of their lethargy is getting a frosty reception from some on the left side of the Democratic coalition.

Your Bad Economic News for the Morning  —  Earlier this year, government bond spreads in several European countries ballooned dangerously in response to the Greek debt crisis.  In May the EU came to the rescue, Greece agreed to a combined loan/austerity package, and spreads settled down.

Poll: Dogfight in Ohio Governor's Race  —  CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.  —  Democratic incumbent Ted Strickland is statistically tied with Republican challenger John Kasich among likely voters …

Blaming the voters  —  Tweet  —  On Oct. 24, 1996, Republican presidential nominee Bob Dole got up at a campaign rally and promptly lost it: “I wonder sometimes what people are thinking about, or if people are thinking at all,” he shouted.  “Wake up, America!”

Poll: Battle for Congress tightens between parties  —  Ethics panel GOP accuses Dems of stalling on trials  —  Despite what the NBC/WSJ pollsters say is natural tightening, however, the overall dynamics heading into the election remain the same: Nearly six in 10 think the country is headed …

First World War officially ends  —  The First World War will officially end on Sunday, 92 years after the guns fell silent, when Germany pays off the last chunk of reparations imposed on it by the Allies.  —  The final payment of £59.5 million, writes off the crippling debt …

Christine O'Donnell didn't go to Claremont Graduate University either  —  Greg Sargent at the Washington Post's Plum Line has a story today that says Christine O'Donnell, Republican Senate candidate in Delaware, embellished her online resume to say she'd studied at Oxford University …

Does DeMint have his eye on top Senate GOP post?  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Jim DeMint, in an unusual assertion of unilateral power, warned the other 99 senators that for the rest of their legislative session this year, all bills and nominations that are slated for unanimous passage must go through his office for review.

Even if Bin Laden Had Been on the Gaza-Bound Flotilla, Israel's Actions Would Have Been Illegal, Says UN-Appointed Judge  —  The U.N. Human Rights Council is considering a report by the three-member commission that investigated the so-called “flotilla incident” - Israel's interception at sea …

Congresswoman Calls for Repealing Hyde Amendment; Backs Assertion That Abortion is Safer than Childbirth  —  (CNSNews.com) — Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.) said the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding of abortion except in certain cases, should be repealed, and also said …

Is Barack Obama My Keeper?  —  []Some commentators are criticizing President Obama's response to a supporter at a campaign event who asked him why he is a Christian: … I have no interest in questioning Obama's religious faith, which I believe to be sincere.