John Quincy Adams a Founding Father?  Michele Bachmann Says Yes  —  On the heels of her official entry into the Presidential campaign in Iowa yesterday, Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann came to “GMA” today.  I gave her the opportunity to clear up some of her past statements that caused Chris Wallace …

Bachmann is so not ready for presidency, but Pawlenty has the judgment and skills  —  In early 2012, Iowans in all 99 counties will bundle up, brave the cold night air, and join neighbors and fellow Republicans in casting their vote for the next president of the United States.

Poll: Approval of Obama on economic policy hits new low  —  WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama is in a fragile position as the 2012 campaign begins: Only 37 percent of registered voters approve of his handling of the economy, his lowest rating ever, according to a new McClatchy-Marist poll.

Bush rates are kept safe in debt-limit talks  —  The White House, seeking an agreement to raise the nation's $14.3 trillion debt ceiling by Aug. 2, on Monday said it would not insist that any deal include an end to former President George W. Bush's controversial tax rates on the wealthy.

Weiner horning in on successor race  —  His ego has no bounds.  —  In a dazzling display of arrogance, disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner is trying to insert himself back into politics — calling power brokers and would-be candidates for his old seat, hoping they'll let him play …

Rep. Gabrielle Giffords Appears, Stands Before Houston Crowd  —  This, most recent photo of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords since she was shot, was posted to her public Facebook page by her aides Sunday morning June 12, 2011.  The photo was taken May 17, 2011 at TIRR Memorial Hermann Hospital …

Greece protest against austerity package turns violent  —  Thousands of protesters have gathered outside parliament in the capital where public transport has ground to a halt.  —  PM George Papandreou has said that only his 28bn-euro (£25bn) austerity plan would get Greece back on its feet.

Thirteen Clear Factual Errors in Richard Stengel's Essay on the Constitution (And I Am Looking for Your Help) (Update: My Letter to the Editor)  —  [Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here.  Or by Twitter @AaronWorthing.]  —  Late last week, I fisked Richard Stengel's …

Convener in Chief  —  This is a column about management styles.  What sort of leader can get things done in an age of austerity?  —  Our first case study is what you might call the Straight Up the Middle Approach.  When Chris Christie ran for governor of New Jersey, he campaigned bluntly on the need to reduce the state's debt.

Amy Poehler: ‘Planned Parenthood Is Awesome’ … Amy Poehler , Planned Parenthood , Cecile Richards , Cecile Richards Amy Poehler , Amy Poehler Cecile Richards , Amy Poehler Planned Parenthood , Poehler Planned Parenthood , Politics News  —  Amy Poehler goes to bat for Planned Parenthood …

The Political Use of the White House ‘Just Got More Interesting’  —  Was the below campaign video filmed in the White House?  It certainly appears so, although it's hard to say with certainty.  —  We all remember President Bill Clinton using the Oval Office for fundraising events in 1996.

On Obama, Wall St. Shows a Reluctance to Commit  —  President Obama's $35,800-a-plate fund-raising dinner was the talk of Wall Street last week.  —  Held at Daniel, the Michelin three-star restaurant of Daniel Boulud on the Upper East Side, the event was seen as a test of the president's popularity among …

The Failure of Al Gore: Part Deux  —  That Al Gore's definitive statement on the crisis of the climate change movement appeared in the back pages of Rolling Stone magazine rather than in a more prominent and prestigious location is one sign of the decline in his reputation.

Keynesian Lessons From Sweden  —  Neil Irwin did an interesting piece last week looking at lessons from Sweden about the economic recovery.  What's fascinating about it is how incredibly boring it is in most respects.  The ‘lessons’ basically all just amount to bog standard orthodox Keynesianism.

Sarah Palin's Iowa Debut  —  Tuesday's “Undefeated” premiere in Iowa and barbecue after-party will feature the former governor, handpicked locals, and Palin pals, not state GOP bigwigs—but it just might turn into a political event.  —  It's Sarah Palin the movie star, not the presidential candidate …

Anti-Mormon bias persists, notably among Democrats  —  Ever since Mitt Romney's unsuccessful run for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination, there's been much discussion of whether GOP voters would accept a Mormon candidate.  Would evangelical conservatives, in particular …

Afghan central bank governor Abdul Qadeer Fitrat flees  —  Mr Fitrat has left Afghanistan for the US  —  The governor of Afghanistan's central bank, Abdul Qadeer Fitrat, has resigned and fled the country, saying his life is in danger for investigating fraud.

“No Retreat From Freedom's Rise” Gov. Tim Pawlenty's Remarks at Council on Foreign Relations  —  I want to speak plainly this morning about the opportunities and the dangers we face today in the Middle East.  The revolutions now roiling that region offer the promise of a more democratic, more open, and a more prosperous Arab world.

Two top Herman Cain staffers resign  —  Washington (CNN) - Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain's New Hampshire state director, his only staffer in the state, as well as a Cain campaign regional director have both resigned.  —  Matt Murphy is the former state director and Jim Zeiler is the former regional director.

Bristol Palin says her mom has decided whether to run for president  —  The daughter of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) said Tuesday that her mother had made up her mind already about whether to run for president in 2012.  —  Bristol Palin, the eldest daughter of the 2008 Republican vice …