Debt-Limit Harakiri  —  Mitch McConnell isn't selling out Republicans.  —  Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell said yesterday he's concluded that no deal to raise the debt ceiling in return for serious spending restraint is possible with President Obama, and who can blame him?

Obama and DNC raise $86M, more than doubling GOP field - RNC campaign targets four swing states - Mandel brings in $2.3M for Senate bid - Hahn wins in CA-36 - Barbour camp eyes Perry - One month until  —  (aburns@politico.com) and (jhohmann@politico.com)  —  2012 SIREN - OBAMA'S NUMBER …

How Can We Not Love Obama?  —  Because like it or not, he is all of us  —  Before the fall brings us down, before the election season begins in earnest with all its nastiness and vulgarity, before the next batch of stupid scandals and gaffes, before Sarah Palin tries to convert her movie …

California special election: Hahn cruises to solid victory  —  Democrat Janice Hahn defeated Republican Craig Huey in a bitterly contested Southern California special election marked by stinging attacks from both sides.  —  Hahn finished with a healthy 54.56 percent of the vote to Huey's 45.44 percent in Tuesday's vote.

NOT GUILTY!... SEIU Thugs Cleared in Brutal Gladney Beatdown! ...  Update: Gladney Reaction (Video)  —  NOT GUILTY- SEIU GOONS CLEARED IN GLADNEY BEATING!  —  I just spoke with Kenneth Gladney and his wife outside the courtroom.  Here is their first reaction—  “I couldn't beat them; I didn't have the resources they had.

Shutdown could leave Minnesota dry  —  The famous Minnesota niceness could all go away if residents lose access to beer due to the two-week-old state government shut down.  —  The Star Tribune of Minneapolis reported Wednesday that bars, restaurants and stores across the state are unable …

Politics Aside at Betty Ford Funeral: Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush Share Intent Conversation  —  ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf (@zbyronwolf) reports:  —  Nancy Reagan and Michelle Obama stared quietly ahead before the funeral of Betty Ford in Palm Desert, California.

Light bulb bill goes dark in House  —  House lawmakers Tuesday stymied an initial effort by Republicans to put an end to infamous light bulb efficiency standards.  —  The bill from Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas) to repeal part of a 2007 energy law requiring traditional incandescent light bulbs …

Prison doctor gets paid for doing little or nothing  —  A California surgeon has mostly been locked out of his job: on paid leave, fired or fighting his termination.  When he does work, it's reviewing records.  He made $777,000 last year, including back pay.  —  A file photo of San Quentin State Prison.

6 fake Democrats fall, setting stage for GOP recalls  —  Six fake Democratic candidates put up by the Republican Party to buy time for Republican state senators subject to recalls accomplished that job Tuesday, but none of them did the unexpected and knocked off a real Democrat.

Judge reinstates Ill. foster-care contracts  —  SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois judge on Tuesday put Catholic Charities back in the business of finding foster and adoptive homes for children, reinstating — at least temporarily — contracts that were halted when the not-for-profit agency refused …

Fan Who Caught Jeter's 3,000th Hit May Owe IRS Thousands  —  The tax man may be on the hunt for the super fan who caught Derek Jeter's 3,000th hit.  —  Christian Lopez, 23, recovered the prized ball his father fumbled after The Captain hammered it into their section of the stands …

APNewsBreak: Romney rejects gay marriage pledge  —  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's campaign said Tuesday that he will not sign a conservative Iowa Christian group's far-reaching pledge opposing gay marriage, making him the first Republican presidential candidate to reject it.