Allen West tirade: Wasserman Schultz ‘vile...despicable...not a Lady’  —  Florida GOP Congressman Allen West this afternoon dispatched a scathing personal email to Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, calling her “vile, unprofessional ,and despicable,” “a coward …

Reporter Accosted After Bachmann Comments on Migraines  —  It's not easy to get to Michele Bachmann.  Her appearance at a rally on Tuesday in Aiken, South Carolina, attended by perhaps 150 people, featured three uniformed police officers and two body guards in plain clothes.

Two House lawmakers call for vote on Gang of Six plan  —  A House Republican and a member of the New Democrat coalition are jointly calling on Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) to bring the Senate's “Gang of Six” deficit-reduction proposal to a House vote alongside an increase in the debt ceiling.

Obama to Back Repeal of Law Restricting Marriage  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will endorse a bill to repeal the law that limits the legal definition of marriage to a union between a man and a woman, the White House said Tuesday, taking another step in support of gay rights.

ABC News/Washington Post Poll: Dissatisfaction With Washington Hits 19-Year High  —  Analysis by ABC News' Pollster Gary Langer (@LangerResearch):  —  Discontent with Washington's budget battles has spurred public dissatisfaction with the federal government to its highest level in nearly 20 years …

Is Obama Against Romney a Toss-Up?  —  Looking at head-to-head polls can be treacherous so far in advance of a presidential election.  Instead, I'd suggest that you devote most of your attention to President Obama's approval ratings and perhaps the favorability ratings of the Republican candidates …

At this Point, Anyone with an Obama 2012 Bumper Sticker is a Threat to the Gene Pool  —  Greetings to our constituents, fellow Floridians, and all Americans, here we are for another weekly update.  There is only one word that describes the past week: appalling.

Birth control coverage proposed for most health insurance plans  —  Virtually all health insurance plans could soon be required to offer female patients free coverage of prescription birth control, breast-pump rentals, counseling for domestic violence, and annual wellness exams and HIV tests …

Feds: Harvard fellow hacked millions of papers … BOSTON (AP) — A Harvard University fellow who was studying ethics was charged with hacking into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's computer network to steal nearly 5 million academic articles.  —  Aaron Swartz, 24, of Cambridge …

Apple Reports Third Quarter Results  —  All-Time Record Revenue and Earnings  —  iPhone Sales Grow 142 Percent; iPad Sales Grow 183 Percent  —  Apple® today announced financial results for its fiscal 2011 third quarter ended June 25, 2011.  The Company posted record quarterly revenue …

Iowa caucuses in December?  It's possible  —  That's not the only domino.  With South Carolina's primary facing money troubles after state funding for election operations was cut, Florida — which had been planning to go fifth, on March 1 or 3 — has been pushing to go earlier.

Democratic senator Hansen retains seat in recall attempt  —  Tea party activist, attorney are winners in Republican primaries  —  By Tom Tolan, Lee Bergquist and Georgia Pabst of the Journal Sentinel  —  Democratic state Sen. Dave Hansen of Green Bay was the first of nine state senators …

Rick Perry: Counting Up the Money  —  Could Texas Gov. Rick Perry raise enough money for a presidential run? … Mr. Perry has drummed up a frenzy over a possible bid.  Last week, he called up GOP power brokers in Iowa and New Hampshire, and on Saturday he told the biggest newspaper in Iowa that he feels …

Jay Carney: ‘Leadership Is Not Proposing a Plan.’  —  White House Press Secretary Jay Carney argues, with a straight face, that leadership means waiting for House and Senate negotiators to come up with a plan:

A Dodd-Frank Retreat Deserves a Veto  —  Only six congressional Republicans crossed the aisle to support reform one year ago.  The GOP is still working to thwart change.  —  Two and a half years ago, with our country on the edge of a second Great Depression, we met with the president …

Finally, Minnesota open for business  —  Minnesota's legislature approved a budget deal in the early hours of Wednesday morning that will end the state's 20-day government shutdown - the longest ever in a state - once Gov. Mark Dayton signs it later in the day.

Pakistan's Military Plotted to Tilt U.S. Policy, F.B.I. Says  —  WASHINGTON — Pakistan's military, including its powerful spy agency, has spent $4 million over two decades in a covert attempt to tilt American policy against India's control of much of Kashmir — including funneling campaign donations …