16 Die in Norway Shooting and Bombing  —  OSLO — Norway suffered two shocking attacks on Friday, when powerful explosions shook the government center in the capital and, shortly after, a gunman stalked youths on an island summer camp for children of members of the governing Labor Party.

Democrats Set Drop-Dead Date For Debt Ceiling Backup Plan  —  President Obama's quest to reach a historic budget agreement with House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) fell into deep doubt Thursday, after a noisy rebellion by Senate Democrats over reports that Obama might hand Republicans the farm …

Pelosi Outlines Revenue-Free Path Forward On Debt Limit Fight  —  House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi acknowledged Friday that Democrats may reluctantly accept a last-minute compromise to avoid a default that involves up to $2.5 trillion in spending cuts — without agreed-upon new tax revenues …

Obama weighs in on ‘constitutional option’  —  President Obama hosted a town-hall event in College Park, Maryland, this morning, and much of the discussion naturally turned to the debt-ceiling fiasco unfolding on Capitol Hill.  Of particular interest, though, was an exchange about the so-called “Constitutional Option.”

Obama 41%, Ron Paul 37%  —  Congressman Ron Paul may be a long shot to win the Republican presidential nomination, but he runs competitively with President Obama right now.  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey of Likely Voters shows Paul picking up 37% of the vote, while the president earns 41%.

GOP Makes Big Gains among White Voters  —  Especially among the Young and Poor  —  OVERVIEW  —  As the country enters into the 2012 presidential election cycle, the electorate's partisan affiliations have shifted significantly since Barack Obama won office nearly three years ago.

Finally, Certification Issued!  —  Sarvis: We celebrate this day, but the fight for LGB equality in America's military marches forward  —  (Washington, D.C.) Service members today welcomed a key milestone in repeal of “Don't Ask, Don't Tell” (DADT), as President Obama, Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta …

The Lesser Depression  —  These are interesting times — and I mean that in the worst way.  Right now we're looking at not one but two looming crises, either of which could produce a global disaster.  In the United States, right-wing fanatics in Congress may block a necessary rise in the debt ceiling …

Obama / Nixon  —  Bruce Bartlett says what you're not supposed to say: Obama has governed as a moderate conservative, somewhat to the right of Richard Nixon.  The frothing-at-the-mouth comments are an extra bonus.  —  And it is, of course, true; although Obama defenders would say that he had no option.

The easiest, most effective way to resolve the crisis  —  Someone asked me the other day why President Obama doesn't just ask for a clean debt-ceiling bill, instead of engaging in these mind-numbing negotiations.  The truth is, he has asked for a clean bill, repeatedly.

PROVEN!  Congressman Gary Ackerman Has Proof That Global Warming is REAL!  —  Whew!  That solves that.  The debate is now over.  Congressman Gary Ackerman (D-NY) has proved that Global Warming is real!  During a meeting of the House Foreign Affairs committee the Long Island liberal launched …

Conceder In Chief  —  Amanda Marcotte is right: of course the big problem is the craziness of the GOP.  That said, I am among those in a state of suppressed rage and panic over the president's negotiating strategy.  —  I'd like to believe that it's all 11-dimensional political chess …