What Were They Thinking?  —  Someday people will look back and wonder, What were they thinking?  Why, in the midst of a stalled recovery, with the economy fragile and job creation slowing to a trickle, did the nation's leaders decide that the thing to do—in order to raise the debt limit …

President Pushover  —  Updated: Drew article now available.  —  The redoubtable Elizabeth Drew has a forthcoming article in the New York Review of Books — that confirms all our worst fears.  She tells us that past concessions have … Even more alarming, however, is her window on what the White House is thinking:

Boehner expects to have proposal Monday; Reid, Pelosi meet Obama  —  On a Sunday afternoon conference call with House Republican lawmakers, Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) called on the GOP to “stick together” in the debt-ceiling negotiations and presented a a timeline that could see a vote on a proposal by Wednesday.

If Boehner prioritizes blame over success  —  The House went through the motions earlier this week, passing a radical “Cut, Cap, and Balance” debt-reduction plan that Republicans knew would fail.  They did this as a sort of vanity exercise, intended to make GOP lawmakers and their activist base feel better about themselves.

No debt deal in sight, parties go separate ways  —  With no agreement reached by Sunday afternoon, House and Senate leaders appear to be moving in different directions with competing plans to raise the nation's debt ceiling, dramatically highlighting the major discord on Capitol Hill …

Bill would force Obama to pay Social Security, military if US defaults  —  Tea Party conservatives hope to make a push on the House floor to force President Obama to avoid a national default if Congress fails to raise the debt limit.  —  Members of the Senate Tea Party Caucus have met …

Congress ditches Obama on debt talks  —  First came the Biden talks.  When those blew up, the Obama-Boehner talks took center stage.  And when that failed, the McConnell-Reid talks looked promising.  And after they faltered, the Obama-Boehner talks tried to find a new life.

Debate Clucker Tim Pawlenty Asks Candy Crowley ‘Is President Obama Chicken?’  —  In a statement so rich, Republicans are refusing to tax it, GOP presidential can'tidate Tim Pawlenty (R-The Drain) rhetorically asked CNN's Candy Crowley of President Obama, “Is he chicken?”

Dominique Strauss-Kahn Accuser Speaks Out in Exclusive ABC News Interview  —  In an exclusive television interview, ABC News' Robin Roberts speaks with the hotel employee who alleges she was sexually assaulted by former International Monetary Fund Chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn.