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:

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 …

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.

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.