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 …

Barack the Mad  —  The American presidency comes off the rails.  —  On Friday, right after his Democrat colleagues in the Senate used a procedural maneuver to kill the Cut, Cap and Balance Act without a real vote, President Obama held a town hall meeting at the University of Maryland …

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:

Debt Crisis Update: No Deal Likely by 4 p.m.  —  ABC News' Jonathan Karl reports:  —  Asian markets?  They are on their own.  A Republican source tells ABC News negotiators do not expect to have a deal or even the framework of a deal on the debt ceiling by 4 p.m. today …

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 …

U.S. Stock Futures Decline After Lawmakers Fail to Reach Debt-Ceiling Deal  —  U.S. stock futures fell, indicating the Standard & Poor's 500 Index will slump after rallying within 1.4 percent of a three-year high, as failure to raise the federal debt limit intensified concern of a default.

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?”