Conservatives denounce Boehner plan  —  The chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee wasted little time announcing his opposition to the House GOP leadership's two-step plan to raise the debt ceiling.  —  Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), who stood — visibly uncomfortable …

More Americans unhappy with Obama on economy, jobs  —  More than a third of Americans now believe that President Obama's policies are hurting the economy, and confidence in his ability to create jobs is sharply eroding among his base, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Address by the President to the Nation  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good evening.  Tonight, I want to talk about the debate we've been having in Washington over the national debt — a debate that directly affects the lives of all Americans.  —  For the last decade, we've spent more money than we take in.

Krauthammer on Obama's Address: “I Thought I Was Cynical Until I Heard That Speech” (Video)  —  Charles Krauthammer unloaded on Obama tonight after his stale poll-driven speech to the nation.  Obama still has no plan.  —  “I thought I was cynical until I heard that speech.  It was purely partisan.

Wealth Gaps Rise to Record Highs Between Whites, Blacks and Hispanics  —  Twenty-to-One  —  By Rakesh Kochhar, Richard Fry and Paul Taylor, Pew Research Center's Social & Demographic Trends  —  The median wealth of white households is 20 times that of black households and 18 times …

Soros to End Hedge-Fund Career, Return Money  —  George Soros, the billionaire best known for breaking the Bank of England, is returning money to outside investors in his $25.5 billion firm, ending a career as hedge-fund manager that spanned more than four decades.

Norway killer Anders Behring Breivik had extensive links to English Defence League  —  Anders Behring Breivik had extensive links to the far-Right English Defence League, senior members of the group have admitted.  —  Anders Behring Breivik leaves court on Monday

Black Student Can't Be Valedictorian  —  PINE BLUFF, Ark. (AR) - A high school southeast of Little Rock would not let a black student be valedictorian though she had the highest grade-point average, and wouldn't let her mom speak to the school board about it until graduation had passed, the graduate claims in Federal Court.

Mike Lee: I Want America's ‘House To Come Down’ Unless Congress Votes To Rewrite Constitution  —  In an interview on MSNBC's Hardball this evening, tenther Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) admitted that he is using the threat of a catastrophic default to extort the nation into rewriting the Constitution …

The Help-Wanted Sign Comes With a Frustrating Asterisk  —  The unemployed need not apply.  —  That is the message being broadcast by many of the nation's employers, making it even more difficult for 14 million jobless Americans to get back to work.  —  A recent review of job vacancy postings …

The Absolution I Cannot Give  —  In the past 48 hours I have had call after call after call from members of the United States Congress.  They've read what I've written.  They agree.  But they feel the hour is short and the end is nigh.  —  So some are calling looking for alternatives.

Gingrich regrets 2008 climate ad with Pelosi  —  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said Tuesday that he regrets making a commercial with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on the need to address climate change.  —  Gingrich, who partnered with Pelosi while she was Speaker for the 2008 ad …

The Kingdom and the Paywall  —  Some people thought that on Arthur Sulzberger Jr.'s watch, the New York Times could actually become extinct.  They might need to issue a correction.  —  Two weeks ago, I went to the New York Times' gleaming, modernist, Renzo Piano-­designed headquarters …

The New Religious Right?  —  And an odd new twist on racism, as same-sex marriage comes to New York.  —  (Social media notes: Check out Fans of Best of the Web Today on Facebook, just upgraded to the new format.  And don't forget you can follow us on Twitter.)