First Thoughts: In retreat  —  Dems in retreat... They draw another line in the sand, but will we see another concession?... Democrats reply: They might be losing this negotiating battle, but they could end up winning the larger war... Today's House vote on the Boehner bill is expected early this evening …

EXCLUSIVE: AWOL Soldier Arrested Over Concerns of Possible Second Attack On Fort Hood  —  At least one U.S. military serviceman has been arrested after raising concerns over another possible attack on Fort Hood, Fox News has learned exclusively.  —  Pvt. Nasser Jason Abdo …

Gov. Christie is taken to hospital after having difficulty breathing  —  SOMERVILLE — Gov. Chris Christie was hospitalized this morning after he complained of having trouble breathing, according to the governor's office.  —  A spokesman, Michael Drewniak, said Christie suffers from asthma …

Bachmann: Obama like ‘dictator’ if 14th amendment invoked in debt fight  —  President Obama would be functioning effectively as a “dictator” if he invoked the 14th amendment to the Constitution to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling, Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) said Thursday.

Why the Tea Party is unyielding on the debt ceiling  —  The liberal media have gone to warp speed in their defense of President Obama and their attacks on the Tea Party.  We are “extreme” and “dangerous.”  Republicans are “afraid of” the Tea Party.  And more.

APNewsBreak: Arctic scientist under investigation  —  JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A federal wildlife biologist whose observation in 2004 of presumably drowned polar bears in the Arctic helped to galvanize the global warming movement has been placed on administrative leave and is being investigated …

Whatever The Outcome Of The Debt Vote, The Age Of Austerity Is Here  —  Whatever the outcome of Thursday's projected House vote on Speaker Boehner's debt plan, this process has already ended the political life of one prominent member of the Washington establishment: John Maynard Keynes.

Health care law won't rein in costs, study says  —  Critics of Affordable Care Act cite government's own forecast  —  Despite President Obama's promises to rein in health care costs as part of his reform bill, health spending nationwide is expected to rise more than if the sweeping legislation had never become law.

3 ways Obama could bypass Congress  —  Editor's note: Jack M. Balkin is Knight Professor of Constitutional Law at Yale Law School.  His latest book is “Constitutional Redemption: Political Faith in an Unjust World” (Harvard University Press 2011).  —  New Haven, Connecticut (CNN) — Very soon, Congress will raise the debt ceiling.

Obama and His Discontents  —  The administration of President Obama has never held much regard for its left flank.  Admonished by the vice president to “stop whining,” inveighed against by the president himself for “griping and groaning,” the liberal critics have been generally viewed by the White House as petulant children.

Maybe Someone Should Do Something  —  I can think of a lot of reasons a country might have this kind of problem: … What's difficult to think is a good reason for the United States of America to have this problem.  The United States can current sell five year bonds at a negative real interest rate.

Treasury to Weigh Which Bills to Pay  —  WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department is preparing to answer a question that it has dodged and rebuffed for months: If there's not enough money for everyone, who is left empty-handed?  —  Officials said Wednesday that the department would address …

Making rumors work for you  —  IT'S GETTING CLOSE to the trade deadline and rumors are flying like crazy.  Baseball teams, and their general managers, often go out of their way to debunk these rumors, especially when they involve their own players, and why not?

How America Could Collapse  —  A few months ago, a friend in the entertainment industry told me of a new business model in Hollywood: hoarding videotapes.  Apparently, the earthquake in Japan knocked offline a Sony factory that makes certain types of tape.  That factory was also in the tsunami zone …