Obama Approval Drops to New Low of 40%  —  Similar to his approval rating for handling the debt ceiling negotiations  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Obama's job approval rating is at a new low, averaging 40% in July 26-28 Gallup Daily tracking.  His prior low rating of 41% occurred several times, the last of which was in April.

Weak growth raises concerns on economy  —  (Reuters) - The U.S. economy came perilously close to flat-lining in the first quarter and grew at a meager 1.3 percent annual rate in the April-June period as consumer spending barely rose.  —  The Commerce Department data on Friday also showed …

Tea Party groups target ‘defectors’ on debt vote  —  Several Tea Party organizations are working to punish conservative Republicans who plan to vote yes on Speaker John Boehner's (R-Ohio) debt ceiling proposal.  —  Tea Party leaders announced Thursday they are targeting Republican Reps. James Lankford …

The Centrist Cop-Out  —  The facts of the crisis over the debt ceiling aren't complicated.  Republicans have, in effect, taken America hostage, threatening to undermine the economy and disrupt the essential business of government unless they get policy concessions they would never have been able to enact through legislation.

Practically Delusional  —  Just minutes after President Obama urged the parties to come together and avert this default crisis, things are actually going backwards in the House.  And in pretty incredible fashion.  —  To secure enough votes from his own members for his plan …

The great divide  —  We're in the midst of a great four-year national debate on the size and reach of government, the future of the welfare state, indeed, the nature of the social contract between citizen and state.  The distinctive visions of the two parties — social-democratic vs. limited-government …

Democrats criticize Haley's checking of ‘white’ on voter registration application  —  COLUMBIA — What box should Gov. Nikki Haley check when it comes to her race?  —  The South Carolina Democratic Party tried Thursday to make Haley out as a liar for checking “white” as her race …

‘A self-inflicted wound of monumental stupidity’  —  There are, regrettably, plenty of prominent media voices who insist on characterizing the Republicans' debt-ceiling crisis as a disaster brought on by “both sides.”  Yes, David Gergen, I'm looking in your direction.

Obama Declares Twitter War on Republicans  —  President Obama declared a Twitter war on Republican lawmakers today through his online account, @barackobama - just moments after telling the nation it was time to move beyond politics.  —  “The time for putting party first is over,” Obama wrote on his Twitter account.

All Over the Map  —  The Republican foreign policy consensus has collapsed.  Which candidate's worldview will prevail?  —  Mitt Romney delivered a speech at the annual summer retreat of the American Enterprise Institute in Beaver Creek, Colorado.  To coincide with the address …

The History Of The Racial Wealth Gap  —  I want to co-sign Ta-Nehisi Coates' approval of Melissa Harris-Perry properly contextualizing the history of the wealth gap between whites and nonwhites while subbing for Rachel Maddow:  —  I would have gone farther than Harris-Perry though.

U.S. balance now less than Apple cash  —  Steve Jobs is now more liquid than Uncle Sam.  —  While it's highly unlikely that President Barack Obama is looking to ask the founder and chief executive of Apple Inc. for a loan, it became a fact as of Thursday afternoon — the world's largest technology company …