The President Surrenders  —  A deal to raise the federal debt ceiling is in the works.  If it goes through, many commentators will declare that disaster was avoided.  But they will be wrong.  —  For the deal itself, given the available information, is a disaster, and not just for President Obama and his party.

Debt Deal Emerging With Rightward Tilt  —  President Barack Obama's rightward lurch to reach a $3 trillion deficit reduction deal with no guarantee of additional revenues had liberals fuming and Republicans all but declaring victory Sunday afternoon.  —  With time running out to reach …

From Spending to Cuts, While the Economy Stalls  —  WASHINGTON — The nation's political leaders agreed on Sunday to spend and invest less money in the American economy, a step that economists said risks the reversal of a faltering recovery, in the hope of improving the nation's long-term prosperity.

A deal that found the lowest-common denominator  —  (Alex Wong - VIA BLOOMBERG) Assuming no hiccups in the House — and that might be a big assumption — we've got a deal.  The deficit-reduction side includes $1 trillion in cuts now, $1.5 trillion (or more) in deficit reduction later, and a vote on a balanced budget amendment.

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Palin film disappears at box office  —  The pro-Sarah Palin documentary, The Undefeated, suffered another huge drop in ticket sales over the weekend, earning just over $5,000.  —  Its weekend grosses:  —  July 29-31: $5,200 in 4 theatres.  —  July 22-24: $24,664 in 14 theatres.

White House adviser says deficit deal will pass Congress  —  (Reuters) - White House senior adviser David Plouffe said on Monday that he believes the newly minted deal to raise the U.S. debt ceiling will pass both houses of Congress and be signed into law by President Barack Obama.

Summer Camp?  Antisemitic Indoctrination Training Center … The day of the Norway shooting, I was blindsided by one of the survivor's statements to the press immediately after the shooting (see above).  It was so outside the box, I thought it was the kneejerk response of an anti-semite in shock.

Deadly Syrian crackdown continues  —  Fresh attacks reported in Deir ez-Zor, a day after 142 people reported killed in Hama and elsewhere in the country.  —  Syrian forces have killed nearly 142 people, including at least 100 when the army attacked the flashpoint protest city of Hama …

Biden charging Secret Service for cottage rental  —  The U.S. Secret Service does more than protect Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. — the agency also pays him rent.  —  Since April, Mr. Biden has collected more than $13,000 from the agency charged with protecting him and his family …

WARNING: Do not show this chart to a liberal (unless wearing headgear to protect you from a cranium exploding into high-velocity brain-shrapnel)  —  A couple of observations about this graph:  —  • The vaunted “Clinton Surplus” was, in fact, the work of a GOP House that was willing …