Top Items:

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.
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To Escape Chaos, a Terrible Deal — There is little to like about the tentative agreement between Congressional leaders and the White House except that it happened at all. The deal would avert a catastrophic government default, immediately and probably through the end of 2012.
Discussion:
The Politico, USA Today, The Hill, Guardian, Hullabaloo, Marbury, Jared Bernstein, Weasel Zippers, Washington Post, American Power, Truthdig and Suburban Guerrilla

The debt-ceiling deal: Winners and losers — The debt ceiling fight is over. The White House and congressional leaders have settled on a deal to raise the nation's debt ceiling, enact immediate spending cuts and, our favorite part, create a super-commission designed to trim the federal budget further by the end of the year.
Discussion:
The Politico, Left Coast Rebel, Hot Air, Daily Kos, Pirate's Cove, Outside the Beltway, Mediaite, The Reid Report, Bearing Drift and The Moderate Voice

Did Obama capitulate — or is this a cagey move? — It was President Obama's bottom line, a position he repeated in every recent public utterance on his debt-ceiling talks with Congress: Any deal must be “balanced” with spending cuts and tax increases. — But in his eleventh-hour stare …
Discussion:
No More Mister Nice Blog, FrumForum and The Daily Dish

Durbin: Debt Deal Will Be The Death Of Keynesian Economics … WASHINGTON — The Republicans are killing Keynesian economics with their attempt to cut spending as the economy rebounds from a recession, Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said in a floor speech on Sunday.
Discussion:
CNNMoney.com, theblogprof, The Other McCain, Connecting.the.Dots, Taylor Marsh, Firedoglake, Scared Monkeys, Verum Serum and Crooks and Liars

A Tea Party Triumph — The debt deal is a rare bipartisan victory for the forces of smaller government. — If a good political compromise is one that has something for everyone to hate, then last night's bipartisan debt-ceiling deal is a triumph. The bargain is nonetheless better …
Discussion:
The Lonely Conservative, Althouse, American Power and The Future of Capitalism

How the Tea Party ‘hobbits’ won the debt fight — The Tea Party came under fire from all sides Friday after House conservatives nearly brought down Speaker John Boehner's debt-limit bill. John McCain went to the Senate floor to mock Tea Partyers as “hobbits,” and Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen …
Discussion:
The Politico, JustOneMinute and CNN

GOP on verge of huge, unprecedented political victory — By all accounts, it looks like a deal is about to be announced in which the debt ceiling is hiked in exchange for the promise of major spending cuts, including to entitlements, totalling at least $2.4 trillion.


Reid Agrees To Major Debt Limit Deal — Here's What He's Signed Off On — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has signed off on a deal to raise the debt limit pending the approval of his caucus — and of course if can win the backing of Senate GOP leaders and then a majority of the House.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Wire, The Reaction, Sky Dancing, Hullabaloo, AMERICAblog News, Booman Tribune, The Raw Story, Washington Monthly, The Caucus, Daily Kos, Whiskey Fire, Gawker, MyDD and Fox News


White House, congressional leaders reach debt-limit deal
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, The Politico, The Reid Report and Tim Blair

Debt Deal Emerging With Rightward Tilt
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, TPMDC, Pajamas Media, The Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers, Daily Kos and Hot Air

After Protracted Fight, Both Sides Emerge Bruised
Discussion:
Washington Monthly, New York Times, Washington Post and Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog

Deal watch: Yes or no? Update: Deal; Update: Boehner releases details; Update: Obama video added
Discussion:
NationalJournal.com, Datechguy's Blog, The Other McCain, Washington Post, Nice Deb and The Hill

House Democrats might not back debt deal: Pelosi
Discussion:
Washington Post and AMERICAblog News

GOP wins when the fight is over cuts not more taxes
Discussion:
Washington Post, GayPatriot, The Gateway Pundit, THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS and Scared Monkeys

Reid's In, Pelosi Hesitant, GOP Looking for Votes
Discussion:
The Hill, Washington Post and Daily Kos

Reid, McConnell endorse deal, will present to rank-and-file Monday
Discussion:
The Politico and Wonkette

IT'S A DEAL! Obama, Congressional Leaders Announce Deal To Avoid Default
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Crooks and Liars and The Hill

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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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.
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online and Daily Kos
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PIMCO CEO Mohamed El-Erian: Budget Deal Will Only Bring Short-Term Relief
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Bloomberg, Reuters and The Note


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.
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …


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.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Jesus' General, Little Green Footballs and Maggie's Notebook


GETTING BIN LADEN … - POLITICS - PROFILES - THE TALK OF THE TOWN - COMMENT - THIS WEEK'S ISSUE - THE FINANCIAL PAGE - NEWS DESK - THE POLITICAL SCENE
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog

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 …
Discussion:
Wizbang, Scared Monkeys, americanthinker.com, nation.foxnews.com, Daily Pundit and Newsalert


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 …
Discussion:
iOwnTheWorld.com and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS