Biden: Tea partiers like ‘terrorists’  —  Vice President Joe Biden joined House Democrats in lashing tea party Republicans Monday, accusing them of having “acted like terrorists” in the fight over raising the nation's debt limit.  —  Biden was agreeing with a line of argument made by Rep. Mike Doyle …

Giffords's Return Marks Moment of Unity in Divided House  —  The clock was running down, and the debt ceiling compromise did not yet have enough ayes to pass.  Then, slowly, applause started trickling through the House chamber.  The clapping grew over the next half minute, until finally …

The Fine Print on the Debt Deal  —  If Democrats read the fine print on the debt deal struck by President Obama and Congressional leaders, they'll find that it's a little better than it appears at first glance.  —  That's not to say that the deal is a good one for them.

CBO ANALYSIS OF AUGUST 1 BUDGET CONTROL ACT  —  Letter to the Honorable John Boehner and the Honorable Harry Reid  —  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated the impact on the deficit of the Budget Control Act of 2011, as posted on the Web site of the House Committee on Rules on August 1, 2011.

Most of Newt Gingrich's Twitter Followers Are Fake  —  Yesterday Newt Gingrich laid out a new argument for why he should be the GOP presidential nominee: He's got the most Twitter followers.  But according to a former Gingrich staffer, he bought them.  —  Gingrich complained yesterday …

Krugman Quibble  —  I agree with most of what Paul Krugman has to say about the debt deal-with one crucial exception.  He's right that Obama should have included raising the debt ceiling in last December's tax deal...but he's wrong, I think, about the President using what we'll call …

The red and the black  —  Where federal taxes are raised and spent  —  SOME American states receive more in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes; others receive less.  Over twenty years these fiscal transfers can add up to a sizeable sum.  From 1990 to 2009 …

Budget talks in a word: ‘Ridiculous,’ ‘disgusting’ and ‘stupid’ top poll  —  Americans give overwhelmingly negative reviews to the fierce budget debate that has transfixed Washington over the past few weeks, and large numbers now think less favorably about the country's political leaders …

The Winner of the Power Line Prize Is...  “The Spending Is Nuts,” by Justin Folk:  —  “Squirrels,” as we call it informally, is a beautiful piece of work.  (View it on YouTube in HD here.)  We asked Justin to share his thoughts on the contest and his video:

Pamela Geller Deletes Racist Caption, Hides Comments  —  Today we find that anti-Muslim lunatic Pamela Geller is editing her posts again, to remove evidence of blatant racism.  —  In her despicable post from yesterday, in which she attacked the victims of Oslo terrorist Anders Behring Breivik …

Putin says U.S. is “parasite” on global economy  —  (Reuters) - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin accused the United States Monday of living beyond its means “like a parasite” on the global economy and said dollar dominance was a threat to the financial markets.

AFP Wisconsin ballots have late return date  —  Americans for Prosperity is sending absentee ballots to Democrats in at least two Wisconsin state Senate recall districts with instructions to return the paperwork after the election date.  —  The fliers, obtained by POLITICO …

Gaga on Clinton: Leave her alone  —  (CNN) - When it comes to fashion, Lady Gaga has Hillary Clinton's back.  —  Gaga defended the secretary of state Monday in response to recent criticism by “Project Runway” star Tim Gunn, who stirred controversy when he made fun of Clinton's pantsuit-heavy wardrobe last week.

GETTING BIN LADEN … - POLITICS - PROFILES - THE TALK OF THE TOWN - COMMENT - THIS WEEK'S ISSUE - THE FINANCIAL PAGE - NEWS DESK - THE POLITICAL SCENE

U.S. Political Ideology Stable With Conservatives Leading  —  Most Republicans are conservative, but one in five is “very conservative”  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' political ideology at the midyear point of 2011 looks similar to 2009 and 2010, with 41% self-identifying as conservative, 36% as moderate, and 21% as liberal.

GOP Rep. Lamborn: Associating With Obama Is Like ‘Touching A Tar Baby’  —  Appearing on the Caplis and Silverman radio show last Friday, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO) said, “Now I don't even want to have to be associated with [Obama], it's like touching a tar baby and you're stuck, you're part of the problem now.

Two Things About Huntsman's Mail Piece  —  Republican presidential candidate Jon Huntsman returns to New Hampshire this week hoping to try again after a campaign launch that appeared to have more buzz before than after.  —  In the last two weeks, his campaign manager and longtime friend have now left the campaign.

Debt-Limit Vote Breaks GOP Pledge to Post Bills Online for 3 Days Before Vote  —  (CNSNews.com) - When the House of Representatives voted this evening on legislation to increase the limit on the federal debt by as much as $2.4 trillion, House Republicans broke a promise included in their 2010 Pledge …

Kelsey Grammer may run for office in New York  —  Imagine Kelsey Grammer as the next resident of Gracie Mansion.  —  The “Frasier” star — a longtime conservative Republican — now says he plans to run for office, perhaps right here in New York, when he gives up acting.

Al-Shabaab to launch Ramadan offensive?  —  Somali militant group al-Shabaab has received a cache of weapons in preparation for an assault to coincide with the holy month of Ramadan, a source said.  —  Al-Shabaab has declared war on the African Union's peacekeeping mission in Somalia.

CNN LIVE EVENT/SPECIAL  —  Get It Done: Countdown To Debt Crisis  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington.  —  We want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around …

House To Recess After Debt Vote, Even Though FAA Shutdown Is Forcing Inspectors To Work Without Pay  —  With all eyes in Washington focused on the debt ceiling debate, little has been made of another costly impasse.  Republicans have refused to re-authorize the Federal Aviation Administration …

CBS News' Norah O'Donnell: ‘Where are the Tax Revenues?’, ‘We Got Nothing’  —  “We”?  Who is “We”?

Health industry fears double whammy in Medicare cuts  —  The deal reached by congressional leaders to raise the debt ceiling sets up a one-two punch in which healthcare industries will likely face two rounds of major Medicare cuts later this year.  —  The agreement spares Medicare for the time being …

Boehner: I got 98 percent of what I wanted  —  CBS Evening News anchor Scott Pelley sat down with Speaker of the House John Boehner in his office at the Capitol on Monday.  —  With a brutal partisan fight over the debt ceiling drawing to an apparent close, Boehner said he understands …