Stocks Off Lows, Dow Above 11,000; Vix Soars  —  Stocks pared some losses in heavy, choppy trading Monday but were still sharply lower as investors fled from risky assets following S&P's downgrade of U.S.'s credit rating last week in addition to ongoing uncertainty over the euro zone crisis.

Disconnect  —  This piece on CNN Money says that “market observers tried to say the downgrade by itself shouldn't matter — that it was expected and that the United States still has a strong credit rating ... But the market wasn't buying it.”  And then it goes on to note that investors are rushing to buy up US Treasuries.

Bachmann attends church service denouncing homosexuality  —  WAUKEE, IA — Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann yesterday attended a church here in Iowa, where the pastor called homosexuality “immoral” and “unnatural,” and later showed a testimonial video from a man who claimed …

Drew Westen's Nonsense  —  There are some strong criticisms to be made of the Obama administration from the left, especially concerning Obama's passive response to the debt ceiling hostage crisis, and his frightening willingness to give away the store to John Boehner.  I've made many of these criticisms myself.