Obama plan: Destroy Romney  —  Barack Obama's aides and advisers are preparing to center the president's re-election campaign on a ferocious personal assault on Mitt Romney's character and business background, a strategy grounded in the early stage expectation that the former Massachusetts governor is the likely GOP nominee.

As Rioting Widens, Cameron Deploys 10,000 More Police  —  By ALAN COWELL, RAVI SOMAIYA and JOHN F. BURNS  —  LONDON — Prime Minister David Cameron pledged on Tuesday to flood the streets of London with 10,000 extra police officers and said Parliament would be recalled in emergency session …

Is Obama Smart?  —  A case study in stupid is as stupid does.  —  The aircraft was large, modern and considered among the world's safest.  But that night it was flying straight into a huge thunderstorm.  Turbulence was extreme, and airspeed indicators may not have been functioning properly.

The most powerful man on Earth?  —  A familiar air of indecision preceded President Obama's pep talk to the nation.  —  The first draft of his schedule for Monday contained no plans to comment on the downgrading of the U.S. credit rating by Standard & Poor's.

Obama attends dignified transfer of service members from downed copter  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - President Barack Obama and top Pentagon officials including Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen are attending Tuesday's dignified transfer ceremony …

CNN Poll: Time to clean house in Congress?  —  Washington (CNN) - Need more evidence that Americans are extremely angry at Congress?  —  Well, here you go: According to a new national survey, for the first time ever most Americans don't believe their own member of Congress deserves re-election.

The Day of Reckoning in Wisconsin Recall Fight  —  Outside groups, finger-pointing and acrimony have nearly eclipsed the original reason six state senators face voters today  —  Wisconsin is tired of standing.  —  First the state was told to “Stand with Walker.”  —  Ever since then, it's been “Stand with Rob Cowles.”

Burgess meets with unhappy Tea Party group  —  KELLER — Hours after the Dow Jones industrial average closed down more than 600 points Monday, U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Lewisville, heard from local conservatives who were unhappy that he supported legislation that many believed led to the calamitous day on Wall Street.

Obama's job approval  —  President Obama's job approval rating is 50% or higher in 16 states and D.C. Roll over each state to see how each rated Obama.  The darker the shade of the state, the higher his overall approval rating.  —  Source: Gallup  —  WASHINGTON — Another “wave” …

Bachmann's ‘Must-Read’ List Included A Book That Claims Blacks Were ‘Better Off In Nearly Every Way’ Under Slavery  —  Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann (R) has already made one slavery-related gaffe during her presidential campaign, signing a pledge produced by the Iowa FAMiLY LEADER …

The bullets yet to be fired to stop the crisis  —  Four years into the financial crisis, it is becoming increasingly clear that the biggest deficit is not in credit, but credibility.  Markets can adjust to a downgrade of global growth, but they cannot cope with a spiralling loss of confidence …

Mr. Cool turns cold  —  In her autobiography, Helen Gahagan Douglas recalled telling President Franklin D. Roosevelt about her visits to the camps of migrant workers.  She was especially poignant about the children and their lack of Christmas toys when the president tried to stop her.

Philadelphia mayor talks tough to black teenagers after ‘flash mobs’  —  ** FILE ** In this March 20, 2010, photo, young people run down South Street during a flash mob incident that involved thousands and closed the street to traffic from Front Street to Broad in Philadelphia.

Paul Ryan launches effort to defend budget, GOP presidential field in Iowa  —  Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) made a foray Tuesday into the GOP presidential race by asking for donations to launch ads in Iowa defending his 2012 budget.  —  Ryan, the chairman of the House Budget Committee …

Forced to strip naked in the street: Shocking scenes as rioters steal clothes and rifle through bags as people make their way home  —  This is the shocking moment a young man is apparently forced to hand over all of his clothes after appearing to be stripped naked during lawless riots overnight.

US scolds Israel over new construction plans … WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration says it is “deeply concerned” by Israeli approval of new housing construction in disputed east Jerusalem.  —  The State Department says such “unilateral actions work against efforts to resume direct negotiations” …

Obama's penchant for speeches now sounding hollower by the word  —  This is the 931st day of the Barack Obama presidency.  —  Yesterday Obama gave a strange statement to the media.  He'd been away on another mini-vacation at Camp David.  So, it was left to aides and Treasury Secy.