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Republicans take 4 of 6 in recall elections, hold Senate — Both sides see victories in hard-fought contests — By Tom Tolan and Patrick Marley of the Journal Sentinel — Democrats won two state Senate seats in Tuesday's historic recall elections, but failed to capture a third seat …
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Unions lose big in Wisconsin — Members of Wisconsin's teachers' union protested their loss of a near-monopoly on insurance contracts. Voters were less sympathetic than was widely believed. (AP photo) — An energized Democratic base was supposed to turn out yesterday.

Open thread: Total recall; Update: Al Sharpton tries to cope; Update: GOP wins two three four, Dems win one two; Update: GOP holds senate — It's not quite literally total, but with six senate seats on the menu tonight, it's closer than any U.S. state's ever gotten.

In Wisconsin, a Big Recall Push Comes Up Short — SAYNER, Wis. — In the end, it fell short of the outcome protesters who had marched in Wisconsin's state capital for weeks and weeks had hoped for: Democrats managed to seize two Republican State Senate seats in recall elections on Tuesday …
Discussion:
The Politico, ThinkProgress and GOP.com

Wisconsin GOP holds on to Senate
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Balloon Juice, Betsy's Page, New York Magazine, Hot Air and National Review

Wisconsin Democrats Still Vow To Recall Governor Scott Walker
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The Other McCain

Wisconsin cage match
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Minneapolis Star Tribune, Freedom's Lighthouse and Guardian

Walker signs legislation to redraw district boundaries
Discussion:
JammieWearingFool, The Raw Story, The Political Carnival and PoliPundit.com

Wisconsin GOP Holds On: Dems Take Two Seats In Senate Recalls, Not Magic Three
Discussion:
The Politico, Zandar Versus The Stupid, The Mahablog, Talking Points Memo and New York Times

The Day Our Leaders Got Unstuck — This is a scary economic moment. The response we need is not easy, but it is totally obvious. We need a Grand Bargain between America's two parties — and we need it right now. Until you read the following news article, we'll be stuck in a world of hurt.
Discussion:
Firedoglake and Connecting.the.Dots
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Boehner : No S&P downgrade if GOP budget had passed
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Political Carnival and msnbc.com

Poll: GOP more unpopular than during Clinton impeachment
Discussion:
The Politico, No More Mister Nice Blog, Taylor Marsh, Liberal Values, The Political Carnival, AMERICAblog News, ThinkProgress, TPMDC and CNN

New CNN Poll: Majority want tax increase for wealthy and deep spending cuts — Washington (CNN) - Most Americans want a special congressional committee tasked with drafting a long-term solution to the nation's mounting federal deficits to include tax hikes for the wealthy and businesses …
Discussion:
Gallup, The Politico and ThinkProgress

Santorum: Perry marriage stance ‘destructive’ — Rick Santorum's identified a new way to boost his presidential prospects: attack Rick Perry for his position on gay marriage. — “When someone who is a serious candidate for president is doing things that will be destructive …
Discussion:
GOP 12, Quad City Times and The Note
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The Rick Perry that Texans know
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The Caucus, Prairie Weather and Politics K-12

The Note: In Iowa, Romney Returns While Perry Pre-Empts
Discussion:
blogs.abcnews.com and ABCNEWS

Santorum: Marriage Is Like Water, Not Beer
Discussion:
Indecision Forever, Advocate, Prairie Weather, Pam's House Blend, SFGate and Towleroad News #gay

Jon Huntsman for President — In 2008, Florida and the presidency went to Barack Obama because he offered hope. To defeat the President in 2012, we need a candidate who will offer solutions. That man is Jon Huntsman. — Today at 11:15 a.m. at Scotty's Landing in Miami …
Discussion:
The Hill, CNN, Ballot Box, msnbc.com, TPMDC, GOP 12 and National Review


The Happy Warrior — This week's Newsweek magazine features the cover on the right, which has not too surprisingly stirred outrage from conservatives (see here and here for some reactions) saying that the liberal media are out to get Michele Bachmann. Are they right?
Discussion:
The Atlantic Online
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Bachmann camp speaks on controversial Newsweek cover
Discussion:
The Note, Washington Post and The Daily Dish


Pop Quiz: Why Are Tuitions So High? — College students and their families have struggled to pay for the rising cost of tuition, a cost that has been driven in part by swelling administrative expenses. — Over a 20-year period, the growth in administrative personnel at institutions …
Discussion:
Hit & Run


A New Strategy for Economic Growth — Growth is not just about economics. Growth unleashes human potential. — As the economy continues to struggle, we are reminded of a course offered at Yale University titled “Grand Strategy.” Drawing on a weighty curriculum of history and philosophy …
Discussion:
The New Republic, EconomicPolicyJournal.com and Clusterstock

Michele Bachmann Repeatedly Sought Stimulus, EPA, Other Government Funds … WASHINGTON — Few candidates in the Republican presidential primary field have decried the federal government with as much gusto as Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.). The three-term congresswoman has belittled the stimulus package …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, Washington Monthly, Slate Magazine and TPMDC

U.S. Says Strike Killed Taliban Who Downed Copter — WASHINGTON — An American airstrike has killed the Taliban fighters believed responsible for shooting down a Chinook helicopter, killing 38 people including 30 American military personnel, the senior commander in Afghanistan said Wednesday.
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Outside the Beltway

Why the President Doesn't Present a Bold Plan to Create Jobs and Jumpstart the Economy — Americans are deeply confused about why the economy is so bad - and their President isn't telling them. In fact, the White House apparently has decided to join with Republicans and blame it on the long-term budget deficit.
Discussion:
Paul Krugman, UrbanGrounds, The Sideshow, theblogprof and Economist's View


No Plans for 2013, but an Actor Seems Focused on the Mayor's Office — Alec Baldwin is not running for mayor of New York — yet. — First, Mr. Baldwin, a 53-year-old actor and Long Island native, wants to finish his work on his television show, “30 Rock,” then go back to school and learn what the job is all about.
Discussion:
Runnin' Scared, The Daily Caller, CBS New York and New York Magazine


A Test for Obama's View of a One-Term Presidency — WASHINGTON — It was a year and a half ago when President Obama told Diane Sawyer of ABC News in an interview that he would rather be a good one-term president than a mediocre two-term president. — Now, coming off one of his worst weeks …

The (Real) Rent Is Too Damn High — “Incidentally, [Yglesias is] also demanding higher inflation while writing a book called, The Rent is Too Damn High.” — Ironic, innit? But the issue here is that inflation raises the general economy-wide nominal price level.


Poll surprise: Weiner seat in play — New York Democrat David Weprin holds a surprisingly narrow lead over Republican Bob Turner in the Sept. 13 special election to replace former Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner, according to a new Siena Research Institute poll.

China's Economy Is Headed for a Slowdown — Beijing's export-oriented strategy can't continue forever. — As China fitfully tries to rebalance its economy, a small but rising number of Chinese economists are beginning to predict sharply lower annual growth rates of 6% to 7% over the next few years.
Discussion:
ThinkProgress and Modeled Behavior

New York City Will Mandate Sex Education — For the first time in nearly two decades, students in New York City's public middle and high schools will be required to take sex-education classes beginning this year, using a curriculum that includes lessons on how to use a condom and the appropriate age for sexual activity.
Discussion:
Feministing and New York Magazine