Bachmann involved in unusual campaign moment  —  Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann was at the center of an unusual campaign moment on Friday that involved reporters trying to ask her questions - and the Republican presidential candidate essentially being cocooned by a ring of protectors.

The Great Deflation  —  Like a leaky balloon, Barack Obama keeps getting smaller.  —  (Best of the tube this weekend: Watch us on a Lou Dobbs special, “Global Market Chaos,” Sunday 8-9 p.m. ET on Fox Business.  We'll be on the political panel toward the end of the program.)

Sarah Palin and The Brody File One-On-One at Iowa State Fair  —  Sarah Palin came over and agreed to do a one-on-one interview with me at the Iowa State Fair Friday afternoon.  Just her and me.  This took place during her private lunch reception.  I asked her to come over and talk with me and she did.

To defuse ‘flash’ protest, BART cuts riders' cell service.  Is that legal?  —  To forestall a planned protest, Bay Area Rapid Transit turned off cellphone service, angering passengers and raising questions about First Amendment rights in an age of social media protests.  —  Atlanta

Attack on Althouse at the Wisconsin Capitol singalong.  —  As discussed in an earlier post, a man attacked me today at the Capitol.  We captured the assault on 2 different cameras, and I'm not editing the material together (at least not at this point).  First, here's what Meade got on the Flip camera.

Shepard Fairey beaten up after spat over controversial Danish mural  —  Artist best known for the posters that helped elect Barack Obama is accused of peddling pro-government propaganda  —  When graffiti artist Shepard Fairey turned his talents to US politics, his reward was international acclaim …

Standard and Poors punctures Michele Bachmann's blissful fantasy  —  Wow, what colossally bad timing.  Here's Michele Bachmann at the debate last night, insisting that the Standard and Poors downgrade proved that she was right to oppose raising the debt ceiling:

Cokie's Law vs. Social Security  —  Dean Baker at Beat the Press: … This is exactly right.  All this nonsense about S&P's downgrade “causing” movement in the US stock market (which, as far as the MSM is concerned, is entirely comprised of the Dow Jones index) is wrong.  Foolish, even.

David Axelrod: Rick Perry Has a ‘Record of Decimation’  —  That's what the Obama campaign's top political strategist told me this morning when I asked him about the latest 2012 candidate, Rick Perry.  The Texas Governor made it clear his campaign will focus on his state's record of job growth …

Music teacher caught having sex with doll outside school  —  SPRING HILL, Tenn. - Police in Spring Hill arrested a local music teacher Thursday morning after he was caught engaging in a sex act with a doll outside a local elementary school.  —  Officers were called to Allendale Elementary School …

Matt Bai's Mystical Powers  —  Average political reporters observe what politicians say and write it down.  Better ones ask discerning questions and write the answer down.  But Matt Bai has political super-powers and just knows the answers to questions that he hasn't even asked: … Could you have?

G.O.P. on Defensive as Analysts Question Party's Fiscal Policy  —  WASHINGTON — The boasts of Congressional Republicans about their cost-cutting victories are ringing hollow to some well-known economists, financial analysts and corporate leaders, including some Republicans …

The Case for Calling Them Nitwits  —  They blow each other up by mistake.  They bungle even simple schemes.  They get intimate with cows and donkeys.  Our terrorist enemies trade on the perception that they're well trained and religiously devout, but in fact, many are fools and perverts …

Michelle Obama Spent 42 Days on Vacation this Past Year  —  First Lady Michelle Obama over the last year has spent a total of 42 days on vacation, or a little more than one out of every nine days, according to a White House Dossier analysis of her travel.  —  Her vacations, the cost …

Romney wealth valued up to $250 million  —  (CNN) - The turbulent financial climate of recent years has not had a noticeable impact on Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's own wallet, according to personal financial information released Friday by his campaign.