Field of Dashed Dreams  —  The president was in “Afternoon of a Faun” mode, a rural deity playing on his panpipes in the woods.  Then, suddenly, he stood very still as he sensed electoral danger.  —  After assuring Obama that she was a supporter, an Iowa mother named Emily asked the president …

Crashing the Tea Party  —  GIVEN how much sway the Tea Party has among Republicans in Congress and those seeking the Republican presidential nomination, one might think the Tea Party is redefining mainstream American politics.  —  But in fact the Tea Party is increasingly swimming …

Obama Campaign Staffer Sends Out Email Bashing Paul Krugman And ‘Firebagger Lefty Blogosphere’ … WASHINGTON — The Obama campaign's point person in New Mexico recently sent an email to supporters defending the president's position on the debt deal and bashing the “Firebagger Lefty blogosphere …

Obama dares Republicans to block his coming jobs package  —  The president, visiting the Midwest, pledges to send Congress a plan in September and challenges Republicans to block it.  Not all Democrats are comfortable with his hard-line stance.  —  Reporting from Davenport, Iowa …

Rick Perry: Climate Change Is A Hoax Drummed Up By Scientists Looking To Make Money  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry is a conservative Republican, and as such he does not believe that climate change is caused by human activity.  But Perry went one step further than most in the mainstream climate …

Canucklehead Obama bus-ted!  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama is barnstorming the heartland to boost US jobs in a taxpayer-financed luxury bus the government had custom built — in Canada, The Post has learned.  —  The $1.1 million vehicle, one of two that Quebec-based Prevost sold the government …

Bachmann: I'll get gas under $2  —  Americans will save at the pump if Michele Bachmann is elected president, the Minnesota Republican said Tuesday.  —  “The day that the president became president gasoline was $1.79 a gallon.  Look at what it is today,” she said at an event in Greenville …

Black caucus: Tired of making excuses for Obama  —  During a sometimes-raucous session of what's being called the “For the People” Jobs Initiative tour, a key member of the Congressional Black Caucus told an audience in Detroit Tuesday that the CBC doesn't put pressure on President Obama because he is loved by black voters.

Gingrich Takes Campaign, Wife to Hawaii  —  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will spend this weekend campaigning and raising money in Hawaii, his campaign announced Wednesday. … While Newt and Callista Gingrich won't be in Hawaii on their 11th wedding anniversary, which is Thursday …

GOP Bigs Push Paul Ryan to Run  —  Mitch Daniels, Jeb Bush, John Boehner, Jim Jordan, and Bill Bennett encourage Ryan to run for president.  —  As Wisconsin congressman Paul Ryan comes to a final decision about running for president, several top national conservatives are encouraging him to join the race.

The Printing Press Mystery  —  John Plender at the FT seems mystified by something that has become obvious lately: bond vigilantes are only going after countries that no longer have their own currencies.  He writes: … Oddly, he seems unaware of the pretty good explanation offered by Paul DeGrauwe …

Firearms from ATF sting linked to 11 more violent crimes  —  Guns from Operation Fast and Furious were found at scenes in Arizona and Texas, the Justice Department acknowledges, widening the scope of the danger posed by the program.  —  Bill Newell, special agent in charge of ATF Phoenix …

Renegade Miami football booster spells out illicit benefits to players  —  Nevin Shapiro and a second source said this photo of the booster and Kellen Winslow Jr. was taken in Shapiro's VIP section of Opium Garden nightclub in 2003.  —  KEARNY, N.J. - A University of Miami booster …

New Low of 26% Approve of Obama on the Economy  —  Ratings on Afghanistan and foreign affairs have also declined  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A new low of 26% of Americans approve of President Barack Obama's handling of the economy, down 11 percentage points since Gallup last measured it in mid …

Abercrombie to ‘Jersey Shore’: Ditch our brand  —  NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Mike “the Situation” Sorrentino may have to find some new attire for his “gym, tan, laundry” routine.  —  On Tuesday, clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch ( ANF) said it would offer “substantial payment” …

FDNY Rescues Driver From Truck Dangling From Sanitation Garage  —  ​This photo just in.  Somehow, a garbage (some are saying a salt) truck managed to get in this precarious position, two stories high, dangling out of a sanitation garage at 58-35 52 Road at 59th Street in Queens.

The Incredible Shrinking Union  —  So the Communications Workers of America are out on strike against Verizon.  The most remarkable thing is not the alleged acts of sabotage against land lines that serve hospitals , or the shocking willingness of an anonymous Verizon manager to threaten retaliation …

Wirch, Holperin win Senate recalls; GOP retains 17-16 majority  —  By Tom Tolan, Patrick Marley and Jason Stein of the Journal Sentinel  —  The six-month saga that was Wisconsin's state Senate recall movement ended Tuesday with Democrats retaining two seats - and Republicans still in possession …