Do We Really Need a National Weather Service?  —  As Hurricane Irene bears down on the East Coast, news stations bombard our televisions with constant updates from the National Hurricane Center.  —  While Americans ought to prepare for the coming storm, federal dollars need not subsidize their preparations.

Perry calls Social Security ‘monstrous lie’  —  OTTUMWA, Iowa - Riding high in the polls, Gov. Rick Perry rode into Iowa on Saturday with tough talk on President Obama, the economy and foreign policy and a declaration that Social Security is not only a Ponzi scheme but a “monstrous lie” for younger people.

Reporter Gives Update Covered In Sea Foam  —  MYFOXNY.COM - A local news reporter from Washington, D.C. ended up getting covered in what is probably the remnants of raw sewage as he delivered live hurricane reports from Ocean City, Md.  —  WTTG-TV reporter Tucker Barnes was providing live updates …

Obama's illegal uncle arrested; ‘Uncle Omar’ hits cop car, tries to call White House  —  A number of media outlets have already reported that an illegal immigrant from Kenya by the name of Onyango Obama, 67, was arrested last week on Wednesday after he rammed his SUV into a police car in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Flooding surges as Irene hits Northeast  —  New York (CNN) — Trees toppled and streets flooded Sunday morning as Irene lashed some of the biggest cities in the Northeast with wind gusts and torrential rains.  —  Even as Irene weakened to a tropical storm, authorities in the region warned that its impact was not waning.

Did We Drop the Ball on Unemployment?  —  WHEN I'm in New York or Washington, people talk passionately about debt and political battles.  But in the living rooms or on the front porches here in Yamhill, Ore., where I grew up, a different specter wakes friends up in the middle of the night.

Powell Not Sold on Obama in '12  —  ABC News' Rick Klein (@rickklein) reports:  —  Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who famously crossed party lines to vote for President Obama in 2008, said today that he's not necessarily supporting the president for reelection in 2012.