White House Issues Guides on Sept. 11 Observances  —  WASHINGTON — The White House has issued detailed guidelines to government officials on how to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks, with instructions to honor the memory of those who died on American soil but also to recall …

‘Jewish’ Bachmann is costing Romney  —  Funny, she doesn't look Jewish.  —  Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is facing a new challenge: He's having trouble raising money from some Jewish donors who mistakenly believe one of his opponents, Michele Bachmann, is Jewish.

The Case Against a Payroll Tax Cut  —  Bruce Bartlett held senior policy roles in the Reagan and George H.W. Bush administrations and served on the staffs of Representatives Jack Kemp and Ron Paul.  —  It's rare for Republicans to find a tax cut they don't support, but last week …

Republicans to Unveil Bill to Force Major Changes at the UN  —  House Republicans are planning to introduce today legislation that seeks to force major changes at the United Nations, using as leverage the U.S.'s 22 percent contribution to the world body's operating budget.

President Obama's uncle had Social Security ID  —  President Obama's accused drunken-driving uncle — who was busted after a near collision with a Framingham cop — has had a valid Social Security number for at least 19 years, despite being an illegal immigrant ordered to be deported back to Kenya, the Herald has learned.

The Gibson Guitar Saga Gets Steadily Curiouser  —  These days, you can't keep up with all the news.  There is just too much going on.  So inevitably, there are interesting stories that you have to catch up with when you can, like a moving train.  The Justice Department's raid on four Gibson guitar factories is in that category.

Why Dick Cheney Left Office Unpopular and Reviled  —  As the former vice president releases his memoir, it's useful to recall the many reasons why the vast majority of Americans disapproved of his tenure  —  When Vice President Dick Cheney left office, his approval rating stood at a staggeringly low 13 percent.

‘Big Government finally got one right’  —  Hurricane Irene is gone, but its affects are still being felt.  As of this morning, the death toll had climbed to 40.  —  And while relief efforts continue, there are already some preliminary evaluations on how officials prepared and responded to the storm.

Fischer: Make Homosexuality “A Criminal Offense”  —  On his radio show Focal Point yesterday, American Family Association spokesman Bryan Fischer called on all fifty states to criminalize homosexuality.  In 2003, the Supreme Court's decision in Lawrence v. Texas overturned anti-sodomy laws …

Christine O'Donnell will speak before Sarah Palin at Iowa tea party rally Saturday  —  Delaware Republican Christine O'Donnell waves before giving her concession speech in the U.S. Senate race in this Nov. 2, 2010 file photo from Dover, Del. (AP photo)  —  Tea party-backed activist Christine O'Donnell …

Perry at the VFW  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry had not planned on going to the Texas meeting of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.  Then on Aug. 22 a press release appeared on the group's Web site, criticizing the president for not attending.  It also included this blast at Perry:

Health care fraud prosecutions on pace to rise 85%  —  WASHINGTON - New government statistics show federal health care fraud prosecutions in the first eight months of 2011 are on pace to rise 85% over last year due in large part to ramped-up enforcement efforts under the Obama administration.

Parts of Britain suffer coldest summer for nearly two decades  —  Much of Britain suffered the coldest summer for almost two decades, Met Office statistics show.  —  As Britons return to work today after a soggy Bank Holiday weekend, official weather data reveals that average temperatures were significantly down on recent years.

Black leaders turn up heat on Obama  —  If there's anything close to a political certainty in 2012, it's that Barack Obama will get more than 90 percent of the African-American vote.  —  But that doesn't mean every black Obama supporter will vote for him happily - nor does it guarantee …

GOP members of supercommittee to hold first strategy session  —  The Republican members of the debt supercommittee will meet for the first time Tuesday to plot strategy, GOP aides confirmed.  —  The meeting will be convened by committee co-chairman Rep. Jeb Hensarling (R-Texas).

Rick Perry's Texas: Noodling, Helicopter Hog-Hunting Now Legal  —  What would America be like under a Rick Perry presidency?  Well, if Rick Perry's Texas is any indication, the country could look forward to 85 mph speed limits, hog hunting from helicopters and a security check “fast-lane” for concealed handgun carriers.