U.S. Is Set to Sue a Dozen Big Banks Over Mortgages  —  The federal agency that oversees the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is set to file suits against more than a dozen big banks, accusing them of misrepresenting the quality of mortgage securities they assembled and sold …

U.S. Showed No Job Growth in August; Rate Stays at 9.1%  —  The economy showed no job growth in August, the first time there has been no increase in net jobs in the United States in 11 months.  —  The flat performance in the job market was down sharply from a revised 85,000 gain of jobs in July …

Dem ‘plans to ask a Republican to sit with him’ at joint session  —  There will likely be at least some bipartisan seating in the House chamber for President Obama's speech next week.  —  Sen. Mark Udall (D-Colo.) does not plan to renew his previous call for lawmakers to sit together in a symbolic gesture of unity.

Statement by the President on the Ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards  —  Over the last two and half years, my administration, under the leadership of EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson, has taken some of the strongest actions since the enactment of the Clean Air Act four decades ago …

Five NASCAR Drivers Decline President Obama's White House Invitation  —  President Barack Obama will honor NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson and the 11 other Chase drivers from last year in a White House ceremony on Wednesday - but nearly half of the 2010 playoff contenders won't be there.

Debunking Austerity Madness: ZERO Job Growth in US, Gloomy Europe - Yet an Argentinean ‘Tango’  —  The Village was rocked this Friday before Labor Day with yet more depressing economic news.  According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the U.S. labor market added 0 (that's right ZERO) …

The Great Recession and Government Failure  —  When comparing the performance of markets to government, markets look pretty darn good.  —  The origins of the financial crisis and the Great Recession are widely attributed to “market failure.”  This refers primarily to the bad loans …

Eric and Irene  —  “Have you left no sense of decency?”  That's the question Joseph Welch famously asked Joseph McCarthy, as the red-baiting demagogue tried to ruin yet another innocent citizen.  And these days, it's the question I find myself wanting to ask Eric Cantor, the House majority leader …

There is something very ugly about this attempt to ghettoise Israeli musicians  —  Last night's protest at the Proms against the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra represented a new low in anti-Israel agitation.  It confirmed that everything and everyone connected with Israel is now looked upon by certain …

Regulations, taxes aren't killing small business, owners say  —  WASHINGTON — Politicians and business groups often blame excessive regulation and fear of higher taxes for tepid hiring in the economy.  However, little evidence of that emerged when McClatchy canvassed a random sample of small business owners across the nation.

College professor allegedly led motorcycle gang, drug ring [updated]  —  A Cal State San Bernardino professor who allegedly led a chapter of the Devils Diciples motorcycle gang was charged Thursday with heading up a methamphetamine drug ring that involved several other dealers.

White House received emails about Fast and Furious gun-trafficking operation  —  Three national security officials were given some details about the operation.  But an administration official says the emails do not prove that anyone in the White House was aware of the covert tactics of the program.

FreedomWorks CEO slams Romney event: ‘This is a photo op’  —  (CNN) - The leader of a large grassroots organization instrumental to the tea party movement isn't happy with Mitt Romney, and he's not afraid to show it.  —  Matt Kibbe, president and CEO of FreedomWorks, was adamant …