Fireworks between Perry and Romney erupt early in debate  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) began sparring over their respective jobs records after no less than 10 minutes into Wednesday's Republican presidential debate.

Confronting Disappointment  —  On Friday afternoon, as brave and committed activists continued their non-violent civil disobedience outside the White House in protest of the tar sands pipeline that would lead to a massive increase in global warming pollution, President Obama ordered the EPA …

Hill moving fast on spending bills  —  Keeping faith with the August debt accord, House Republicans and Senate Democrats moved dramatically closer on 2012 domestic spending Wednesday even as the GOP leadership signaled greater latitude regarding disaster funding without immediate offsets.

NBC picks Packers over Obama in Milwaukee  —  He probably didn't know it at the time, but when President Obama greeted Green Bay Packers quarterback (and California Golden Bears alum) Aaron Rodgers at the White House this August, he was shaking hand with the competition.  And not because Obama is a Chicago Bears fan.

Actress Mila Kunis: ‘I Love Barack Obama,’ Adds Young Republicans Are ‘Ill-Informed’  —  Actress Mila Kunis granted an interview (and cover photo) to Stylist magazine and proclaimed “I love Barack Obama” and that young Republicans are “ill-informed” in Middle America and can't tell you why they oppose Obama.

The secret to the right wing noise machine's success  —  It's simple: Keep making noise, regardless of the facts, and hopefully with a big assist from the major news orgs, until the other side caves from sheer exhaustion, in order to make the noise go away.  —  Conservatives and Tea Partyers …

Dick Cheney to Hillary Clinton: Run!  —  LOS ANGELES — Hillary Clinton for president?  —  “So far she hasn't said she would, but I think it's not a bad idea,” former Vice President Dick Cheney told ABC's Jonathan Karl in an interview on Wednesday to promote his new book “In My Time.”

One Reason Why Keynesian Stimuli Aren't Working: They Aren't Keynesian  —  In The Washington Times, businessman Mike Whalen (who's associated the free-market think tank NCPA) writes up an interesting take on why various federal stimulus program have tanked like the Titanic (while causing few ripples on the way down).

Obama Approval Sinks to New Lows Among Whites, Hispanics  —  Blacks' support remains high, but at 84% ties record for monthly low  —  PRINCETON, NJ — President Barack Obama earned the lowest monthly job approval rating of his presidency to date in August, with 41% of U.S. adults approving …

Dickensian  —  I have to laugh at the Mistermix that the media might notice the Republicans are crazy and a pile-on might begin.  It just cracks me up.  Look where we are now- Paul Ryan, the GOP poster boy who offered up the blueprint for the biggest piece of class warfare ever offered …

The real Ronald Reagan may not meet today's GOP standards  —  The pragmatic side of the former president, who was willing to compromise when necessary, is overlooked as he becomes a conservative icon.  —  When the Republican presidential hopefuls gather to debate Wednesday night in Simi Valley …

The Greater Recession: The Real Reason Americans Feel So Squeezed  —  The collapse of the middle class is greater than the Great Recession.  But what's really behind our 30-year crash?  One statistic, often ignored, begins to provide a clearer picture.  It's the productivity, stupid.  —  REUTERS

Audio: Chris Christie Lets Loose at Secret Koch Brothers Confab  —  In our exclusive recordings, David Koch introduces the New Jersey governor as “my kind of guy” and “a true political hero.”  —  Post Comment … On the morning of June 26, Chris Christie, New Jersey's flamboyant …

HHS expands hospital visitation rights for gay couples  —  Secretary of Health & Human Services Kathleen Sebelius (Blade file photo by Michael Key)  —  The Department of Health & Human Services on Wednesday unveiled a new policy to enhance hospital visitation rights for same-sex couples.

REPUBLICANS CHEER DEATH PENALTY at Reagan Library Debate (Video)  —  Republicans Cheer Death Penalty-  —  Republicans cheered the death penalty tonight at the GOP debate at the Reagan Library.  They cheered again when Governor Rick Perry defended his state's laws.  —  Brian Williams: Governor Perry a question about Texas.

Contract Dispute Grounds Firefighting Planes  —  Nearly half of the federal government's firefighting air tankers are siting idle at a California airport, grounded by the Obama administration in a contract dispute just weeks before wildfires swept through Texas killing a mother and her child, and destroying 100,000 acres.

Many in U.S. slip from middle class, study finds  —  Nearly one in three Americans who grew up middle-class has slipped down the income ladder as an adult, according to a new report by the Pew Charitable Trusts.  —  Downward mobility is most common among middle-class people who are divorced …

Rocking out with Michele Bachmann Overdrive  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann, the Republican presidential candidate who won the Iowa straw poll last month, might not know it, but she's even got a band named after her.  —  Michele Bachmann Overdrive is a four-man rock outfit based in Great Falls …

Obama's base grows disenchanted  —  President Obama takes off his jacket as he attends a town hall meeting at Facebook headquarters with CEO Mark Zuckerberg in April.  (REUTERS/Jim Young)Even President Obama's base is starting to leave him.  —  A new Washington Post-ABC News poll shows …