Setting Their Hair on Fire  —  First things first: I was favorably surprised by the new Obama jobs plan, which is significantly bolder and better than I expected.  It's not nearly as bold as the plan I'd want in an ideal world.  But if it actually became law, it would probably make a significant dent in unemployment.

The irrelevancy of the Obama presidency  —  President Obama gave one of the most impassioned speeches of his presidency when he addressed a joint session of Congress Thursday night.  Too bad so many in the audience thought it was a big, fat joke.  —  “You should pass this jobs plan right away!”

Poll shocker: GOP up for Anthony Weiner seat  —  Republicans are poised for a dramatic upset in next week's special election for a New York City congressional seat, according to a new poll out Friday.  —  The survey, conducted by the Siena Research Institute, found Republican Bob Turner holding …

Ron Paul Describes ‘Confrontation’ With Rick Perry On GOP Debate Stage  —  During the break of the GOP debate on Wednesday night, Texas Governor Rick Perry left his own podium to address his fellow Texan, Rep. Ron Paul.  A photographer captured the exchange, which appeared to be rather spirited given …

Feds: Zawahiri Launched Al Qaeda Terror Plot for 9/11 Anniversary  —  U.S. authorities are scrambling to sort through information that the CIA developed in the past 24 hours indicating that at least three individuals entered the U.S. in August by air with the intent to launch a vehicle-borne attack …

Chris Matthews' Social Security admission: ‘It is a Ponzi scheme’  —  Betcha didn't see this one coming.  —  On MSNBC's Thursday broadcast of “Hardball,” host Chris Matthews committed the mortal sin — he nearly parroted the theory that mortified so many of the network's hosts and guests throughout the day.

THE AMERICAN JOBS ACT  —  1. Tax Cuts to Help America's Small Businesses Hire and Grow  — Cutting the payroll tax in half for 98 percent of businesses: The President's plan will cut in half the taxes paid by businesses on their first $5 million in payroll, targeting the benefit …

Obama's uncle quietly released from jail  —  Officials released President Obama's uncle from Plymouth County jail yesterday after holding him for more than two weeks on an immigration detainer for violating an order to return to his native Kenya in 1992.  —  US officials refused to disclose …

On the Tone and Structure of the Obama Jobs Speech  —  1) In his appraisal, the Atlantic's Chris Good said that the speech's refrain — pass this jobs bill; you should pass it right away — amounted to a kind of begging to Congress.  That may be the President's real situation.

Jacqueline Kennedy on Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.  —  Speaking in the months after her husband's assassination, Jacqueline Kennedy was so upset with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. that she told a friend and interviewer that she could barely look at images of him.

Some of Sarah Palin's Ideas Cross the Political Divide  —  CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS — Let us begin by confessing that, if Sarah Palin surfaced to say something intelligent and wise and fresh about the present American condition, many of us would fail to hear it.  —  That is not how we're primed to see Ms. Palin.

Obama Officials Sat In On Solyndra Meetings  —  Officials from the Department of Energy have for months been sitting in on board meetings as “observers” at Solyndra, getting an up-close view as the solar energy company careened towards bankruptcy after spending more than $500 million in federal loan money.

F-16 pilot was ready to give her life on Sept. 11  —  Video: The Washington Post's Anqoinette Crosby talks with reporter Steve Hendrix about one of the first fighter pilots to scramble after the attacks of Sept. 11.  With no ordinance on board her jet, she was faced with the possibility …

Clinton: ‘Below zero’ chance at challenging Obama  —  Washington (CNN) - Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says there is a “below zero” chance that she will challenge President Barack Obama for the presidency in 2012.  —  In an interview with CNN's Alison Kosik on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange …