Why the White House changed course  —  President Obama's deficit-reduction plan (pdf) is most interesting for what's not in it.  It does not cut Social Security by “chaining” the program's cost-of-living increases.  It does not raise the eligibility age for Medicare from 65 to 67.

Obama Deficit Plan Cuts Entitlements and Raises Taxes on Rich  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama will unveil a deficit-reduction plan on Monday that uses entitlement cuts, tax increases and war savings to reduce government spending by more than $3 trillion over the next 10 years, administration officials said.

Obama throws ‘class warfare’ charge back in GOP's face  —  This has to be the clearest sign yet that Obama has taken a very sharp populist turn as he seeks to frame the contrast between the parties heading into 2012.  During his remarks this morning, Obama directly responded to Republicans accusing him of …

Behind Obama's newfound aggressiveness: GOP fear of the ‘trigger’  —  It's probably true, as Greg wrote this morning, that Barack Obama's willingness to promote a jobs bill and now a deficit reduction package that are dead on arrival in the House — but will give the White House popular talking points …

Obama defends new taxes: 'This is not class warfare, it's math'  —  President Obama defended his proposals to raise taxes on the wealthy Monday and promised to veto any deficit reduction plan from Congress that cuts entitlement programs but doesn't raise taxes on the wealthy.

The Tsuris  —  Barack Obama is the best thing Israel has going for it right now.  Why is that so difficult for Netanyahu and his American Jewish allies to understand?  —  The last time Barack Obama and Benjamin Netanyahu shared each other's company, you could say that the encounter did not go well …