Top Items:

Fox News Poll: GOP Race Top Tier Now Romney, Perry and Cain — Three September debates have shaken-up the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Herman Cain has jumped into the top tier. Rick Perry's stumbled. Mitt Romney's holding steady. — And Michele Bachmann is hitting bottom.
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Is This Man the G.O.P.'s Best Bet for 2012? — Gail Collins: David, are you reconciled to the fact that Mitt Romney is going to be the Republican presidential nominee? — David Brooks: Oh, I went through that phase a few weeks ago after the debate at the Reagan library.
Discussion:
Campaign 2012 and driftglass

Romney addresses his Achilles' heel — Last week, in one of the more amusing political claims of the year, Mitt Romney boasted, “I stand by my positions. I'm proud of them.” Given Romney's record of abandoning every policy position he's ever taken, it was hard not to marvel at his shamelessness.
Discussion:
Balloon Juice


Political Memo: Romney Endures More G.O.P. Flirtation With Alternatives — WASHINGTON — The Republican who may have the strongest shot of winning the White House, at least in the eyes of President Obama and his advisers, is Mitt Romney. Now, if Mr. Romney could only persuade Republican voters.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, Washington Post, Associated Press, New York Magazine and The Page


Complex calendar gives Romney edge
Discussion:
msnbc.com, GOP 12, Los Angeles Times, Swampland and CNN

Romney Addresses Flip-Flop Criticism at N.H. Town Hall
Discussion:
Weasel Zippers and Campaign 2012

Man arrested in ‘step-by-step’ plot to blow up Capitol, Pentagon — The FBI arrested and charged a man Wednesday for allegedly plotting to blow up the Capitol and the Pentagon. — The 26-year-old Massachusetts man, Rezwan Ferdaus, was arrested as part of an FBI sting operation …
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Man Is Held in a Plan to Bomb Washington
Discussion:
The Monkey Cage, Creekside and New York Magazine


Obama's health reform law rests with the Supreme Court — “Unfortunately the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against the Affordable Care Act's individual responsibility provision. We strongly disagree with their decision and today, the Obama administration will ask the Supreme Court to hear this case …
Discussion:
ABCNEWS
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Supreme Court Ruling Could Revive Health Care for 2012 Campaign — The White House's decision to seek a quick ruling on President Obama's landmark health care law will inject the controversial issue back into the nation's political bloodstream at the height of the 2012 presidential campaign.
Discussion:
Prairie Weather

Justice Dept. Asks Supreme Court to Hear Case on Health Care Law
Discussion:
Bloomberg, Justice Blog, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, The Caucus, ACS Blog, Business Insider, Slate Magazine, TalkLeft and New York Magazine

U.S. appeals on health care (UPDATED)
Discussion:
aca litigation blog, Opinion L.A., Law Blog and The Volokh Conspiracy

Justice Dept. asks Supreme Court to review health-care law
Discussion:
The Heritage Foundation, Outside the Beltway, Balloon Juice, Firedoglake and Truthdig


Chris Christie: Is New Jersey Governor Too Overweight to Become President? — For Chris Christie, there was no way around it. “In case you haven't noticed, I'm slightly overweight,” he said during a debate in his successful campaign for governor. — Two years later, Christie is the man …
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blog, Politics and Trail Blazers Blog


Alabama Wins in Ruling on Its Immigration Law — A federal judge on Wednesday upheld most of the sections of Alabama's far-reaching immigration law that had been challenged by the Obama administration, including portions that had been blocked in other states.
Discussion:
msnbc.com, UrbanGrounds and Washington Post
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Judge OKs key parts of Alabama immigration law
Discussion:
Firedoglake, ice.gov, Weasel Zippers and CNN


Rick Perry to Newsmax: I Regret ‘Heartless’ Comment on Immigration — More ways to share... Mixx — Stumbled — LinkedIn — Vine — Buzzflash — Newstrust — Technocrati — Forward Article — Presidential candidate Rick Perry on Wednesday apologized for saying …
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Rick Perry's wife says scrutiny faced during presidential campaign has been ‘intense’
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, USA Today and Washington Wire


Germany Approves Expansion of Euro Bailout Fund — BERLIN — The German Parliament approved the expansion of the bailout fund for heavily indebted European countries Thursday, the most important step in a tortuous process that has rattled markets and raised long-term doubts about the ability …
Discussion:
ThinkProgress, The Big Picture and New York Magazine
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Frau Merkel, it really is a euro crisis
Discussion:
The Agonist, naked capitalism, Business Insider and Telegraph

Democrats Dispirited About Voting in 2012 — Republicans' enthusiasm for voting matches 2004 and exceeds 2008 — PRINCETON, NJ — In thinking about the 2012 presidential election, 45% of Democrats and independents who lean Democratic say they are more enthusiastic about voting than usual …
Discussion:
Hot Air


Companies Use Immigration Crackdown to Turn a Profit — The men showed up in a small town in Australia's outback early last year, offering top dollar for all available lodgings. Within days, their company, Serco, was flying in recruits from as far away as London, and busing them from trailers …
Discussion:
Prairie Weather


Bologna's Second Attack with Pepper Spray — Gradually the exploits of Detective Inspector Anthony (Tony Baloney) Bologna have eeked their way even into the mainstream media. It has become well known that he engages, in violation of policy, in an O.C. (Pepper) Spray attack on four defenseless women without provocation.
Discussion:
Balloon Juice, City Room, emptywheel, Gothamist and New York Magazine
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More solar companies led by Democratic donors received federal loan guarantees — A Daily Caller investigation has found that in addition to the failed company Solyndra, at least four other solar panel manufacturing companies receiving in excess of $500 million in loan guarantees …
Discussion:
Campaign 2012


Christie seriously considering presidential bid after GOP prodding — By JOSH MARGOLIN in New York and S.A. MILLER in Washington — After months of hedging, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie is giving serious thought to jumping into the ring for a GOP presidential run — and could make his decision next week, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice


NYC Mayor Bloomberg: 'Government's Highest Duty' Is to Push ‘Healthy’ Foods — (CNSNews.com) - During a United Nations General Assembly summit on non-communicable diseases — a discussion that included diet and eating habits — New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said …
Discussion:
Michelle Malkin, americanthinker.com, Le·gal In·sur·rec· tion, Weasel Zippers and LewRockwell.com Blog