Conservatives launch “We are the 53 percent” to criticize 99 percenters  —  Conservative activists have created a Tumblr called “We are the 53 percent” that's meant to be a counterpunch to the viral “We are the 99 percent” site that's become a prominent symbol for the Occupy Wall Street movement.

Cain Surges, Nearly Ties Romney for Lead in GOP Preferences  —  Romney and Cain closely matched near 20%, with Perry at 15%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Republicans' support for Herman Cain has surged to 18%, their support for Rick Perry has sagged to 15%, and their support for Mitt Romney remains relatively stable at 20%.

Trying to restore Senate comity  —  Democrats have one overriding objective this Congress: to create jobs and get our economy back on track.  But our Republican colleagues are so dead set on preventing Democrats from passing job-creating legislation that they have been willing to abuse …

A Nobel for Non-Keynesians  —  People's expectations about government policy make it difficult for officials to affect the economy in the ways they intend to.  —  On Monday the Nobel Committee announced the winners of the 2011 Nobel Prize in economics: Thomas J. Sargent of New York University …

Behind Bachmann's Slide  —  On August 13, as dusk settled upon Iowa State University, Michele Bachmann hopped onto a makeshift stepstool beside her bus.  Her supporters crowded close, pressing against a flimsy rope.  Bachmann, clad in an ivory-colored suit and pearls, raised both arms.

Boston police move in on protesters on Greenway, scores arrested  —  Boston police moved in and began arresting scores of Occupy Boston protesters who refused to leave a large part of the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway early this morning.  —  At 1:20 a.m., the first riot police officers lined up on Atlantic Avenue.

Wisconsin Democrats Start Drive to Recall Governor  —  Democrats in Wisconsin made a long-mulled plan official on Monday night: next month, people will begin collecting signatures to recall Gov. Scott Walker, a Republican in his first year in office whose move to limit collective bargaining rights …

The not-so-super committee  —  In news that should surprise absolutely no one, it appears the Murray/Hensarling super-committee isn't even close to reaching any kind of deal. … Remember all of those predictions that said the super-committee would fail because Republicans would never …

Belafonte on Herman Cain: ‘Totally False’ and ‘A Bad Apple’  —  Aging crooner Harry Belafonte wants us to know Herman Cain is one “bad apple,” someone for whom prayers weren't created.  —  Belafonte, hitting the talk show circuit to promote his new memoir 'Sing Your Song …

Individualists In The Marine Corps  —  Erick Erickson and Josh Trevino are, I'm told, the geniuses behind the dimwitted concept of countering the 99 Percent Movement with an effort to divide the country between the 53 percent of the population that has net federal income tax liability …

In hindsight, Pawlenty regrets quick race pullout  —  ST. PAUL, Minn.—Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty says he might have stayed in the Republican presidential race longer had he known it would be this volatile.  —  Pawlenty reflected on his decision to drop out after his official state portrait was unveiled Monday night.