Occupy Wall Street protester who was pepper-sprayed finds romance with fellow demonstrator  —  Occupy Wall Street protester Kaylee Dedrick is still furious over getting pepper-sprayed by a cop - but the blinding sting wasn't all bad.  —  It sparked a romance with a fellow protester who came to her aid.

Occupy Oakland: Iraq war veteran in critical condition after police clashes  —  Scott Olsen, 24, in hospital with fractured skull and brain swelling after allegedly being hit by a police projectile in Oakland  —  An Iraq war veteran has a fractured skull and brain swelling after allegedly being hit by a police projectile.

GOP rejects Dems offer in ‘super committee,’ negotiations ‘deadlocked’ over taxes  —  Washington (CNN) - Democrats on the so-called “super committee” proposed during a closed meeting Tuesday a $3 trillion plan designed to slash the federal deficit but Republicans swiftly and decisively rejected …

Poll: Romney at or tied for top spot in first 4 states to vote  —  (CNN) - Mitt Romney is on the top or tied for the lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination in new surveys in the first four states to vote in next year's primary and caucus calendar.

Romney rushes to clarify to comments on union bargaining bill  —  FAIRFAX, Va. — Mitt Romney sought to overturn his controversial comment on unions Wednesday, saying he supports Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R) “110 percent” in limiting collective bargaining power.

Rick Perry: Obama is an American citizen  —  ST PETE BEACH - Texas governor Rick Perry clarified Wednesday that he has no doubt that Barack Obama was born in the U.S., saying that he was only kidding around when he voiced doubts in a TV interview earlier this week.

Inappropriate Note Author Identified and Removed From Screening  —  Earlier this week, a passenger found a highly inappropriate note scrawled on a “Notice of Inspection” that TSA places in checked bags if they are required to be searched.  She tweeted a photo of what she found and we soon learned of the incident.

Chelsea Clinton Mulls Congressional Run from New York State; 18th District in Westchester County Considered Likely Choice  —  Talk of the Sound has learned that Chelsea Clinton may run for Congress next year.  —  Clinton has been approached by “the right people” in the New York Democratic Party, according to one source in Albany.

Rick Perry aide says yes to Michigan debate, but maybe not beyond  —  Rick Perry, who made clear during his Bill O'Reilly interview last night that he finds the debate formats geared toward promoting a fight, is going to the No. 9 one after that - but is a question mark for some of the glut of face-offs after that.

Pizza Magnate Leads GOP Presidential Pack In Ohio, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Romney Stalled As Perry Vanishes  —  Former Godfather's Pizza CEO Herman Cain has jumped to the front of the line among GOP presidential contenders with 28 percent support among Ohio Republicans.

Wisconsin Recall Prospects Dimming  —  Scott Walker's approval numbers are continuing to improve, making the prospect of recalling him look much tougher for Democrats than it did during the spring.  —  Walker's still not popular- 47% of voters approve of him, compared to 51% who disapprove.

BREAKING: Homeland Security Adviser Allegedly Leaked Intel to Attack Rick Perry  —  PLAYING POLITICS WITH NATIONAL SECURITY?  BREAKING: Homeland Security Adviser Allegedly Leaked Intel to Attack Rick Perry.  —  HOW'S THAT HOPEY-CHANGEY STUFF WORKIN' OUT FOR YA?  (CONT'D): New Poll Finds a Deep Distrust of Government.

White House hits Ryan, McConnell for practicing the ‘politics of division’  —  The White House's top spokesman said Wednesday that despite charges from Republicans that President Obama is too partisan, it is Republican leaders like Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) and Rep. Paul Ryan (Wis.) who are practicing the “politics of division.”

Copying: It's A Good Thing  —  Tim Lee has a great post not so much defending Google and Android from accusations of “stealing” ideas from Apple and iOS as defending their right to do so.  He's got this exactly right, I think. … Copying of business concepts is integral to the “invisible hand” model of market competition.

Tie in Nevada  —  After trailing by as much as 13 points earlier this year, Shelley Berkley has moved into a tie with Dean Heller in the Nevada Senate race at 45%.  —  On PPP's last poll, in late July, Heller had led 46-43.  The main thing that's happened since then is Berkley has consolidated the Democratic vote.

Obama Wrote Fewer Rules Than Bush, Cost More  —  President Barack Obama's “tsunami” of new government regulations looks more like a summer swell.  —  Obama's White House has approved fewer regulations than his predecessor George W. Bush at this same point in their tenures …