Crony Capitalism Comes Home  —  Whenever I write about Occupy Wall Street, some readers ask me if the protesters really are half-naked Communists aiming to bring down the American economic system when they're not doing drugs or having sex in public.  —  The answer is no. That alarmist view …

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan Says She Will Minimize Police Presence And That She Supports The Movement  —  After the first heavy-handed police crackdown on demonstrators in Oakland, Mayor Jean Quan wrote a statement on her Facebook page praising police for closing down the Occupy Oakland protest encampment.

Gibbs: Obama gets ‘Occupy’ anxiety  —  Former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs argued Thursday that President Barack Obama was the best choice for the middle class distress illustrated by the Occupy Wall Street movement.  —  “Every one of the Republican candidates wants to roll …

Herman Cain, Outlier  —  Herman Cain, the Georgia businessman who has never held elected office, is tied for the lead in national polls of Republican voters — or perhaps even slightly ahead of Mitt Romney, as he was in Tuesday night's New York Times/CBS News poll.

Economists React: ‘Where Are the Recession Calls Now?’  —  Economists and others weigh in on the 2.5% growth in GDP at a seasonally adjusted annual rate.  —Broad based gains indeed with consumer spending, business investment, structures and residential investment up... Modest growth …

Adviser: Connie Mack to enter U.S. Senate race  —  U.S. Rep. Connie Mack unexpectedly signaled late Wednesday that he will enter the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, apparently convinced other candidates cannot defeat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.  —  “He's getting in the race,” adviser David James said in an e-mail.