Rep. Thaddeus McCotter resigns from Congress  —  Michigan Republican Rep. Thaddeus McCotter, who launched a short-lived White House bid in 2011, announced Friday that he was resigning from Congress, citing personal family issues.  —  “After nearly 26 years in elected office …

Akron restaurant owner dies hours after meeting President Obama  —  The Rev. Jesse Jackson and his son have stopped at Ann's Place.  So have several professional football players.  —  For Josephine “Ann” Harris, however, none came close to President Barack Obama visiting her West Akron restaurant.

Afghanistan made ‘major US ally’  —  Nato-led troops are to leave Afghanistan by the end of 2014  —  The United States has given Afghanistan the status of “major non-Nato ally”.  —  The designation, which includes countries such as Australia, Egypt and Israel, gives preferential access to US arms exports and defence co-operation.

Federal Judge Richard Posner: The GOP Has Made Me Less Conservative  —  Judge Richard Posner, a conservative on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, has long been one of the nation's most respected and admired legal thinkers on the right.  But in an interview with NPR …

California Senate Narrowly Approves Rail Project  —  LOS ANGELES — Despite deepening doubts about the cost and feasibility of a $70 billion high-speed rail proposed to cross California, the State Senate on Friday narrowly approved legislation to spend $8 billion in federal and state money …

American Twilight  —  This weekend, I am thousands of miles from home in a remote and isolated part of the world with erratic communications and lack of basic services.  No, not Washington, D.C. Things aren't that primitive, thank God.  I'm in a rude Highland croft way up a far Scottish brae …

Mixed Message as Republicans Claim Health Law Cuts Medicare  —  WASHINGTON — For much of the past year, Republicans assailed President Obama for resisting the Medicare spending reductions they say are needed to both preserve health benefits for older Americans and avert a Greek-style debt crisis.

Jordanian MP pulls a gun on his critic during live TV debate  —  After trading insults with activist, parliamentarian first throws a shoe and then points a gun at adversary.  Host tries to break up brawl.  No shots fired  —  A Jordanian member of parliament pulled a gun on a political activist during …

There's Battle Lines Being Drawn  —  This year's presidential election is shaping up as the starkest choice since 1980, a year with which 2012 has much in common.  (OK, 1984 was a stark contrast too, but with a foregone conclusion.)  The Obama administration tells voters that 8% unemployment and 15% underemployment is the new normal.

Some Health Care For All, but not Too Much  —  Tyler Cowen caught a lot of flak recently for saying something that is clearly correct.  A lot of the flak has come from people who have misunderstood the implications of what he wrote.  —  Here's the relevant passage: … Cowen is right.

Mollie Hemingway, Ed. : Just Imagine The Mess Obama Will Inherit If He's Reelected!  —  When the June jobs report came out, showing 80,000 net new jobs and the unemployment rate stuck at 8.2%, Washington Post wunderkind Ezra Klein sarcastically responded:

MoveOn Is REALLY Sorry For Saying Bad Things About Charles Barron  —  Charles Barron (Photo: Facebook)  —  As the Democratic establishment rallied around Brooklyn Assemblyman Hakeem Jeffries' congressional campaign, a number of forces weighed in.  Among them was the progressive advocacy group MoveOn.org …

So.  It Has Come To This.  —  The scene is a security screening station at Los Angeles International Airport, August 2012.  —  Screening Officer Jules: Greetings, prospective passengers!  Looking to travel through the public airways?  Now don't be distressed!  You know who we are?