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The Capitalism Debate  —  Let's say you are president in a time of a sustained economic slowdown.  You initiated a series of big policies that you thought were going to turn the economy around, but they didn't work — either because they were insufficient or ineffective.

Bachmann defends her witch hunt  —  The Minnesota representative offers “evidence” of Islamic infiltration of the U.S. government in a 16-page letter  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann defended her attempt to root out “deep penetration” by the Muslim Brotherhood into the U.S. government Friday …

Obama switches off teleprompter  —  President Obama is weaning himself off his teleprompter.  —  At recent campaign events in Pennsylvania, Virginia and again Monday in Ohio, Obama spoke to crowds in high school gymnasiums and at crowded outdoor events without his teleprompter, instead using written notes.

Senate to take second shot Tuesday to advance DISCLOSE Act  —  The Senate will try again to advance the DISCLOSE Act Tuesday, after Republicans prevented it from moving on Monday.  —  Senators are scheduled to hold a procedural vote on the bill at 3 p.m. — technically, a motion to limit debate on a motion to proceed to the bill.

The media obsess on Bain while we head to a recession  —  The divergence between what the Obama campaign and the media (I repeat myself) are talking about (Bain, Bain and Bain) and the most important economic (and hence political) news of the year is breathtaking.  To put it bluntly, we are looking at economic contraction.

DNC uses conservatives to hit Romney on tax returns  —  The Democratic National Committee has released a new ad raising the pressure on Republican candidate Mitt Romney to release more tax returns and this time using conservative pundits and GOP politicians to make the case.

Romney and his time machine  —  Mitt Romney is an impressive man, but until now, we didn't know just how impressive.  According to his senior adviser, Ed Gillespie, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee is a time traveler.  —  Gillespie made this surprise disclosure to CNN's Candy Crowley …

Welcome to ‘Panthers Stadium’  —  National Democrats have repeatedly touted their stand against taking corporate money for their convention in September, and so it was striking to see two emails from the DNC host committee referring to the Charlotte venue where President Obama will speak as “Panthers Stadium.”

New Yahoo CEO Mayer is pregnant  —  She told Fortune exclusively that her first child is due in October.  —  FORTUNE —Marissa Mayer, the Google (GOOG) executive who today was named Yahoo's (YHOO) new chief executive, is pregnant.  —  Mayer told Fortune exclusively that her first child is due October 7.

Raising Taxes on Rich Seen as Good for Economy, Fairness  —  OVERVIEW  —  By two-to-one (44% to 22%), the public says that raising taxes on incomes above $250,00o would help the economy rather than hurt it, while 24% say this would not make a difference.  Moreover, an identical percentage …

Romney's new foe: Batman's ‘Bane’ … This summer's much-anticipated Hollywood blockbuster, “The Dark Knight Rises,” is getting an unusual boost from Democrats and other foes of Mitt Romney who are eager to tie the Gotham crushing villain to the GOP presidential candidate.

Romney appears in final stages of running-mate decision  —  (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney appears to be in the final stages of deciding who to pick as his vice presidential running mate, with speculation growing that he has narrowed his choice down to a short-list of three.

Early VP selection would break with history  —  By NBC's Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Brooke Brower  —  *** Don't bet on an early VP pick: While we're bracing for Mitt Romney to make his VP pick as soon as this week, here is something to consider: If history is any guide, Romney won't announce his selection until next month.

Despite Cuomo's Vow of Sunlight, a Bid to Keep Aides' E-Mail in the Dark  —  ALBANY — Aides communicate with untraceable messages sent from BlackBerry to BlackBerry.  Nothing delicate is shared using e-mail.  And in-boxes are regularly wiped clean.  —  When he ran for office …

USA TODAY interview: Elton John's life a ‘constant delight’  —  OLD WINDSOR, England - He once favored Minnie Mouse costumes and towering Mohawk wigs.  Now, as he sips coffee in his elegant dining room, Elton John wears a navy blazer, dress shirt and dark pants, which all adds up to a Midwestern-bank-president look.

Look Who's Holding the Economy Hostage Now  —  Inequality: Democrats say they'll let all the Bush-era tax cuts expire if they can't raise taxes on the rich.  Apparently, economic catastrophe is a reasonable price to pay for class warfare politics.  —  On Monday, Sen. Patty Murray …

His Man in Macau: Inside the Investigation Into Sheldon Adelson's Empire  —  A decade ago gambling magnate and leading Republican donor Sheldon Adelson looked at a desolate spit of land in Macau and imagined a glittering strip of casinos, hotels and malls.  —  Where competitors saw obstacles …

Michael Grimm cleared by ethics watchdog  —  In a boost for his embattled reelection campaign, GOP Rep. Michael Grimm (N.Y.) has been cleared by the Office of Congressional Ethics — an independent watchdog — of any fundraising violations.  —  OCE, which makes recommendations …

Drought in U.S. reaching levels not seen in 50 years, pushing up crop prices  —  View Photo Gallery — The drought of 2012: Effects of the drought are growing.  Here is a look at the drought and at effects that may cost the U.S. economy $50 billion.  —  A drought gripping the Corn Belt …

N.J. poll: Chris Christie is leader, not bully  —  More New Jersey voters consider Gov. Chris Christie (R) a “leader” than a “bully,” a new Quinnipiac poll released Tuesday shows.  —  Indeed, 50 percent say that Christie is a leader, while only 45 percent say that he is a bully.

The Incredible Bain Jobs Machine  —  In a competitive economy, $5,000 computers become $500 tablets.  Consumers get to spend the difference elsewhere in the economy.  —  Did Mitt Romney and Bain Capital help office-supply retailer Staples create 88,000 jobs?  43,000?  252?

Could one word take down Obamacare?  —  Section 1401 of the Affordable Care Act is, on the surface, just as exciting as it sounds.  It outlines in excruciating detail the eligibility requirements for an American to receive a tax subsidy to assist in purchasing health insurance.

Paul Ryan rips Obama's comment that 'if you've got a business — you didn't build that.  Somebody else made that happen'  —  It was Rep. Paul Ryan's wife, Janna, who first saw — via Twitter — President Obama's recent comments about American entrepreneurs, that “if you've got a business — you didn't build that.

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