Romney's Remarkable Speech in Jerusalem  —  Mitt Romney, the all-but-official Republican presidential candidate, delivered a stem-winder of a speech to the Jerusalem Foundation today, packing emotional support with frank policy statements.  The contrast with Obama could hardly be more dramatic.

Dick Cheney: Picking Sarah Palin for VP Was ‘A Mistake’  —  Dick Cheney has some advice for Mitt Romney on choosing a running mate: Don't pick another Sarah Palin.  —  In his first interview since receiving a heart transplant in March, Cheney told ABC News, that John McCain's decision …

Mitt Romney: A Candidate With a Serious Wimp Problem  —  Dodging reporters, fearing his base, hiding his taxes—is Mitt Romney just too insecure to be president?  In Newsweek, Michael Tomasky surveys a history of presidential manliness and asks just where Mitt would fit amid the studly swagger of Dubya and Reagan.

Scalia Suggests ‘Hand-Held Rocket Launchers’ Are Protected Under Second Amendment  —  This morning on Fox News Sunday, Justice Antonin Scalia reiterated just how extremely his Constitutional originalism can be applied.  Referring to the recent shooting in Aurora, CO, host Chris Wallace asked …

Temple Mount Tackiness  —  Today is Tisha b'Av, the ninth of Av, a Jewish day of fasting and mourning.  It is on this day that the First and Second Temples were destroyed.  The Western Wall, in Jerusalem, is a retaining wall of the Second Temple.  It is, especially on this day, a locus of prayer and reflection.

WikiLeaks, A Post Postscript  —  AS rumors build about the potential financial blockade against the New York Times by Visa, Mastercard, and American Express for hosting U.S. government cables published by WikiLeaks, I find myself in the awkward position of having to defend WikiLeaks.

The Conversion of a Climate-Change Skeptic  —  CALL me a converted skeptic.  Three years ago I identified problems in previous climate studies that, in my mind, threw doubt on the very existence of global warming.  Last year, following an intensive research effort involving a dozen scientists …

R.I.P. Inkblot  —  I hate to write this post, but all of you have been part of Inkblot's life for so long that I can hardly not do it.  One of our neighbors saw the flyers we posted around the neighborhood and called a few minutes ago to tell us that she had seen the body of a cat nearby.

Romney Gets Date Wrong In Netanyahu Guestbook Message  —  Jet lag takes its toll on the presumptive Republican nominee.

Mayor Bloomberg pushing NYC hospitals to hide baby formula so more new moms will breast-feed  —  The nanny state is going after moms.  —  Mayor Bloomberg is pushing hospitals to hide their baby formula behind locked doors so more new mothers will breast-feed.

Is Algebra Necessary?  —  A TYPICAL American school day finds some six million high school students and two million college freshmen struggling with algebra.  In both high school and college, all too many students are expected to fail.  Why do we subject American students to this ordeal?

‘This Week’ Transcript: Robert Gibbs and Kevin Madden  —  DOWD (voice-over): Good morning, and welcome to “This Week.”  A hundred days to go, and both candidates are on the defensive.  —  ROMNEY: There were a few things that were disconcerting.  —  DOWD: Governor Romney offends U.S. allies overseas.