Book bombshell: Obama canceled Bin Laden ‘kill’ raid three times at Jarrett's urging  —  At the urging of Valerie Jarrett, President Barack Obama canceled the operation to kill Osama bin Laden on three separate occasions before finally approving the May 2, 2011 Navy SEAL mission …

ROMNEY COMMENTS AT FUNDRAISER OUTRAGE PALESTINIANS  —  JERUSALEM (AP) — Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who called his comments racist and out of touch.

Romney Praises Israel's Socialized Health Care System  —  No to ObamaCare, but Israel's mandate is working, Romney says.  —  Image by Charles Dharapak / AP  —  JERUSALEM — Presumptive Republican nominee Mitt Romney offered praise for the Israeli health care system today …

Cruz leads going into Tuesday  —  PPP's final poll of the Republican Senate runoff in Texas finds Ted Cruz opening up a 52-42 lead, an increase from our survey two weeks ago that found him ahead 49-44.  —  Cruz's victory is driven by 4 things: the Tea Party, the enthusiasm of his supporters …

Voter ID laws could swing states  —  At least 5 million voters, predominantly young and from minority groups sympathetic to President Barack Obama, could be affected by an unprecedented flurry of new legislation by Republican governors and GOP-led legislatures to change or restrict voting rights by Election Day 2012.

Ticket touts disgrace: Row upon row of empty seats... as tickets sent to foreign VIPs go on the black market  — London 2012 chairman Lord Coe reveals students and teachers are also being called in at the last minute  —  Prized Olympic tickets entrusted to foreign delegations are being openly sold …

Those shocking bourgeois values  —  In one traditional form of pornography, from the Victorian “A Man With a Maid” to the more recent “Fifty Shades of Grey,” a young woman is initiated — sometimes uncomfortably — into the mysteries of adult sexuality.  In the end she is, at some level at least …

Americans Want Next President to Prioritize Jobs, Corruption  —  Lowest priorities are taxing wealthy and environmental problems  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Creating good jobs, reducing corruption in the federal government, and reducing the federal budget deficit score highest when Americans rate 12 issues …

Secret Service won't pay Newport Beach for police at Obama event  —  Newport Beach billed President Obama's campaign for police security at a fundraiser.  The Secret Service says that security is its job, not the campaign's, but that it can't reimburse the city.

Exclusive: John McCain Stages Romney Intervention  —  John McCain is dying to help Mitt Romney.  But is his advice wanted?  Howard Kurtz reports exclusively on the 2008 nominee's failed efforts to counsel Romney, his frustration at a behind-the-scenes role in the campaign …

New study shows half of the global warming in the USA is artificial  —  PRESS RELEASE - U.S. Temperature trends show a spurious doubling due to NOAA station siting problems and post measurement adjustments.  —  Chico, CA July 29th, 2012 - 12 PM PDT - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Here's 20 jolly good reasons to feel cheerful about the Games  —  There are semi-naked women in Horse Guards - and you can even zorb in Hyde Park , says Boris Johnson.  —  The Olympic rings glint in the sunshine as Britain takes to the Games with gusto  —  I am not going to count my chickens.

FUSSBUDGET … - PHOTO BOOTH - DAILY SHOUTS - PAGE-TURNER - DAILY COMMENT - AMY DAVIDSON - JOHN CASSIDY - ANDY BOROWITZ

Russia's “Pussy Riot” on trial for cathedral protest  —  (Reuters) - Three women who protested against Vladimir Putin in a “punk prayer” on the altar of Russia's main cathedral went on trial on Monday in a case seen as a test of the longtime leader's treatment of dissent during a new presidential term.