Chicagoans hungry to flip the bird to Rahm, nicely  —  Some of you asked just what the scene's like on Chick-fil-A appreciation day in Chicago, home to #ChicagoValues, and the city at the heart of the controversy over Chick-fil-A after our mayor congratulated an alderman in shutting the company …

On the Distributional Effects of Base-Broadening Income Tax Reform  —  This paper examines the tradeoffs among three competing goals that are inherent in a revenue-neutral income tax reform—maintaining tax revenues, ensuring a progressive tax system, and lowering marginal tax rates.

Senor 1, Mitchell 0  —  Romney senior adviser defended Gov. Mitt Romney's comments about the effect of culture on Palestine — rather than economics — in an exchange with Andrea Mitchell Wednesday on “Morning Joe.”  —  ANDREA MITCHELL: Dan, if Gov. Romney had made those points in that speech …

Mitt Romney Better Move to Right, Says Emboldened Tea Party  —  The stunning Texas victory of Ted Cruz, a young Tea Party-backed Republican over an establishment candidate vying for a Senate seat, has already so emboldened the insurgent conservative movement that activists are warning Mitt Romney he had better get on board.

Obama Hits 50% In Florida, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Quinnipiac University/CBS News/New York Times Swing State Poll Finds  —  Word format Crosstabs by State  —  Watch Video: Assistant Director Tim Malloy discusses poll results  —  Clip Information and Download:  —  FLV File - Download For Website (1920x1080 / 125MB)

GOP lawmakers equate birth-control mandate with Pearl Harbor, 9/11  —  House Republicans called the Obama administration's birth-control mandate “religious bigotry” and compared it to the events of Pearl Harbor and Sept. 11, 2001.  —  The heated remarks came at a press conference marking the mandate's first day.

Exclusive: Obama authorizes secret U.S. support for Syrian rebels  —  (Reuters) - President Barack Obama has signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels seeking to depose Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his government, U.S. sources familiar with the matter said.

Wendy's Sign Angers Liberals; Wendy's Tweet Angers Conservatives  —  Moderates remain uninsulted, but give it a few hours.  —  This message was displayed on numerous North Carolina Wendy's signs this morning.  —  Source: i.imgur.com  —  The sign, and its implied support of Chick-fil-A's stance …

Michele Bachmann: Dead author Gore Vidal's ‘snotty, mocking attitude’ made me a conservative  —  Minnesota Republican Rep. Michele Bachmann told The Daily Caller Wednesday that author Gore Vidal's “snotty, mocking attitude” helped her realize she was a conservative.  —  Vidal died on Tuesday of pneumonia.

For immediate release  —  Information received since the Federal Open Market Committee met in June suggests that economic activity decelerated somewhat over the first half of this year.  Growth in employment has been slow in recent months, and the unemployment rate remains elevated.

Ann Romney slammed for $990 Shirt, Michelle Obama praised for $6,800 jacket  —  Back in May, Ann Romney, wife of Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney, wore a $990 Reed Krakoff silk shirt for a media appearance.  The item of clothing set off a media firestorm, with the Romneys widely accused of being …

Twitter Launches Political Index: The Twitter Pulse Of The Election  —  The Twitter Political Index could be one of the most powerful social media tools of the election.  —  Right now, if you want to know how the country feels about Barack Obama or Mitt Romney, you have to rely …

Romney Taps Former Paulson Aide, Fannie Mae Vet For Bain Rehab  —  Michele Davis will join the Romney campaign to defend his reputation in the private sector.  She brings her own baggage from Fannie Mae, and has been sympathetic to the Obama Administration.

Brown promoted to full colonel  —  U.S. Sen. Scott Brown has been promoted to the rank of colonel in the National Guard.  —  The Wrentham resident was “pinned” by U.S. Senator John McCain Wednesday, in a ceremony that involved the Arizona Republican and Vietnam War veteran pinning the colonel insignia on Brown.