Exclusive Romney Interview: On Humility and Tax Returns  —  Much of the case you make to voters is that you're a successful entrepreneur and a successful executive, and thus you'll make a successful president.  Why were you so successful as a businessman?  —  Well, I had the privilege …

The Moment All the Doubts About Romney Resurfaced on the Right  —  Priorities USA was damaging itself and Barack Obama over its mind numbingly insane ad painting Mitt Romney as a killer.  —  Then the Romney campaign decided to sabotage itself with a mind numbingly bit of spin that may mark the day the Romney campaign died.

Why Not Paul Ryan?  —  Romney can win a big election over big issues.  He'll lose a small one.  —  The whispering over Mitt Romney's choice of a running mate is getting louder, and along with it we are being treated to the sotto voce angst of the GOP establishment: Whatever else Mitt does …

Romney Campaign Carefully Chooses Speakers for Convention  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Newt Gingrich hoped to get a coveted speaking slot at the Republican National Convention.  Instead the Romney campaign will have him teach a series of workshops they have nicknamed Newt University.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure announces change in leadership  —  The Susan G. Komen for the Cure shook up its top leadership Wednesday by announcing the resignation of its president and shifting role for its CEO and founder.  Two members of its Board of Directors also announced their resignations.

Man who claimed he was beaten for being gay admits he made it all up after police receive video of him hitting HIS OWN head after back-flipping off a curb  —  A young man who told police he was beaten up in a would-be hate crime appeared in court today admitting that he made the entire incident up.

Landslide on the Horizon  —  When I read Nate Silver, Sean Trende, Charlie Cook, Jay Cost, and the others who make a profession of political prognostication, I pay close attention to their attempts to dissect the polling data and predict what is to come.  But I also take everything that they say with a considerable grain of salt.

Editor Fired Following Harassment Accusation  —  CONWAY, Ark. — The gathering, Marc Smirnoff said, was intended as a morale-boosting retreat for his staff at The Oxford American magazine, a July 4 overnight party at a mountain cabin that would fuel the creative intellect.

City officials pull the plug on vibrator giveaway, leaving thousands dissatisfied  —  They must have rubbed Mayor Bloomberg the wrong way.  —  City officials pulled the plug on a vibrator giveaway by the Trojan condom company yesterday, disappointing potentially thousands of pleasure-seeking women …

Blink!  U.S. Debt Just Grew by $11 Trillion  —  By Laurence Kotlikoff and Scott Burns 2012-08-08T22:30:26Z  —  Republicans and Democrats spent last summer battling how best to save $2.1 trillion over the next decade.  They are spending this summer battling how best to not save $2.1 trillion over the next decade.

Vanderbilt employee accused of tossing LGBT newspapers  —  A longtime Vanderbilt University employee is in trouble after cameras caught her taking dozens of newspapers and tossing them straight into the trash.  —  The papers were editions of Out & About, a monthly publication geared toward Nashville's gay and lesbian community.

Chilling Effect: Incentive to Slow Climate Change Drives Output of Harmful Gases  —  A view of a coolant-producing factory in Jiangsu Province, China.  Some manufacturers of gases used in air-conditioning and refrigeration have earned millions by accumulating emissions credits from the destruction …

Young in G.O.P. Erase the Lines on Social Issues  —  CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Hoagland, the county leader of a group of young North Carolina Republicans, is busy trying to ramp up enthusiasm for Mitt Romney at the grass-roots level.  So there are a few things he avoids mentioning …

Women, white people: Is that what campaign 2012 is coming down to?  —  President Obama appeals to women by pushing the issue of access to contraceptives, while Mitt Romney accuses him of watering down welfare reform — an issue that tends to stir up feelings about race among whites.

Over 100 Million Now Receiving Federal Welfare  —  A new chart set to be released later today by the Republican side of the Senate Budget Committee details a startling statistic: “Over 100 Million People in U.S. Now Receiving Some Form Of Federal Welfare.”  —  “The federal government …

Despite GOP protests, 9th Circuit to go through with costly Hawaii conference  —  Sens. Sessions, Grassley had complained that the conference could cost $1 million or more at a time of fiscal crisis.  —  The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals told Senate Republicans late last week …

Criminal charges coming Thursday in allegedly fraudulent McCotter petitions  —  Attorney General Bill Schuette is scheduled to announce criminal charges Thursday arising out of the investigation of allegedly fraudulent petitions submitted in the failed attempt to qualify former U.S. Rep. Thad McCotter for the ballot.