GOP again turns to Kristol ball  —  Once again, Bill Kristol gets his way — and once again, watch out.  —  For two consecutive presidential cycles now, the founding editor of the Weekly Standard has successfully led the conservative media drumbeat for a bold vice presidential pick: In 2008 …

No, Paul Ryan is not ‘courageous’  —  Across the political spectrum, even among many liberals who otherwise are rubbing their hands with glee over Mitt Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) as his running mate, pundits and politicians are praising Romney's move as a “courageous” and “bold” pick.

Romney finds safety in CBS and Schieffer  —  Mitt Romney rarely ventures into the network television interview.  When he does, he chooses the safest option on the table: Bob Schieffer.  —  For the second time this cycle, Romney has given an exclusive, in-person interview to the CBS anchor and …

Romney Picked Ryan Over Advisers' Early Doubts  —  A high risk pick, driven by the candidate.  “Everybody was against” Ryan, says a top Republican.  —  Image by SAUL LOEB / Getty Images  —  Mitt Romney appears to have picked Paul Ryan as his running mate over the objections of top political advisors …

Paul Ryan: Randian poseur  —  Mitt Romney couldn't have chosen a better example of the fakery at the heart of today's GOP  —  Paul Ryan was born into a well-to-do Janesville, Wisc. family, part of the so-called “Irish mafia” that's run the city's construction industry since the 19th century.

A view of Ryan from Florida  —  Here's the front page of the Miami Herald today, with an unsubtle headline about what Paul Ryan could mean for Mitt Romney in a critical battleground.  —  It appears as Ryan's appearance in the state alongside Romney, planned for tomorrow, was redirected to Iowa.

Michelle Obama: Barack's not a ‘superhero’  —  “He's not a superhero; he's a human.  So he needs your help,” the First Lady said.  AP Photo  —  Close  —  First Lady Michelle Obama says her husband isn't a “superhero” and that President Barack Obama will need all the help he can get in order to be reelected.