Paul Ryan — THE TOPLESS PHOTO  —  THE TOPLESS PHOTO  —  EXCLUSIVE  —  Here it is ... the very first photo of Paul Ryan's mysterious athletic physique ... REVEALED!!!  —  TMZ has (finally) obtained a photo of Mitt Romney's running mate — sans shirt — taken roughly 6 years ago ... right before Ryan got hooked on the P90X workout.

The Charts That Doom Obama  —  News out this afternoon is that Obama is looking into opening the Strategic Petroleum Reserve as a means to relieve pressure at the gas pump.  Someone at the White House woke up and realized that the welcome springtime fall in gasoline prices has reversed course …

Anti-Obama Navy SEAL leader: I'm a Birther  —  President Barack Obama is a socialist, was raised by communists, and wasn't born in the United States, according to the former Navy SEAL who founded the group Special Operations Speaks (SOS), which aims to portray Obama as anti-military in this election season.

Tony Perkins says there is a ‘Clear Link’ between the FRC Shooting and Obama Administration Policies  —  After trying to blame the Southern Poverty Law Center for the deplorable shooting that occurred at the Family Research Council's office this week, FRC president Tony Perkins today …

Ohio Elections Chief Suspends Democrats From County Board  —  After a Wednesday order that his office says bans weekend early voting hours, the Ohio Secretary of State, a Republican, responds to rebellion from one county's Democratic members.  A confrontation as the election approaches.

Ryan releases tax returns for last two years  —  By Craig Gilbert of the Journal Sentinel  —  Paul Ryan and his wife Janna paid an effective tax rate of 15.9% in 2010 and 20% in 2011, according to tax returns provided by the Romney-Ryan campaign to the Journal Sentinel Friday.

Free ‘Pussy Riot’ Protest in Washington  —  A group of protestors gathered this afternoon outside the Russian ambassador's Washington residence to protest the jailing of the three Russian punk rock musicians from the group Pussy Riot.  The musicians—Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova …

TPM2012  —  Paul Ryan Slams Obama For Not Saving Auto Plant That Closed Under Bush  —  Paul Ryan slammed President Obama on Thursday for failing to rescue an auto factory in his Wisconsin district — one that closed in 2008, under President George W. Bush.

Pa. drops plans for 2 online initiatives to boost voting  —  HARRISBURG - On the same day a judge cleared the way for the state's new voter identification law to take effect, the Corbett administration abandoned plans to allow voters to apply online for absentee ballots for the November election and to register online to vote.

The Regulatory Cliff Is Nearly as Steep as the Fiscal One  —  The president has postponed damaging rules until after the November election.  —  Americans are learning more about the “fiscal cliff” approaching at the beginning of next year, when tax rates for families and small businesses …

Federal court rejects Florida early voting changes  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A federal court says a Florida law that restricts the number of early-voting days could result in a dramatic reduction in participation by blacks.  —  The Republican-controlled Florida legislature last year cut the number of early-voting days to 8 from 12.

A Measure of Change: Obama Lags on Filling Seats in the Judiciary  —  WASHINGTON — President Obama is set to end his term with dozens fewer lower-court appointments than both Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush achieved in their first four years, and probably with less …

Obama's soft-media strategy  —  Forget Chris Matthews — he'll take Nancy O'Dell.  —  President Barack Obama has been taking a lot of questions in the two months since his last press conference or national news interview.  He's just been doing them with ESPN, Entertainment Tonight …

Barton's Fall From Grace  —  Back in June I wrote about a new book by two conservative evangelical writers who took great issue with the take on Thomas Jefferson's church-state views offered by the famous controversialist David Barton, who more than any one person is cited by Christian Right folk as …

Protester spits on Romney supporter in Wisconsin  —  POLITICAL SPAT: Romney protester spits on supporte...: AUG. 17, 2012: During a Mitt Romney rally near Appleton, Wis., a protester, Mary Hoglund, 83, confronts Wisconsin state Sen. Alberta Darling.  A supporter challenges her and Hoglund spits in her face.