Who Is Thursday's Mystery Convention Speaker?  —  TAMPA, Fla. - Republican convention planners appear to have a surprise planned for those tuning in Thursday night.  —  Buried deep in the convention schedule released Monday is a vague reference to a mystery speaker scheduled for the event's final evening.

The Real Romney  —  The purpose of the Republican convention is to introduce America to the real Mitt Romney.  Fortunately, I have spent hours researching this subject.  I can provide you with the definitive biography and a unique look into the Byronic soul of the Republican nominee:

GOP Rules Committee Rapidly Moving to Shut Out Grassroots at 2:00 p.m. Today  —  At 2:00 p.m. today in Tampa, the Republican National Committee, led by Team Romney, is moving to shut down conservative grassroots activists.  I've been on the phone with several individuals involved in the fight …

Arlen Specter confirms he is battling cancer, says he ‘intends to win’  —  UPDATE: Arlen Specter's office confirmed Tuesday morning that the former U.S. Senator is once again fighting cancer.  “I am battling cancer, and it's another battle I intend to win,” Specter said in a statement issued by his office.

Priorities USA does the disappointment ad  —  Priorities USA Action is releasing a new commercial today spotlighting a woman who says she was “duped by Mitt Romney” - and not because of his work at Bain Capital.  —  Back up a minute.  One of the staples of Republican messaging this cycle …

Romney Camp Bets On Welfare Attack  —  Their most powerful weapon, a top aide says.  “We're not going to let our campaign be dictated by fact checkers,” says Newhouse.  —  Source: youtube.com  —  Mitt Romney's aides explained with unusual political bluntness today why they are spending heavily …

Leader of Army Plot to Assassinate Obama Apparently Attended the 2008 Republican Convention as a Page  —  Isaac Aguigui, the Army private and alleged ringleader of a plot to assassinate Barack Obama and “take over” Ft. Stewart in Georgia, apparently served as a page at the 2008 Republican National Convention in Minnesota.

Chris Matthews defends attack on Priebus: GOP ‘dividing country along racial lines’  —  TAMPA — In an emotional interview with POLITICO tonight, MSNBC host Chris Matthews defended his spirited attack against RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, in which he alleged that the Republican party was guilty …

Court Rules Israel Wasn't at Fault in U.S. Activist's Death  —  HAIFA, Israel — An Israeli judge ruled on Tuesday that the state bore no responsibility for the death of Rachel Corrie, the young American woman who was run over by a military bulldozer in 2003 as she protested housing demolitions in the Gaza Strip.

Republicans Should Stop Talking About Moocher Class  —  As Republicans gather this week in Tampa, Florida, to nominate Mitt Romney for president, they will try to tilt the national mood-o-meter toward limited government, individual liberties and free markets.

McMahon By A Nose In Close Connecticut Senate Race, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; Obama Tops Romney By 7 Points  —  Connecticut likely voters put Republican former wrestling executive Linda McMahon on the right side of a 49 - 46 percent too-close-to-call U.S. Senate race against Democratic U.S …

Who's on the inside track for a Romney Cabinet  —  Mitt Romney said his Cabinet and White House staff will be stacked with men and women from the business world, but his top advisers sketched out for POLITICO a team compromised of many familiar faces in Washington.

GOP still fretting over Mitt's image  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney signaled in weekend interviews that he is brushing off advice that he attempt a public image makeover this week to make himself more likable and more connected to voters at the human level.  —  Some of the most experienced …

Sarah Palin: Dems addicted to ‘hope-ium’  —  Sarah Palin on Monday said Democrats who “still have that addiction to the hope-ium” President Barack Obama peddled four years ago need to “open their eyes” and vote for Mitt Romney this November.  —  “Some of us had [Obama] pegged four years ago.

Security at the RNC: George Orwell Meets a ‘Call of Duty’ Cityscape  —  At a defining civic event, the establishment is insulated by an army of police officers from protesters camping unseen on a far away corner.  —  Reuters  —  Deep inside the Tampa Bay Times Forum …

Dead voters & a dying democracy?  —  Americans will fight and die for democracy, but when it comes to the actual business of elections, stuffed ballot boxes and cemetery voters are the subject of jokes more than outrage — though a democracy in which elections are decided by fraudulent votes created …

US Consumer Confidence Tumbles to 9-Month Low  —  U.S. consumer confidence unexpectedly weakened in August to its lowest in nine months as Americans turned more pessimistic about the short-term outlook, according to a private sector report released on Tuesday.