Eastwood says his convention appearance was ‘mission accomplished’  —  AFTER A week as topic No. 1 in American politics, former Carmel Mayor Clint Eastwood said the outpouring of criticism from left-wing reporters and liberal politicians after his appearance at the Republican National Convention …

Why Obama Went Low Key in His Democratic Convention Speech  —  The president's more subdued rhetoric is being derided by pundits—but it was carefully vetted with groups of voters.  Howard Kurtz reports exclusively on the Obama team's decision not to swing for the fences in Charlotte.

The awful, awful August jobs report  —  This was not the employment report either American workers or the Obama campaign were hoping for.  A huge miss. It shows the U.S. labor market remains in a deep depression, generating few jobs and little if no income growth.  As IHS Global Insight puts it:

“They Won't Magically Turn You Into A Lustful Cockmonster”: Chris Kluwe Explains Gay Marriage To The Politician Who Is Offended By An NFL Player Supporting It  —  Baltimore Ravens linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo has spoken out in favor of a Maryland ballot initiative that would legalize gay marriage.

Ann Romney: birth control, gay marriage not “what this election is going to be about”  —  DAVENPORT, Iowa - Ann Romney told KWQC TV6 news Friday that birth control and gay marriage are issues that “distract from what the real voting issue is going to be at this election.”

Romney On Omitting U.S. Troops From RNC Speech: ‘You Talk About Things You Think Are Important’  —  Romney giving his speech to the Republican National Convention  —  In an interview with Fox News this afternoon, Mitt Romney shot back at critics who complained that he didn't mention Afghanistan …

An Open Letter to Wikipedia  —  I am Philip Roth.  I had reason recently to read for the first time the Wikipedia entry discussing my novel “The Human Stain.”  The entry contains a serious misstatement that I would like to ask to have removed.  This item entered Wikipedia not from the world …

Romney Endorses Ultraconservative Congressman  —  Rep. Steve King takes a hard line on issues like abortion and Islam.  The Obama campaign seizes opportunity to cast Romney as extreme on social issues.  —  Republican presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney …

White House to miss deadline for report on ‘fiscal cliff’ budget cuts  —  The White House on Friday said it will miss the legal deadline for delivering a report to Congress on the spending cuts from sequestration that are scheduled to take effect in 2013.  —  Spokesman Jay Carney told reporters …

Closing Night of Democratic National Convention Draws 35.7 million Viewers  —  An estimated 35.7 million people watched the third and final night of the 2012 Democratic National Convention on Thursday, September 6.  The closing night of the DNC was carried live from Charlotte …

Obama's Message Breaks Through In Swing State Newspapers  —  An emphasis on the path forward.  Lukewarm reception to his speech from pundits doesn't make the headlines.  —  Andrew Kaczynski  —  an hour ago  —  22 responses

Ohio Secretary Of State Backs Down On Early Voting  —  After being summoned to court by a federal judge, Ohio Secretary of State Jon Husted on Friday backed away from his order that would have banned counties from planning for early voting.  —  Husted's original order had essentially ignored …

The Democrats' Soft Extremism  —  Obama is out of ideas, and Clinton's speech was unworthy of him.  —  Barack Obama is deeply overexposed and often boring.  He never seems to be saying what he's thinking.  His speech Thursday was weirdly anticlimactic.  There's too much buildup, the crowd was tired, it all felt flat.

It's Uncanny!  Obama Copied Jimmy Carter's Convention Acceptance Speech from 1980  —  RUSH: We also have done something.  It's amazing, by the way, when you hear it, how similar Obama's speech last night was to Jimmy Carter's in 1980.  It really is kind of stunning.

Rep. Jackson leaves Mayo Clinic … WASHINGTON — Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., has left the Mayo Clinic and is at home in the nation's capital with his family, an aide said today.  —  “He's home with his wife and children and he's convalescing,” Rick Bryant, his chief of staff in suburban Chicago, told the Chicago Tribune.

Even Fox News Is Fed Up With Romney Failing To Provide Details Of His Tax Plan  —  The Romney campaign has so far refused to clarify which tax deductions and loopholes it would eliminate in order to make its huge proposed tax cut for the rich revenue neutral.