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:

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 …

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 …

Obama Bounces Up to 52% Approval, 48% to 45% Over Romney  —  President Barack Obama and the Democratic Party look as if they are getting at least a preliminary bounce from their convention.  Today's (Friday, Sept. 7) Gallup Daily tracking update puts Obama's job approval rating at 52% …

Romney's Playing Field Narrows  —  Mitt Romney's team announced last night, in the immediate wake of the Democratic convention, that it was unleashing a massive swing-state ad blitz.  Since the announcement came well before the lousy jobs report, and even before the mixed reviews for Obama's speech …

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 …

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

Transcript: Vice President Biden's Convention Speech … Hey, Delaware.  (Cheers, applause.)  Hello, my fellow Democrats.  (Cheers, applause.)  —  And my favorite Democrat, Jilly, I want you to know that Beau and Hunt and Ashley and I — we're so incredibly proud of you, kid.

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.

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.

CHART: The Racial Makeup Of Obama, Romney Presidential Coalitions  —  When it comes to building a winning coalition, President Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney have very distinct paths to victory.  Romney is betting on winning big with white voters.

“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.

Judge To Woman Sexually Assaulted By Cop: ‘When You Blame Others, You Give Up Your Power To Change’  —  Last summer, a drunk Arizona police officer named Robb Gary Evans drove himself to a bar, flashed his badge to avoid paying cover at the door, and then walked up behind a woman …

Reshuffling the deck: Barak now opposes Israeli strike on Iran, sources say  —  People who have met the defense minister in recent weeks say he cites his objections with the same conviction and skill he used to support an attack just two months ago.  —  Word is that Defense Minister Ehud Barak …