Op-Ed Contributor: The Bush White House Was Deaf to 9/11 Warnings  —  IT was perhaps the most famous presidential briefing in history.  —  On Aug. 6, 2001, President George W. Bush received a classified review of the threats posed by Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network, Al Qaeda.

Among likely voters, Obama-Romney close  —  Last week's Democratic National Convention helped President Obama improve his standing against Republican Mitt Romney, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll, but did little to reduce voter concern about his handling of the economy.

Chicago teachers strike updates: 'It's a national embarrassment'  —  Continual coverage of the Chicago teachers strike.  —  3:10 p.m. 'It's a national embarrassment'  —  About a dozen religious leaders on the South and West sides urged CPS and teachers to come up with a contract by the end of the day.

With GOP jittery, Romney faces test of resolve  —  Mitt Romney and his top aides are running an essentially faith-based campaign.  Whatever the polls say at the moment, whatever the pundits say, whatever some nervous Republicans say, Team Romney simply does not believe President Obama can win re-election in today's terrible economy.

Do 15% of Ohio Republicans think Romney killed bin Laden?  Probably not.  —  Public Policy Polling has a new poll (pdf) out of Ohio showing Obama with his biggest lead since May.  Given how hard it would be for Mitt Romney to win the White House without winning Ohio, that's a big deal.

Fear of a Black President  —  As a candidate, Barack Obama said we needed to reckon with race and with America's original sin, slavery.  But as our first black president, he has avoided mention of race almost entirely.  In having to be “twice as good” and “half as black,” …

The Most Anti-Gay Piece Of Political Mail This Year  —  There is still time, but a mailer first reported by Politico and prepared in the name of “The Committee To Save The Erie County Republican Party” in New York was never sent — but has set a mighty low bar.

Scott Van Duzer, the Obama hugger: Shop facing boycott  —  The owner of a Florida pizza shop says people are boycotting his business because he bear-hugged President Barack Obama on Sunday.  —  “People are saying a lot of bad things and boycotting my restaurant,” Scott Van Duzer, 46, told POLITICO.

The Ghost of George W. Bush  —  Why Dubya will decide the winner this fall.  —  The conventions are over, but the individual who will determine the 2012 election didn't attend either of them.  His name is George W. Bush.  —  LM Otero / AP  —  Conventional wisdom holds that elections are about the future.

Poll: Americans Pick President Obama Over Mitt Romney for Dinner Date  —  Image credit: Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP Photo  —  The American public may be divided on “Obamacare,” but when faced with choosing a candidate to care for them if illness struck, President Obama is their man.

Arizona's Birtherpalooza Canceled Over Low Ticket Sales  —  Not even the promise of crooner Pat Boone singing oldies from a spinning stage could save what was intended to be the premier birther event of the year later this month in Arizona.  —  Organizers of the gala, which would have …

Obama's Hayes Of History  —  History: As President Obama fumbled with an iPhone, the blogosphere recalled he had earlier falsely bad-mouthed President Rutherford B. Hayes as a technological troglodyte.  It's not his error that annoys but his arrogance.  —  For a man who would have Americans believe …

Race Tightens As Obama Advantage Narrows To 2 Points … President Obama's lead over Governor Romney shrinks from 7 points in August to 2 points in September, according to the latest Investor's Business Daily/Christian Science Monitor/TIPP Poll.  Romney gains support from men, southern, rural, and Hispanic voters this month.

Todd Akin: 'I'm not getting out'  —  GOP Rep. Todd Akin doesn't sound like someone who's about to end his Senate bid.  —  With a dropout deadline just two weeks away, the Missouri congressman said he's “totally in” the race and will not drop his bid despite calls from top Republicans and conservative pundits that he immediately do so.

Reid mocks Ryan over marathon time misstatement [Updated]  —  Harry Reid wasted little time Monday picking up where he left off before the Senate's summer recess: With partisan attacks on the Republican presidential ticket.  —  Moments after opening the Senate for its brief pre-election season …

Communist Leader's Absence Sets Off Rumor Mills in China  —  BEIJING — The strange disappearance from public view of China's presumptive new leader is turning a year that was supposed to showcase the Communist Party's stability into something of an annus horribilis.

Romney Campaign Appears To Copy Text From Obama Website  —  You didn't write that!  Donation instructions for Romney's new “Victory Wallet” taken from Obama's “Quick Donate” feature.  The Obama version went up in March.  —  Source: donate.barackobama.com  —  Source: mittromney.com