The Seinfeld Hearings  —  How Senators could, but probably won't, make the Sotomayor confirmation a show about something.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  If you suspect this week's Senate confirmation hearings for Sonia Sotomayor will be, like “Seinfeld,” a show about nothing, you are probably right.

Liz Cheney: Investigating My Dad Would Prove Americans 'Can't Trust' Democrats With National Security  —  On Saturday, the New York Times reported that former Vice President Dick Cheney gave “direct orders” to the CIA, compelling the agency to withhold “information about a secret counterterrorism program from Congress for eight years.”

Palin's PAC Raises $700,000+ … Update, 4:10 p.m.: Palin has collected at least $200,000 more for Sarah PAC since the reporting period closed at the end of last month, according to a source familiar with the numbers.  Palin's resignation — announced on July 3 — triggered a flood of donations to the PAC, the source added.

The Price of Innovation  —  Two pieces worth reading on health care innovation.  First, Glenn Reynolds on his family: … This is something I've been saying for a while.  But it touches on something else I've been thinking about—the way in which our attempts to measure health care innovation …

CIA planned al-Qaida assassinations in friendly countries, officials say  —  Dick Cheney, the former vice president, ordered a highly classified CIA operation hidden from Congress because it pushed the limits of legality by planning to assassinate of al-Qaida operatives in friendly countries without …

Boiling the Frog  —  Is America on its way to becoming a boiled frog?  —  I'm referring, of course, to the proverbial frog that, placed in a pot of cold water that is gradually heated, never realizes the danger it's in and is boiled alive.  Real frogs will, in fact, jump out of the pot — but never mind.

$260M BACK STAB  —  HILL'S FLIP ON DIPLO TAXES COSTS CITY A BUNDLE  —  Thanks a lot, Hillary!  —  In a surprise turnaround that will cost the city $260 million in back taxes and untold millions in future lost revenue, Hillary Rodham Clinton's State Department has quietly reversed …

Down the Mississippi: Barack Obama effect ends white rule in Deep South town  —  A tiny Mississippi delta town has elected its first black mayor after the white incumbent, unopposed for 30 years, faced a young challenger inspired by President Barack Obama's feat in winning the White House.

Reed aims to rejuvenate Christian conservatives  —  One of the most controversial and successful figures of late 20th century politics wants to expand his brand to the 21st.  —  Ralph Reed believes conservative voters of faith need a Christian Coalition 2.0.

49% Oppose Health Care Reform Plan, 46% Favor It  —  Forty-nine percent (49%) of U.S. voters now at least somewhat oppose the health care reform plan proposed by President Obama and congressional Democrats, while 46% at least somewhat favor it, according to a new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey.

The Primary Weapon  —  That's a nice Senate seat you've got there, Unspecified Moderate Democrat.  Shame if anything happened to it.  —  A few weeks ago, Senator Dianne Feinstein announced that she and other Senate Democrats harbored reservations about President Obama's plans to overhaul the health care system.

Clinton: Vetting for USAID job ‘ridiculous’  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton is blaming an exhaustive White House vetting process for the fact that the Obama administration has not yet named a person to run the U.S. Agency for International Development.

Buchanan: Todd Palin should drown Levi Johnston.  —  Earlier today, conservative pundit Pat Buchanan suggested that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's husband should murder his daughter's ex-fiance, Levi Johnston, for saying Palin's decision to resign came down to “money.”  While appearing on MSNBC's Morning Joe, Buchanan said:

Sudan women ‘lashed for trousers’  —  Several Sudanese women have been flogged as a punishment for dressing “indecently”, according to a local journalist who was arrested with them.  —  Lubna Ahmed al-Hussein, who says she is facing 40 lashes, said she and 12 other women wearing trousers …

Shadow Banking: What It Is, How it Broke, and How to Fix It  —  We hear a lot of chatter about the shadow banking system and its crucial role in the financial crisis.  But rarely do we find time to step back and ask the basic questions: What is shadow banking, where did it come from …

Obama to join Fox broadcast booth for All-Star Game … Barack Obama will be adding baseball broadcaster to his résumé.  SI.com learned Sunday that the President will join Fox Sports announcers Joe Buck and Tim McCarver during Tuesday's All-Star Game.