What Obama will say in his address  —  President Barack Obama plans to reach out to Republicans and reassure — rather than confront — his liberal supporters when he addresses an extraordinary joint session of Congress at 8 p.m. ET Wednesday.  —  But he will warn lawmakers against seeking …

Three Ohio Democrats asked about paying for Obamacare, all walk away  —  Just in time for Labor Day weekend we bring you this blockbuster video taken by Jawa operative “hourglass” Wednesday evening at an Obamacare rally at the Ohio Expo Center featuring hundreds of Democratic party operatives and union mafia goons.

Sing It... Van Jones Cut Nasty Hate-Filled Music Album, Too!  (Video) ...Update: Album Cover Found!  —  VAN JONES CUT A CD...  The CD starred Van Jones and cop killer Mumia abu-Jamal.  —  UPDATE: Kristinn found the album (CD) cover:  —  Jones used his Ella Baker Center for Human Rights …

Appeals Court Rules Against Ashcroft in 9 / 11 Case  —  BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal appeals court delivered a stinging rebuke Friday to the Bush administration's post-Sept. 11 detention policies, ruling that former Attorney General John Ashcroft can be held liable for people …

Professional Issues  —  AP's dead Marine photo violates its own embed agreement and the wishes of a dead Marine's family.  Gates objects.  NYT.  —  The journal entries of AP Photog Julie Jacobson regarding the incident in which Lance Cpl. Joshua Bernard was killed are compelling reading. via Miami Herald.

Obama looking for retirement plan reforms  —  Among the changes are expanded access to 401k plans and a pledge to let workers convert vacation days into retirement savings.  —  President Barack Obama announced a series of policy changes Saturday aimed at making it easier for Americans to save money for retirement.

Clinton's '94 Health Plan Defeat Sways Obama's Tactics  —  WASHINGTON — Before Congress's August break, the chief aides to Senate Democrats met in a nondescript Senate conference room with three former advisers to President Bill Clinton.  The topic: lessons learned the last time a Democratic president tried …

The ESPN Zone of Empires  —  ESPN Zone New York (cc photo by bigweasel)  —  Afghanistan is often called the “Graveyard of Empires,” but I think the phrase is pretty misleading.  It seems to imply that empires that venture in Afghanistan get defeated and die.

Obama's back-to-school message is responsibility  —  WASHINGTON — Classrooms are filling up as kids head back to school, and Education Secretary Arne Duncan's two children are among them.  —  In an interview with The Associated Press, Duncan said students should take more responsibility …

US Embassy memo: ‘Afghan First’  —  U.S. Ambassador to Afghanistan, retired Gen. Karl Eikenberry, has distributed an unclassified memo to U.S. diplomatic and foreign assistance personnel, obtained by POLITICO, which calls for the “Afghanization” of foreign assistance to that country.

State GOP chief Jim Greer rips Obama — but pushes Republican views at schools  —  TAKING NAMES  —  There once was a political operative who loved to tell crowds he had a simple way of explaining to children the difference between Republicans and Democrats.  —  “Republicans get up and go to work,” he would tell his son.

Calls to boycott Obama's speech to kids offer a disturbing lesson in paranoia  —  Those who are whipping up hysteria over the president's address are playing a dangerous game with an unhinged segment of public opinion.  —  While it long ago crossed the borders of reason and civility …