Michael Bloomberg delivers stirring defense of mosque  —  Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has emerged as the unlikely but passionate defender of the planned Muslim community center near ground zero, today traveled to Governors Island off the tip of Lower Manhattan to deliver a stirring plea …

Bristol Palin to Levi Johnston: 'It's Over'  —  And just like that, they were off again.  “It's over.  I broke up with him,” Bristol Palin tells PEOPLE exclusively of her second try at an engagement to Levi Johnston, father of her 19-month-old son Tripp.  —  Palin, 19, says the relationship soured …

McCain Faces Tough Questions About GOP Push To Repeal 14th Amendment  —  The GOP push to change the Constitution to eliminate so-called birthright citizenship is already causing problems for some of its own members.  Case in point: John McCain.  —  In the final moments of a morning press conference …

Harry Reid holds narrow edge in Nevada: Reuters-Ipsos poll  —  (Reuters) - Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid, one of America's most powerful politicians, holds a narrow edge among likely voters in his re-election bid in recession-lashed Nevada, a Reuters-Ipsos poll said on Tuesday.

Missouri Votes Against Health Law  —  Missouri voters on Tuesday easily approved a measure aimed at nullifying the new federal health care law, becoming the first state in the nation where ordinary people made known their dismay over the issue at the ballot box.

Jonas, 32, sewed up his own leg after ER wait  —  A 32-year-old took the needle into his hands when he tired of the wait at Sundsvall hospital in northern Sweden and sewed up the cut in his leg himself.  The man was later reported to the police for his impromptu handiwork.

Black Caucus head said media to blame for Rep. Waters fallout  —  The chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) on Tuesday blamed the media for overhyping the fallout over Rep. Maxine Waters's ethics trial.  —  Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said in a statement that people should not prejudge Waters …

Behind the numbers of Prop.  8  —  It's crucial to understand the data about Prop. 8's victory before launching another attempt to legalize gay marriage.  —  Immediately after Proposition 8 passed, many who supported same-sex marriage tried to make sense of the results.  A set of assumptions gained wide acceptance.

Hey, Small Spender  —  One of the things everyone knows right now is that Obama has presided over a huge increase in government spending.  But like so many of the things everyone knows, it isn't true.  —  A few considerations to bear in mind:  —  1. You don't want dollar amounts …

ABC whacks Shales over attack on Amanpour  —  ABC is hitting back at Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales for pushing “an utterly fabricated controversy” about “This Week” host Christiane Amanpour supposedly calling on viewers to honor slain Taliban fighters.

Aerial Photograph of Location of Incident Along Lebanese Border, 3  —  Earlier today, an IDF force performing routine pre-coordinated maintenance in Israeli territory was attacked in a provocative act by the Lebanese Armed Forces.  This map reflects the exact location of the incident …

GOP puzzled as Steele courts ambassadors  —  “Everyone's effort has to be focused on electing Republicans right now and that means making sure we have the resources to turn out the vote,” said longtime party strategist Jim Dyke, who was a part of Steele's original circle of advisers at the outset of his RNC term.

Another censure resolution for Lindsey Graham  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham was censured by yet another GOP state county party Monday night.  —  Washington (CNN) - Sen. Lindsey Graham, the South Carolina Republican who often finds himself out of step with the most conservative elements of his party …

I Got My Correction Thanks to the The New York Times — Now Who's Next?  —  Buried at the bottom of a story published the other day, the New York Times printed a curious little correction: … Let's go over that again:  — The Times is admitting that there is absolutely no evidence …

The Republican Who Gives Me Hope  —  Because, regardless of whether you agree or disagree, he's being intellectually honest about the debt and entitlements, even if he is far too utopian in seeing a viable political majority for his vision.  And because he seems unafraid to put real, adult fiscal conservatism to the people:

An Immigrant's View of the ‘Immigration Problem’  —  A major U.S. newspaper has asked immigrant readers to relate their immigration stories and experiences and, in particular, how they have been affected by illegal immigration—in 250 words or fewer.  —  As one of those immigrants—with a story to tell—I have responded.

Elena Kagan Draws Opposition From Senators who Backed Sotomayor  —  There is no question that Elena Kagan will be easily confirmed by the Senate this week to join the Supreme Court.  But in recent days, Kagan has lost a handful of key votes from both sides of the aisle that Sonia Sotomayor secured during …

The Other Side of Shirley Sherrod  —  Imagine farm workers doing back breaking labor in the sweltering sun, sprayed with pesticides and paid less than minimum wage.  Imagine the United Farm Workers called in to defend these laborers against such exploitation by management.

The Semi-Mythical Texas Miracle  —  Ryan Avent blogs on the possible sources of the Texas Economic Miracle and concludes: “I think all of these factors contributed.  Take a tech-oriented region like Greater Boston or the Bay Area, subtract out a housing collapse and add in an energy boom …

Coleman cancels trip to RNC meeting  —  Former Minnesota Senator Norm Coleman will not attend the Republican National Committee's summer meeting in Kansas City.  —  Kansas City, Missouri (CNN) - Norm Coleman will no longer be attending the Republican National Committee's summer meeting in Kansas City …