Why S&P's Downgrade is No Joke  —  The real impact of S&P's downgrade is political, not economic.  —  It's tempting to dismiss Standard & Poor's downgrade of U.S. long-term Treasury bonds as no big deal in the real world.  It's also tempting to describe it as a broad criticism …

If we are to survive the looming catastrophe, we need to face the truth  —  The idea that a capitalist economy can support a socialist welfare state is collapsing before our eyes, says Janet Daley.  —  Getting it right: the Tea Party recognised where America's policies were heading

What Happened to Obama?  —  Drew Westen is a professor of psychology at Emory University and the author of “The Political Brain: The Role of Emotion in Deciding the Fate of the Nation.”  —  Atlanta  —  IT was a blustery day in Washington on Jan. 20, 2009, as it often seems to be on the day of a presidential inauguration.

Wisconsin Democratic Party flak threatens to sic union bullies on independent news group  —  A spokesman for the Wisconsin Democratic Party has threatened to sic union bullies on an independent news organization whose reporting he thinks is “biased.”  —  Graeme Zeilinski was upset …

Protesters Travel From Across Texas to Picket Hate-Based Event  —  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  Michael Diviesti, GetEQUAL Texas State Lead Organizer, (512) 694-3394, michael@getequaltx.org  —  HOUSTON, TX — On August 6th, Governor Perry spoke at an event inside Reliant Stadium in Houston …

Origins of the debt showdown  —  This article was reported by Lori Montgomery, Paul Kane, Brady Dennis, Alec MacGillis, David Fahrenthold, Rosalind Helderman, Felicia Sonmez and Dan Balz.  It was written by Dennis, MacGillis and Montgomery.  —  In mid-January, newly installed …

Obama's soft response to Tea Party draws liberal criticism  —  Liberals are growing frustrated with President Obama's soft response to the Tea Party after fractious negotiations over the debt limit led to the loss of nation's AAA credit rating on Friday.  —  Republicans and Democrats …

Obama won't escape blame for credit downgrade  —  Standard and Poor's explanation for why it downgraded U.S. debt is written in such a way that it can be seized upon by all ideological stripes.  The statement cites the unwillingness of Republicans to raise taxes and of Democrats to agree to entitlement cuts.

The Madman Theory  —  I had breakfast this week with one of Hollywood's most ferocious, self-confident and successful doers of deals.  He was still steamed about what an unforgivably lousy negotiator his president had been on the debt ceiling agreement.  —  One particular Obama move he found appalling above all the rest.