Good News: Malala Can Stand, Communicate

A great sign of hope for Malala Yousufzai: Doctors say that with help, she was able to stand for the first time since being shot in the head by the Taliban, reports ITV News. The Pakistani teen also is able to write, reports AP, though she still can't speak. She is being treated in Britain, and doctors hope to arrange to have her listen to a phone call from her father in Pakistan. The extent of her brain injuries still is not clear, but she is "well enough that she's agreed that she's happy, in fact keen, for us to share more clinical detail," says the medical director of Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham.

Obama's Pension Invests In Sheldon Adelson, The Super Rich Guy Funding Romney

Among the many contentious exchanges in Tuesday's presidential debate was a barbed back-and-forth between Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama about the size and contents of their pensions plans.

Connecticut woman, 80, arrested for ripping down posters of Obama with Hitler mustache (Some White People Really Are Tired Of This Racial Shyt Too, I Applaud This Lady!)

Connecticut woman Nancy Lack, 80, was arrested after she ripped down campaign posters depicting President Obama with a Hitler mustache. ‘I was very angry, and I just took three,’ she explained.

Mitt Romney's Dad Was Born In Mexico, Now Here's His Immigration Plan

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney offered a disclaimer in the second presidential debate Tuesday before he addressed his stance on immigration, offering a policy mix from "self-deportation" to support for green cards for members of the military and undocumented immigrants with critically needed skills.

Police, Politicians, Pastors And Prosecutors Cover Up Decades Of Boy Scoutmasters’ Sexual Abuse

PORTLAND, Oregon —Local Boy Scout leaders, police officials, prosecutors and mayors helped hush up numerous child sex abuse allegations against scoutmasters and other volunteers, according to details in a trove of nearly 15,000 pages of so-called “perversion files” compiled by the Scouts from 1959 to the mid-1980s.

Arizona GOP Senate Candidate Openly Hostile To Free School Lunch Program He Relied On As A Child

A new Esquire profile of Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ) details the Senate candidate’s hard-scrabble childhood on an Arizona cattle ranch — where he was sustained by federal school lunch programs he has repeatedly tried to hobble as a Congressman.

More Junk Science: GOP Congressman Says Abortion Is Never Necessary To Save A Woman’s Life

On Thursday, after his debate against Demcorat Tammy Duckworth, Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) told reporters that an abortion exception is never necessary to save a woman’s life, explaining, “with modern technology and science, you can’t find one instance” of a woman dying from childbirth. Walsh claimed pro-choice advocates simply used the prospect of maternal death “to make us look unreasonable.”

Debt Rises Again for New College Grads

It's the latest snapshot of the growing burden of student debt and it's another discouraging one: Two-thirds of the national college class of 2011 finished school with loan debt, and those who borrowed walked off the graduation stage owing on average $26,600—up about 5% from the class before. And those figures, released today by the Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS), likely underestimate the problem, because they don't include most graduates of for-profit colleges, who typically borrow more than their counterparts elsewhere.

Obama Called Libya Attack Terrorism Long Before Romney

During the past several weeks of campaigning, Mitt Romney has argued that President Obama’s supposed failure to label the killing of Benghazi “terrorism” for two weeks was evidence that he had failed to lead on the issue. After Candy Crowley debunked Romney’s claim during the Tuesday debate, the right doubled down on Romney’s argument, suggesting Obama only used the term “act of terror” generally despite clear references to Benghazi on September 12 and 13.

How The U.S. Is Squandering As Much As $430 Billion In Corporate Tax Revenues

Each year, multinational corporations based in the United States shelter $1.5 trillion in profits in other countries, and because the U.S. doesn’t tax offshore profits, that money is not subject to the corporate income tax. Corporate profits kept offshore don’t face American taxation until they are repatriated — that is, brought back to the United States.

Boxee TV, New Media Player, Combines Live TV, Unlimited DVR And Apps In Latest Shot At Cable

Boxee, the streaming media company with the funnest name this side of Roku, has unveiled its latest Internet-connected player: It's called the Boxee TV, and it's a $99 box that contains an antenna to watch broadcast high-definition television and a DVR system that gives you unlimited online storage of your recordings. It is, according to Boxee CEO Avner Ronen, the first DVR system that has no storage limits whatsoever.

Cici's Pizza Is America's Favorite Fast-Casual Pizza Chain, Study Finds

New findings from research agency Market Force suggest that America's favorite fast-casual pizza chains is CiCi’s Pizza.

U.S. Postal Service Hits $15 Billion Borrowing Limit For First Time

WASHINGTON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - The financially struggling United States Postal Service has hit its $15 billion borrowing limit for the first time ever, meaning it will have to rely on revenues from stamps and other products to fund operations.

Michelle Obama & Ann Romney: Pink Is The Color Of The Second Debate!

Call it bipartisanship, call it a coincidence. (Or hey, maybe it was a Breast Cancer Awareness Month thing.) But at Tuesday night's second presidential debate, Michelle Obama and Ann Romney wore nearly identical outfits. Hot pink, or Schiaparelli pinkas you fashion hounds might call it, was apparently the color of the night.

Mitt Romney 'Binders Full Of Women' Claim Misleads (The Romney Play Book: A Binder Full Of Lies!)

Mitt Romney raised eyebrows during the presidential debate Tuesday night when he claimed that as governor of Massachusetts, he had been so dismayed at the lack of female cabinet candidates that he sent women's groups out to find them.

Obama Attacks Mitt Romney's '47 Percent' Comments In Presidential Debate

President Barack Obama waited until his final exchange to attack Mitt Romney's much-maligned comments at a fundraiser that 47 percent of Americans are "dependent on government" and see themselves as "victims."

GOP Senator Slams Pro Sports Leagues For Using Non-Profit Status To Avoid Paying Taxes

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn (R) is out with the latest edition of an online chronicle of wasteful government spending, and he is taking aim at several of America’s professional sports leagues. Coburn objects to the fact that the leagues are classified as tax-exempt non-profit organizations, even as they rake in millions of dollars in profits.

New York State Senator: Romney Uses Immigrants As A ‘Pinata’

Mitt Romney has wavered between the extreme anti-immigrant positions he staked out during the GOP primary and moderating his views on immigration to appeal to Latino voters in the general election.

At Last Night’s Debate: Romney Told 31 Myths In 41 Minutes

During the first presidential debate in Denver, Colorado Romney managed to tell 27 myths in his 38 minutes of speaking time. But at his second encounter with Obama in New York, the GOP presidential candidate — who has run a post-truth campaign from day one — outdid himself and crammed 31 myths in 41 minutes:

32 Seconds After The Debate Ended, Fox Started Blaming The Questions

Exactly 32 seconds after the debate ended, Fox anchor Megyn Kelly began spinning the debate as biased as a consequence of the questions asked by the undecided voters in the audience. Here’s what she said:

Citigroup CEO Walks Off With $260 Million After His Bank Loses 88 Percent Of Its Value

Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit abruptly resigned today, leaving the helm of the bank that he guided through the financial crisis of 2008. For his five years of leading Citi, Pandit will receive compensation in the neighborhood of $260 million:

What Everyone Should Know About The Benghazi Attack

Six weeks following the assault on a U.S. diplomatic outpost in Libya, many questions remain regarding the nature of the attacks, what the Obama administration knew and when, and the way that knowledge was delivered to the public. Adding to that confusion is the GOP’s desire to politicize the issue in the run-up to the presidential election.

8 Important Economic Questions For The Presidential Debate That Have Nothing To Do With Taxes Or The Deficit

During both the first presidential debate and last week’s vice presidential debate, moderators said that they wanted to focus on “the economy,” an admirable sentiment considering the still slow recovery that is underway. However, “the economy” has, for the most part, meant discussing taxes and the budget deficit. Those are important issues, but they by no means account for all of the economic challenges that the nation faces.

Commit These Five Facts To Memory Before Tonight's Debate

Debates move quickly. The candidates toss out facts at breakneck speeds, trying to get across their entire plans in just 90 minutes. Tonight, Obama and Romney will square off in a debate that’s been billed as high-stakes — Obama will seek to regain the momentum, while Romney hopes to sustain his.

2012 Saw Warmest September On Record Across The Globe, Says NOAA

According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, the globe recorded its warmest September on record, tying with 2005 for the title. Global surface temperature records stretch all the way back to 1880. September marked the 331st straight month with above average temperatures, and the 36th straight September with a global temperature above the 20th century average.

How Paul Ryan Pretended To Volunteer At A Soup Kitchen

Between Mitt Romney’s claim that 47 percent of the country “believe they are entitled to” government assistance to afford food and Paul Ryan’s assertion that people on food stamps are “takers, the entire Romney campaign has cemented the impression that they are “not concerned about the very poor.”

Koch Industries Warns 45,000 Employees Of ‘Consequences’ If They Don’t Vote For Republicans

The Koch brothers’ $60 million pledge to defeat President Obama — along with their political network’s $400 million spending — make them two of the most influential conservatives this election.

Fast Food Chains Use Loopholes And Low-Tax Countries To Avoid Millions In Taxes Each Year

Technology companies have mastered the use of schemes involving low-tax foreign countries in order to avoid billions of dollars in American taxes each year. Now, fast food chains like McDonalds, Burger King, and Subway are doing the same.

Study Shows More Manufacturing Jobs Created Under Democratic Presidents

Since World War Two, manufacturing jobs have grown under Democratic presidentsand faced more challenges under Republicans, a new study reported on Monday.

Romney Vs. Romney: Watch ‘Mittens’ Debate Himself

Republican presidential hopeful, Mitt Romney, probably has whiplash from all of the flip-flopping on issues that he does and a revealing video edited by Daily Kos illustrates that in hilarious fashion.

Another CEO Threatens To Fire Employees If Obama Wins

Last week, billionaire CEO David Siegel, who runs a timeshare empire, threatened to fire employees if President Obama is reelected in November, saying in an email, “the economy doesn’t currently pose a threat to your job. What does threaten your job however, is another 4 years of the same Presidential administration.”

Arlen Specter Dead: Former Pennsylvania Senator Dies From Complications Of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

Former Pennsylvania Senator Arlen Specter died on Sunday from complications of non-Hodgkins Lymphoma, according to the AP.

Republicans Try Compare Obama's Response To Libya Attacks With George Bush's Handling Of Iraq

WASHINGTON -- Several prominent Republicans on Sunday sought a pound of flesh from the Obama administration over its shifting explanations for the attack on the American consulate in Libya.

Clarence Thomas Is 'Wrong On Affirmative Action': Melissa Harris-Perry

Melissa Harris-Perry wrote an open letter to Justice Clarence Thomas and read the note aloud on her Saturday MSNBC show.

UFO Conspiracy Film Crew Detained At Gunpoint At Legendary Area 51 Gate: EXCLUSIVE

A BBC film crew was detained after it breached the back gate of the top secret military facility known as Area 51 while filming a new documentary about UFO conspiracy theories.

Malala Yousufzai Shooting: Thousands Of Pakistanis Rally For Girl Shot By Taliban

ISLAMABAD -- Tens of thousands have rallied in Pakistan's largest city in support of a 14-year-old girl shot and critically wounded by the Taliban for promoting girls' education and criticizing the militant group.

Dating Decisions

People incorporate their romantic interests' flaws into their self-concepts

It’s no secret that people like to see themselves positively. Decades of research indicates that people go to great lengths to accentuate their positive qualities and downplay their flaws. But what happens when an attractive potential partner has those flaws? In a recent pair of studies published in the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, researchers Erica Slotter and Wendi Gardner hypothesized that when people are attracted to flawed potential partners, their romantic desires may motivate them to adopt those flaws themselves. The authors cited the example of Sandy Olsson from Grease, who (spoiler alert?) decides to give up her squeaky clean, goodie-two-shoes image in an effort to win over her “greaser” love interest, Danny Zuko.

Apple Passes Green Product Registry, Glued-In Batteries And All

Apple’s triumphant return to an eco-friendly electronics product registry called EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) has been officially confirmed: On Friday, EPEAT published the results of its latest investigations into the recyclability and repairability of Apple’s Macbook Pro and notebook computers made by other companies (Lenovo, Samsung and Toshiba), giving them all a green light to remain on the registry.

5 UK Marines Charged With Murder in Afghanistan

Five Royal Marines have been charged with murder over a death in Afghanistan last year, Britain's Ministry of Defense said today. They are the first British troops to be charged with murder in the country since 2001. The five are among nine marines arrested—seven on Thursday and two in the last 48 hours. Four have been released without charge. Officials have said the incident involved an "engagement with an insurgent" in Helmand province, where the majority of Britain's 9,500 troops in Afghanistan are deployed. They say no civilians were involved.

Navy Ship, Sub Collide Off Fla. Coast

A nuclear-powered submarine belonging to the US Navy chose the wrong moment to stick its head up yesterday: The USS Montpelier was apparently ascending to periscope depth in waters off the coast of Jacksonville, reports the Navy Times, when it collided with the USS San Jacinto, an Aegis class Navy cruiser. Both ships continued to operate under their own power and the Montpelier's nuclear power plant emerged unscathed, though the San Jacinto's sonar dome suffered damage. No injuries were reported. Both the San Jacinto and Montpelier were conducting routine training, and the Navy is investigating.

Romney Ad Spending: Candidate And Allies Greatly Outpace Obama As Election Closes

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney's campaign and its Republican allies are set to outspend the president's campaign and allied Democratic groups by more than $18 million on the airwaves just this week, according to data provided by a Democratic source.

Obama Leads Among Early Voters: Poll

WASHINGTON, Oct 14 (Reuters) - U.S. President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney are neck and neck in opinion polls, but there is one area in which the incumbent appears to have a big advantage: those who have already cast their ballots.

Crown Jewels From Ghana Snatched in Hotel Lobby

Even a king has to keep an eye on his luggage, apparently. King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II of Ghana was visiting Norway this week when some of his family's crown jewels were snatched from a hotel lobby in Oslo, the BBC reports. Police say they have "good" surveillance images of the scene and are trying to identify the suspects. The king's secretary, who first said the jewels had "tremendous value," later dismissed the theft as "not such a big deal"—just a few rings and some lost headgear.

Client List From Zumba Sex Scandal Could Be A Problem For Some

A state judge in Kennebunk, Maine, decided today not to block the release of over 100 alleged clients of Alexis Wright, the 29-year-old Zumba instructor who is accused of running a prostitution ring out of her dance studio.

'Million Muppet March' Planned To Defend PBS After Romney Big Bird Comments

Oct 12 (Reuters) - Plans to save Big Bird, the fuzzy yellow character on U.S. public television's "Sesame Street," from possible extinction are taking shape in the form of a puppet-based protest next month dubbed the "Million Muppet March."

How the GOP Destroyed its Moderates

MITT ROMNEY HAS BEEN running for president as the Republican nominee, de facto or de jure, for eight months now, and the grand historical joke of it has not yet worn off. A party that has set itself to frantically, fanatically expunge its moderates, quasi-moderates, suspected moderates, and fellow travelers of moderates chose as its standard bearer the lineal heir, biographically and genealogically, to its moderate tradition. It entrusted its holy crusade to repeal Barack Obama’s hated health-care law to the man who had inspired it and run, four years before, promising to do the same for the rest of America. The man and his historical moment could not be more incongruous. It was as if the Mongol tribes of the thirteenth century, setting out to pillage their way across the Asian steppe, had somehow chosen Mahatma Gandhi as their supreme khan.

Maher Slams Focus On The Family & Being Wrong With No Penalty

Bill Maher ended Friday's episode of "Real Time" with a rant echoing a common theme throughout this election season: Why are so many high-profile figures and groups allowed to distort the truth or outright lie with little to no punishment?

Walmart Strike Memo Reveals Confidential Management Plans

Walmart launched a large-scale response this week to a series of unprecedented labor strikes, according to a confidential document obtained by The Huffington Post.

Matthew Shepard, Fourteen Years Later

Fourteen years ago, on October 12, 1998, 21-year-old Matthew Shepard died after a vicious anti-LGBT hate crime in Laramie, Wyoming. His murder galvanized the LGBT community and its allies to push for stronger legal protections against similar acts of terrorism.

Israeli Experts Say Nuclear Deal Could Allow Iran To Enrich Uranium

Two Israeli security experts said on Friday that they could envision a deal between Iran and the P5+1 (the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council plus Germany) over the former’s nuclear program that would include a provision allowing Iran to enrich low-grade uranium for civilian use.

Oklahoma’s Biggest Stimulus Hypocrite Tapped To Deliver GOP’s Weekly Address

Oklahoma congressional candidate Markwayne Mullin, the Republican nominee to replace retiring Rep. Dan Boren (D), has openly criticized President Obama’s economic stimulus package throughout his campaign. The stimulus was a “horrible waste of taxpayer dollars,” said Mullin, who will give the GOP’s national address this weekend.

Porn Industry Supports Barack Obama Over Mitt Romney, According To Poll

In a poll that President Barack Obama might not flaunt, porn actors said they favor re-electing the President over electing Mitt Romney.

William Koch, Billionaire Koch Brother, Accused Of Imprisoning Executive

Billionaire William Koch is facing a lawsuit in federal court from a former top-level employee who claims the energy mogul lured him to a secluded property, where he was imprisoned and interrogated for a period of time, according to a report in Courthouse News.

Skinny Minnie Mouse Could Give Girls Body Image Problems For Christmas

As New York department store Barneys gears up for its annual holiday campaign, they’ve announced something for the kids: A runway display that will feature classic Disney stars like Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Shot Fired at Obama Campaign Office in Denver

Denver police say someone fired a shot through the window of President Obama's Denver campaign office yesterday. People were inside at the time, but no one was injured. A large panel of glass was left shattered at the office on West Ninth Avenue. Investigators are looking at surveillance video but have not yet confirmed a description of a vehicle that might be linked to the shooting.

Florida GOP Group Uses Image Of Dead Ambassador’s Body In Obama Attack Ad

A Florida chapter of the pro-gay Log Cabin Republicans has published an attack ad against the Obama administration that prominently features a picture of slain Ambassador Chris Stevens, who was killed in an attack on the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya last month. Accompanying the picture is the claim that the President refuses to protect gay and gay friendly Americans against “Islamic radicalism.”

GOP Consultant Under Investigation For Voter Registration Fraud Quietly Restarts Registration Efforts

The Republican National Committeehastily cut ties with Strategic Allied Consulting in late September, when Florida opened a criminal investigation into the GOP-funded voter registration firm for turning in hundreds of fraudulent registration forms in Florida counties. Once Palm Beach County raised the alarm, other states discoveredfraudulent registrations, including North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada and Colorado. Now under fire, Strategic Allied Consulting founder Nathan Sproul has quietly started a new identical firm called Issue Advocacy Partners, which is operating in 10 major battleground states.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS TV SHOW CREATOR TO ROMNEY: ‘COME UP WITH YOUR OWN CAMPAIGN SLOGAN’

Since the first presidential debate, the Romney campaign has beenemploying a line from popular TV show Friday Night Lights: “clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose.” But the series creator, Peter Berg, has sent the campaign a letter accusing Romney of plagiarizing the rallying cry, which has been used in stump speeches, on social media and on posters. Berg’s letter went even farther, declaring, “Your politics and campaign are clearly not aligned with the themes we portrayed in our series.” He also compares Romney to one of his characters, Buddy Garrity, a somewhat ignorant car salesman who started selling imported Japanese cars instead of American-made ones. Read the letter in full here.

Five Questions Martha Raddatz Could Have Asked About Abortion In Last Night’s Vice Presidential Debate

I was gritting my teeth waiting for a question, any question, to be asked about reproductive health, contraception, insurance coverage for women’s health, or sexual assault at last night’s debate. So I was glad that moderator Martha Raddatz asked about abortion. But I was less than thrilled with how she phrased the question, asking Vice President Biden and Rep. Paul Ryan “I would like to ask you both to tell me what role your religion has played in your own personal views on abortion. Please talk about how you came to that decision. Talk about how your religion played a part in that. And, please, this is such an emotional issue for so many people in this country, please talk personally about this, if you could.” As Irin Carmon pointed out at Salon, it was a framing that put the issue on turf where religious conservatives like to have it, that posited the beliefs of two men, neither of whom will ever have to face the prospect of themselves carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term, was more important than the experiences of women, and that personalized a debate with important policy implications. So here are five questions Raddatz could asked to get, meaningfully, at any of the factors her question excluded:

Wyclef Jean's Charity Quietly Goes Bust

Wyclef Jean's ineffective and scandal-plagued charity Yéle quietly went belly up last month, after CEO Derek Johnson announced his resignation. "As the foundation's sole remaining employee, my decision implies the closure of the organization as a whole," he wrote. In its wake, the charity leaves "a trail of debts, unfinished projects, and broken promises," the New York Timeswrites in a profile today. In Haiti, there's little sign it ever existed; its headquarters is abandoned, its tents and tarps have disintegrated, and its street cleaning crews have disbanded.

Republicans Reveal Location Of Secret CIA Base During House Hearing On Libya Attacks

The Washington Post’s Dana Milbank caught an interesting tidbit from yesterday’s House hearing on the attacks on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Libya last month. The GOP — having spent months railingagainst the Obama administration for allegedly leaking classified information — yesterday revealed classified information. “When House Republicans called a hearing in the middle of their long recess, you knew it would be something big,” Milbank reports today, “and indeed it was: They accidentally blew the CIA’s cover.”

GOP Plans Congressional Investigation Into September Jobs Number Conspiracy

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) told Fox News on Wednesday that he would hold hearings into the September job numbers, buying into a widely-discredited conspiracy theory that President Obama faked last month’s figure to improve his re-election chances.

Four Ways A Romney Supreme Court Would Change The Constitution Without Amending It

In an interview with the Columbus Dispatch yesterday, GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney brushed off a suggestion that he would usher in a constitutional amendment overruling Roe v. Wade, stating that “[t]hat’s not where America is now.” That does not mean, however, that Romney will not usher in massive changes to the Constitution if he is given the opportunity to name new Supreme Court justices. Here are just four ways that Romney’s appointees would vote to effectively rewrite the Constitution if given the chance to do so:

At The Vice Presidential Debate: Ryan Told 24 Myths In 40 Minutes

1) “It took the president two weeks to acknowledge that [the Libya attack] was a terrorist attack.” Obama used the word “terrorism” to describe the killing of Americans the very next day at the Rose Garden. “No acts of terror will ever shake the resolve of this great nation, alter that character, or eclipse the light of the values that we stand for,” Obama said in a Rose Garden statement on September 12.

How A Terrible Debate Question Helped Paul Ryan Mislead About Social Security

During last night’s debate, Vice Presidential nominee Paul Ryan told 24 lies during his 40 minutes of speaking time. But in one instance, he was aided by debate moderator Martha Raddatz, who asserted that Social Security “is going broke”:

Mother Of Navy SEAL Killed In Libya Demands Romney Stop Talking About Him In Stump Speech

The mother of a former Navy SEAL who was killed in the attack on the U.S. diplomatic mission in Benghazi, Libya last month has asked Mitt Romney to stop recounting a story about meeting the former SEAL, Glen Doherty, at a holiday party a few years ago.

What Everyone Needs To Know Before Watching The VP Debate

1. Romney and Ryan would eliminate health care for 31 million people who are poor or disabled. Medicaid, which helps poor Americans, some seniors, and children afford health care, is right in the crosshairs of Paul Ryan’s House budget. He proposed cutting $1.4 trillion from the program, a move that would kick about 11 million people off Medicaid over the course of ten years. The Romney-Ryan plan is even worse, and is estimated to force about 44 million people off the program.

Discovery’s Embarrassing Embrace of Ted Nugent, And The Value of Public Broadcasting

Normally, when celebrities embarrass the networks who are about to dedicate programming hours to them, it’s something of a shock. VH1 had no idea Chad Johnson would batter his wife, Evelyn Lozada, shortly before a reality show about the couple was slated to air. And normally, when something like that takes place, the network responds quickly: VH1 cancelled “Ev and Ocho” before a single episode of it had even aired. But the Discovery Channel is in a decidedly different situation with Ted Nugent, the subject of an hour-long special called “Ted Nugent’s Gun Country” which airs on the network at 10 tonight.

Special Interest Groups Spent Nearly $11 Million On Solyndra Attack Ads Since April — But They Didn’t Work

When the solar manufacturing company Solyndra went bankrupt last September after receiving a $527 million loan guarantee, it sparked a politically-motivated Congressional investigation into the White House’s handling of the program — an “investigation” that critics admitted would “stop on election day.”

COURT PUTS SOUTH CAROLINA VOTER ID LAW ON HOLD UNTIL AFTER ELECTION

A three-judge panel rejected South Carolina’s request that itreinstate a state voter identification law for the 2012 elections. The law had been denied pre-clearance by the U.S. Department of Justice for violating the Voting Rights Act. Much like the recent Pennsylvania decision, the panel ruled that the law may go into effect after this year, but implementing it this close to the November elections would have potentially discriminatory effects on minority voters.

Billionaire CEO Threatens To Fire Employees If Obama Wins

The CEO of a massive timeshare company sent an email about the upcoming election to his employees yesterday, threatening to fire some of them if President Obama wins re-election.

Despite Court Order, At Least Five Pennsylvania Counties Still Telling Voters They Need ID To Vote

Last week, a Pennsylvania court mostly suspended that state’s voter ID law for the upcoming election. Under the court’s order, voters will still be asked for ID at the polls, but they will still be able to cast a regular ballot — not a provisional ballot — if they are unable to show it.

GOP Strategist Says Romney Is Withholding Details Of His Tax Plan To Avoid Criticism

Republican consultant Mike Murphy, a former Romney strategist, said on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday that it is unfair to criticize Mitt Romney’s lack of specificity on how to pay for his proposed 20 percent income tax cut. Should Romney identify what loopholes he would cut to offset the tax cuts, Murphy argued, he would be criticized for doing so.

MUST SEE HERE: Mr. Rogers’ Powerful Defense Federal Funding For PBS

During last week’s debate Mitt Romney pledged to cut all funding for PBS, including Big Bird. Although Romney pitched the cuts as a deficit reduction measure, all funding for PBS accounts for less than 1/100 of 1% of the budget.

Supreme Court To Hear Monsanto Seed Dispute

WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear a dispute between a soybean farmer and Monsanto Co. over the company's efforts to limit farmers' use of its patented, genetically engineered Roundup Ready seeds.

Illinois Man, Charged In Plot To Bomb 48 Oklahoma Churches

A 23-year-old Elk Grove Village, Ill. native has been arrested over his alleged plot to firebomb dozens of Miami, Okla. area churches.

Romney: A Man Without Compasion

One little problem with the compassion thing that Mitt Romney keeps touting in his recent television ads: He doesn't seem to have any.

Hugo Chavez Wins Re-Election In Venezuela Presidential Vote

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Venezuela's electoral council says President Hugo Chavez has won re-election, defeating challenger Henrique Capriles.

Mary Matalin Calls Paul Krugman A ‘Liar’ For Telling The Truth

During a roundtable discussion on George Stephanoupolos’ This Week Sunday morning, GOP political consultant Mary Matalin got into a heated exchange with Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, calling him a “liar” for previously referring to Paul Ryan’s Medicare reform plan as a “voucher” program:

Meningitis Outbreak Spreads; 91 Infected

ATLANTA -- The pharmacy that distributed a steroid linked to an outbreak of fungal meningitis has issued a voluntary recall of all of its products, calling the move a precautionary measure.

Mitt Romney Closes In On Obama After Debate, Poll Shows

WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney stayed within striking distance of President Barack Obama in a Reuters/Ipsos poll on Sunday, two-points behind the Democrat for the third straight day after winning last week's debate in Denver.

Paul Krugman Blasts Media Over Presidential Debate: Press Can't 'Handle Flat-Out Untruths'

Paul Krugman hammered the media over its handling of the first presidential debate, specifically what he said was its failure to fact-check Mitt Romney.

The Sunday October 7th, 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Today, in the battle of the surrogates, we will have Kelly Ayotte battling Martin O'Malley battling keeping anyone who is watching this from falling alseep. And there will be a debate coaching session, followed by a panel discussion, and there you go.

Chuck Todd: Republican Edge In Voter Enthusiasm Is 'Huge Problem' For Democrats

The storyline coming out of the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, N.C. last month was that President Barack Obama -- and former President Bill Clinton -- had roused their party and their base and were more enthusiastic than the Republicans had been at their convention.

Rich History Of African-American FireFighters

The men and women who serve on the front lines as firefighters, rescuing citizens in harm’s way, should be saluted daily for their bravery. In one of the most-dangerous and selfless occupations in the world, firefighters risk their lives for the safety of others at a moment’s notice. Even though history has not been kind to the memory of African-American firemen, their contribution to firefighting is a significant one. Still, even with the most-dedicated research, it is difficult to ascertain who were the first African-Americans who took up the role as firefighters.

New Film Seeks To Counter Negative Stereotypes About Africa

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word, “Africa?”

A place full of malnourished bellies? Nothing but poverty as far as the eye can see? That “country” where everybody walks around naked and fights lions with spears?

Republican Legislator: Slavery Was A “Blessing” For Black People

There is an old saying that goes: “All Republicans aren’t racists; but all racists are Republicans.” This might be an exaggeration of facts, but Republican legislator from Arkansas, Jon Hubbard, certainly adds fuel to the flame.

Levar Burton Ties Romney’s Big Bird Remarks To His 47 Percent Philosophy

On Thursday night, the former Emmy-winning host and producer of “Reading Rainbow,” Levar Burton (pictured right), blasted GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney for his Big Bird remarks about cutting funding to non-profit television station PBS.

‘Mitt Romney Style’

Using Korean star Psy‘s international hit “Gangnam Style” as their inspiration, comic websiteCollege Humor released a hilarious parody on Tuesday that highlights all the things we’ve come to detest about GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Cleverly coined “Mitt Romney Style,” it is only a matter of time before this precise portrayal goes viral.

US Pushes to Restrict Polar Bear Hunts

Polar bears apparently have more to worry about than sea ice. The US thinks too many are being hunted in Canada and will push for an international ban on the trade of polar bear pelts, claws, teeth, and other body parts, reports the Los Angeles Times. If the US convinces the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to go along at its next meeting in March, polar bear skins would be as protected as elephant ivory.

Border Patrol Agent's Killer: Friendly Fire, Sources Say

Border Patrol agent Nicholas Ivie was apparently not shot by Mexican drug runners after all. Federal and state officials tell NBC that another agent at the scene accidentally killed Ivie. Investigators based their conclusion on ballistics analysis, the lack of proof that other gunmen were there, and other evidence, the sources say. A formal statement from officials is expected soon.

No, Justice Scalia, Overruling Roe, Criminalizing Sex and Killing Inmates Are Not ‘Absolutely Easy’ Cases

Conservative Justice Antonin Scalia routinely pretends that his approach to the law is merely to follow the clear language of the Constitution, and anyone who does not reach the same conclusions he does must be doing it wrong. In truth, however, Scalia’s rhetoric far more often just exposes how simplistic his vision of the Constitution truly is. Consider a speech he gave earlier this week at a conservative think tank:

Why Romney Doesn’t ‘Preserve’ Traditional Medicare

During Wednesday night’s presidential debate, Mitt Romney tried his very best to convince American seniors and future beneficiaries that his Medicare reform plan would not fundamentally alter the longstanding safety-net program’s structure. The Republican nominee painted his plan as a well-meaning experiment meant to inject some much-needed marketplace capitalism into the Medicare system, theoretically lowering the program’s cost and offering flexible, quality coverage options to future Americans, all while maintaining the benefits of traditional Medicare.

American Newspapers Give Far More Coverage To Climate Deniers And Skeptics Than Other Countries

America is unique when it comes to giving a platform to climate deniers and skeptics.

According to a new analysis of data released last year, American newspapers are far more likely to publish uncontested claims from climate deniers, many of whom challenge whether the planet is warming at all and are “almost exclusively found” in the U.S. media. The study was published in the journalEnvironmental Research Letters.

Tea Party Voter Suppression Group Under Investigation For Possible ‘Criminal Conspiracy’

The Tea Party organization launching a multi-pronged voter suppression effort this election is under investigation by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) for a possible “criminal conspiracy to deny legitimate voters their constitutional rights.”

Meningitis Outbreak Death Toll Rises To 7 In U.S.: CDC

ATLANTA — Health officials say the death toll in a rare fungal meningitis outbreak across several states has risen to seven.

Military Sexual Assault Epidemic Continues To Claim Victims As Defense Department Fails Females

NEW YORK -- On an isolated hilltop outpost overlooking a town in Eastern Afghanistan in spring 2007, a cell phone rang.

If the phone -- a detonation device -- had been properly wired, Rebekah Havrilla and her team leader would have been blown up along with a hill packed full of five landmines and an improvised explosive device.

Obama, Democrats' Fundraising Raised $181 Million In September

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama's campaign and Democrats have raised $181 million combined in September, pulling in the most money in one month during his re-election bid.

New Study Confirms Obamacare’s Birth Control Mandate Will Reduce Abortion Rate

A new study focusing on low-income women in St. Louis, MO concludes that expanding access to free contraception — just as the health care reform law does through its provision to providebirth control without a co-pay — leads to significantly lower rates of unintended teen pregnancy and abortion. Researchers found that when women weren’t prohibited by cost, they chosemore effective, long-lasting forms of birth control and experienced many fewer unintended pregnancies as a result.

Coal Workers Say Murray Energy ‘Coerces’ Them To Make GOP Donations: ‘If You Don’t Contribute, Your Job’s At Stake’

“You’ve got a great boss,” Mitt Romney proclaimed to a crowd of coal miners at a campaign rally in August.

He was referring to Robert Murray, the CEO of Murray Energy, one of the largest coal mining operators in the country.

How Today’s Jobs Report Deprives Romney Of Key Talking Points

Today’s positive jobs report offers further proof that the unremittingly bleak picture of the economy that Mitt Romney has been painting — and which he emphasized in Wednesday’s presidential debate — is incomplete and inaccurate.

114,000 JOBS CREATED IN SEPTEMBER, UNEMPLOYMENT FALLS TO 7.8 PERCENT

According to the latest data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the economy created 114,000 jobs in September, with the unemployment rate falling to 7.8 percent. Analysts had expected about 110,000 jobs to be created. The private sector added 110,00 jobs, while the public sector ended a long slide by adding 10,000 jobs. July’s jobs number was revised up by 40,000 jobs, while August’s number was revised up by 46,000. The wider U-6 measure of underemployment was unchanged at 14.7 percent.

New Ad Questions Romney’s Ability To Serve As Commander-In-Chief

Progressive foreign policy group the Truman National Security Project today released a new ad that features several 9/11-era veterans questioning whether Mitt Romney is qualified to be commander-in-chief.

Dan Rather On Jim Lehrer's Debate Moderation: 'Not One Of His Better Nights'

Dan Rather joined HuffPost Live Thursday and had some criticism over his friend Jim Lehrer's performance moderating Wednesday night's presidential debate.

Big Bird Had Some Choice 'Words' For Romney, But PBS CEO Paula Kerger Intervened instead. However, Even The Count Got In On Today's Favorite Letters Of The Day: F & U!

Note: 

In case you did not catch this Romney gave notice to Big Bird and Jim Lehrer, telling them both that if he is elected, they are both fired! People are eating up how disengaged the president seemed yet did not realize that the Romney on the stage was again, another one of his persona's needed in a business deal. The only thing I will say about it all is that the President keeps thinking that people will remember and are smart enough to see his achievements. Even Thinking or feeling like it would be repetition to keep mentioning them but I feel that's what he needs to do! I hope we all can recall that you say what needs to be said or heard during an job interview, yet it's the background check that matters. Least you would think?

Could Mitt Romney's Debate Win Mean A Victory In The Election?

Unless you're David Plouffe or another member of President Barack Obama's cheerleading squad, you're probably wouldn't argue that Obama won Wednesday night's debate. Indeed, instant polls from CNN and CBS showed Romney leading Obama by 42 to 22 percentage points, respectively, on the question of who won.

Romney Pre-Existing Conditions Health Care Plan Doesn't Match 'Obamacare' Or 'Romneycare'

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney risks developing a pre-existing condition of his own by twisting himself into a pretzel while trying to equate his position with President Barack Obama's on one of the most popular aspects of the health care reform law enacted in 2010.

Obama Blasts Mitt Romney's Debate Claims: 'You Owe The American People The Truth'

DENVER -- Looking for a quick recovery from a disappointing debate, President Barack Obama questioned the identity of the "real" Mitt Romney on Thursday, suggesting his Republican rival had not been candid about his policy positions while on stage.

At Last Night’s Debate: Romney Told 27 Myths In 38 Minutes

Pundits from both sides of the aisle have lauded Mitt Romney’s strong debate performance, praising his preparedness and ability to challenge President Obama’s policies and accomplishments. But Romney only accomplished this goal by repeatedly misleading viewers. He spoke for 38 minutes of the 90 minute debate and told at least 27 myths:

At First Debate, Mitt Romney Admits That He Would ‘Absolutely Not’ Support His Own Tax Plan

Mitt Romney seemingly walked back his support of his own tax plan last night at the first presidential debate, telling President Obama and the American people that he would “absolutely not” support a plan that cuts taxes on the wealthy, raises taxes on the middle class, or adds to the federal budget deficit. Independent analyses have found that it is mathematically impossible for Romney’s plan, as written, to avoid either adding to the deficit or raising taxes on the middle class. And Romney himself said at a debate in February that he was “going to cut taxes on everyone across the country by 20 percent, including the top 1 percent.”

Romney Campaign Chair On Obama: ‘When You’re Not That Bright You Can’t Get Better Prepared’ (White Code Words: Lazy and disengaged, words often used against blacks!

Note: I think I will do a post on coded racial terms, cause most black people seems to not know what's going on here! These old white men are bringing up things from the past they clearly still believe it. These words have been around forever to describe hate towards a black man for over 100 years. In fact, I will give you this example and you can research it for yourself.  While Jack Johnson  the heavy weight champ during  (1908-1915) was repeatedly called "Coward, Lazy, and Yellow" during most of his fights which he was man handling his white opponents, Jim Jefferies who refuses to fight him would dog him most of his career with remarks like this. Until Johnson had "Ring Words" with him to deal with things man to man on July 4th, 1910. Even after winning the fight fairly, race riots breakout everywhere! It's said that police helped white citizens put blacks back in their place!

Timsomor

Mitt Romney campaign co-chair and former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu (R) appeared on Fox News on Thursday and took a victory lap following last night’s first presidential debate.

Anti-Immigrant Group Launches Racist Ad Campaign To Pit African-Americans Against Immigrants

The anti-immigrant group NumbersUSA, which seeks to limit legal immigration, has put out a new, racist ad that tries to pit African Americans against immigrants. It features an African American man with his family explaining that he needs a job:

47,000 Women Die Each Year From Unsafe Abortions

According to the Guttmacher Institute, complications from unsafe abortions in the developing world contribute to 47,000 preventable deaths each year. The advocacy organization points out that reducing the number of unsafe abortion procedures worldwide is a public health imperative, since every woman should have the right to make safe reproductive choices for herself without risking her life.

US Business Owner Actually Russian Agent: Authorities

A Houston business owner is actually a Russian agent and was allegedly shuttling high-tech US electronics to Russian military and intelligence agencies for 10 years, authorities say. Alexander Fishenko and 10 others were charged in the alleged scheme today, the Houston Chronicle reports. Fishenko was born in Kazakhstan but came to the US in 1994 and is a naturalized citizen. He founded Arc Electronics in 1998 and is accused of shipping sensitive micro-electronics to Russia over the course of a decade. All 11 are in custody.

Islamist Radicals Recruit Poor African Youth In Exchange For Food, Money

MOPTI, Mali — Salif Haidara sat drinking tea on the side of the road with other weary bus passengers when a man with a turban and a long beard approached them: Did they want to become holy warriors?

T-Mobile, MetroPCS Merger Confirmed: U.S. Wireless Giants Boards' Approve Deal

BERLIN (AP) — Struggling cellphone companies T-Mobile USA and MetroPCS Communications are set to merge, in a deal that will create an operator with more than 40 million subscribers.

Medicaid Health Care Denied To Millions Of America's Poorest

Unemployed, homeless and uninsured, Laurie Scop would appear to be just one of the people who safety net programs like Medicaid are designed to protect.

Debate Moderators Largely Bypass Social Media In Preparing Questions

NEW YORK -- Jim Lehrer will likely kick off Wednesday night's presidential debate, the 12th he's moderated since 1988, in a familiar manner: "Good evening from the Magness Arena at the University of Denver." In Lehrer's debate memoir, "Tension City," the PBS veteran describes how the moderator's opening, complete with "good evening," hasn't changed since the first televised debate in 1960.

5 Very Notable Questions That Should Be Asked At The Presidential Debate But Probably Won’t Be

On Wednesday, President Obama and Mitt Romney will face a number of carefully crafted questions on domestic policy at the University of Denver debate. As voters are overwhelmingly concerned about the economy this year, the bulk of the debate is likely to be spent on the candidates’ plans for taxes, unemployment, and deficit reduction. This focus on the economy, however, blinkers voters from issues that both Obama and Romney have so far ignored. Should debate moderator Jim Lehrer want to catch them off guard tomorrow, he could pose one of these questions:

Bank Profits Rebound To 2006 Levels, But Bankers Still Complain About Regulations

In the last four quarters, the six largest Wall Street banks have made $63 billion, the most they’ve made since 2006. Despite having pushed the nation to the brink of economic collapse, and after receiving billions of taxpayer dollars, the banks are back to where they were when the housing bubble inflating.

Ten Totally Fake Stories Bannered By Drudge This Year

Matt Drudge continues to capture the attention of the political media “because of his brand recognition and, in 2012, because he has a direct line to the Romney campaign.”

Court Requires Disabled Rape Victim To Prove She Resisted, Calls For Evidence Of ‘Biting, Kicking, Scratching’

In a 4-3 ruling Tuesday afternoon, the Connecticut State Supreme Court overturned the sexual assault conviction of a man who had sex with a woman who “has severe cerebral palsy, has the intellectual functional equivalent of a 3-year-old and cannot verbally communicate.” The Court held that, because Connecticut statutes define physical incapacity for the purpose of sexual assault as “unconscious or for any other reason. . . physically unable to communicate unwillingness to an act,” the defendant could not be convicted if there was any chance that the victim could have communicated her lack of consent. Since the victim in this case was capable of “biting, kicking, scratching, screeching, groaning or gesturing,” the Court ruled that that victim could have communicated lack of consent despite her serious mental deficiencies:

Republican Congressman Campaigns At North Dakota Construction Site He Voted To Defund

Rep. Rick Berg (R-ND), locked in a close Senate race against former North Dakota Attorney General Heidi Heitkamp (D), visited the 55th Street bypass bridge construction site in Minot on Tuesday, touting the stop on his campaign’s Twitter feed:

Twelve Misleading Things You’ll Probably Hear At Tonight’s Debate

Tonight’s debate brings the election into its home stretch, which means the candidates will be pulling out all their best lines (or zingers, as the case may be) to try to woo voters. Here are some common misleading lines the candidates have used on the campaign trail that they’re likely to use again tonight:

In New ‘Bombshell’ Video, Obama Criticizes Federal Response To Hurricane Katrina (RNC Looking For Gotcha Video Movement In Action, Which Is a Fail!)

All day, the right-wing media have teased an “explosive” new video that exposes the “real” Barack Obama. The video turned out to be a speech from June 2007 at Hampton University, which was widely reported at the time. The full transcript of his prepared remark has been available for years.

30 Percent 'Want Welfare State,' 70 Percent 'Want The American Dream': Paul Ryan

WASHINGTON -- Mitt Romney and his running mate, Paul Ryan, share a similarly dim view of a very large portion of Americans, according to previously unreported remarks by Ryan. Both believe that many of their fellow citizens are dependent on government and have no motivation to improve their lives -- but they disagree over the precise number.

72 Million Will Go Without Health Insurance Under Romney’s Health Plan

          

GEORGE WILL: OBAMA IS WINNING BECAUSE HE’S BLACK ( Here We Go.......)

Washington Postcolumnist George Will suggested in his Tuesday column that President Obama was only ahead in the polls because he’s African-American. After dismissing Obama’s record as being obviously “in shambles,” Will suggested that Americans were supporting him only because they didn’t want to see a black president fail, writing that “the nation, which is generally reluctant to declare a president a failure — thereby admitting that it made a mistake in choosing him — seems especially reluctant not to give up on the first African American president. If so, the 2012 election speaks well of the nation’s heart, if not its head.” Credible academic estimatessuggest Obama lost a net 3 to 5 percent of the national vote in 2008 as a consequence of his race.

Rumsfeld: It ‘Has Got To Be Embarrassing’ To Get Intelligence Wrong (WTF!)

Former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld — famous for pushing the United States into a costly war in Iraq based on wildly false intelligence — criticized U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice for being wrong about what caused the recent attack on the U.S. Consulate in Libya.

How To Easily Prevent The ‘Fiscal Cliff’ From Hurting Middle Class Families

If the United States hits the so-called “fiscal cliff” — the scheduled year-end spending cuts and tax increases — nearly 90 percent of Americans would see their taxes rise, according to a report released Monday. Thanks to an array of expiring tax provisions, middle-income families would see a $2,000 increase, according to the Tax Policy Center report.

News Anchor Responds to Viewer Who Called Her Fat (I am glad she did, people won't just let other's be)

An anchorwoman at WKBT in Lacrosse, Wisconsin, offered an on-air response today to a viewer who criticized her weight. Sample line from the email, which can be filed under the "smug condescension" category: "I leave you this note hoping that you'll reconsider your responsibility as a local public personality to present and promote a healthy lifestyle."

Star Witness McQueary Sues Penn State

Mike McQueary is suing Penn State for $4 million over the way he says he was treated in the Jerry Sandusky sex-abuse case, reports the Philadelphia Inquirer. The former assistant football coach says in his whistleblower suit that the university fired him for cooperating with authorities and cast doubt on his credibility by publicly supporting two school officials he singled out for a failure to act. McQueary reported seeing Sandusky in the shower with a boy about 10 years ago, but nothing came of it. McQueary, of course, has plenty of critics who say he himself should have done more at the time.

AUDIENCE BOOS SCOTT BROWN FOR NAMING SCALIA AS ‘MODEL JUSTICE’

Sen. Scott Brown (R-MA) was booed by the audience at the second Massachusetts Senate Debate on Monday evening, after he named conservative Justice Antonin Scalia as his model Supreme Court justice. Upon hearing the crowd’s reaction, he quickly added Justices Anthony Kennedy, Sonia Sotomayor, and Chief Justice John Roberts to his list. “That’s the beauty of being an independent,” Brown quipped. Watch it:

Karl Rove's New Crossroads GPS Ads Paint Democratic Candidates As Corrupt

Tim Bishop is a scoundrel. Just ask Karl Rove.

A new ad by Rove’s super PAC, Crossroads GPS, is trying to frame the five-term Long Island congressman as a paragon of corruption, highlighting a recent episode in which Bishop’s staff solicited a campaign contribution from a constituent who had asked for the congressman’s help in securing a fireworks permit.

25 Dead in Hong Kong Ferry Tragedy

Twenty-five people are dead after a ferry carrying 121 passengers collided with a tug boat and sank south of Hong Kong today, the BBC ports. Rescue crews scrambled to the scene, pulling all but one from the waters off of Lamma Island and taking 40 to a hospital. Lamma is a popular tourist destination, and is especially packed right now because today is China's National Day, and part of Hong Kong's mid-autumn festival.

Czech President Is Shot—With a Pellet Gun

Czech President Vaclav Klaus was opening a bridge in the northern town of Chrastava Friday when a man shot him at close range—with a pellet gun. The president recoiled a little but seemed unhurt, Radio Prague reports. The real damage may be to his security detail, whose chief bodyguard, Jirí Sklenka, resigned today after a rebuke from the president. "I feel I must take responsibility for the actions of my subordinates and I must face this like a man," Sklenka said.

Touting Government ‘Financial Support’ In 2005, Romney Called For Using ‘A Lot Less Oil In This Country’

Mitt Romney’s reversals on almost every substantive issue have been well documented, including on climate and energy. Now we can add another example to the list.

JPMorgan Chase Lawsuit: New York Attorney General's Suit Is First For Task Force

The New York Attorney General sued JPMorgan Chase on Monday, alleging that Bear Stearns, the troubled investment bank it bought in 2008, "kept investors in the dark" about the quality of the mortgage-backed bonds it was selling as the market started to sour.

DREAM Act Could Add $329 Billion To U.S. Economy

The DREAM Act was first introduced as a bipartisan measure in 2001, but has languished in Congress ever since. Republicans have blocked the bill, which would help young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children gain citizenship. President Obama says he supports the policy and issued a directive in June to help protect DREAMers from deportation by giving those who qualify temporary legal status.

GOP-HIRED FIRM UNDER INVESTIGATION FOR VOTER FRAUD IN NORTH CAROLINA

The North Carolina board of elections is determining whether a GOP-allied firm, Strategic Allied Consulting, submitted fraudulent voter registration forms in the state, following reports the group submitted 106 “questionable” forms in Florida. In the midst of Republican efforts to uncover extremely rare in-person voter fraud, the likeliest source comes from their own firm. North Carolina officials are contacting local boards of elections to determine if wider investigation is necessary. The Republican National Committee has paid Strategic Allied $3.1 million to run voter registration drives in multiple swing states, but the ongoing criminal investigation has caused the RNC and state Republican parties to cut all ties.

Bush-Appointed Judge Upholds Obama Administration’s Birth Control Coverage Rules

On Friday, Judge Carol Jackson, a George H.W. Bush appointee to a federal court in Missouri, rejected a Catholic business owner’s challenge to the Obama Administration’s rules requiring employer health plans to cover birth control. Like the many copycat lawsuits asserting similar legal claims, the plaintiffs in this suit argued that the birth control rules substantially burden their faith by requiring them to pay for employee health benefits which might then in turn be used to pay for birth control. As Judge Jackson’s opinions explains, however, this argument proves too much:

Child-Abuse Injuries Up 5%

Hospitalizations from child-abuse injuries climbed 4.9% between 1997 and 2009, a national study finds, with deaths before discharge also increasing. The data runs "in sharp contrast to data from child protective services," say the study's authors. Those groups found that substantiated child abuse dropped 55% between 1992 and 2009, ABC News reports, while another report, required by Congress, found a 23% decline.

Mentally Ill Father Tormented by the Prospect of Obama Winning the Election Kills His Whole Family!

A mentally unstable man killed his wife and two sons because he feared Barack Obama would win the election.And, yes, I checked and this one does not appear to be an unfunny satire — there’s no byline by 

The Politico’s Roger Simon:

Wall Street Preparing For Obama Victory As Romney Falls Behind In Polls

NEW YORK — As President Barack Obama widened his lead over Mitt Romney in polls this month, traders at hedge funds and investment firms began shooting emails to clients with a similar theme: It’s time to start preparing for an Obama victory.

Aurora Shooting Victim ‘Demands A Plan’ From Romney And Obama On Guns

President Obama and Mitt Romney will face each other Wednesday in their first presidential debate at University of Denver, just 15 miles from the site of the movie theater shooting in Aurora, Colorado. However, the media’s interest in the largest shooting in the country since Virginia Tech has waned, while both Romney and Obama have backed away from offering any new solutions to deal with the nation’s gun homicide rate, which far outpaces any other developed country in the world.

We Are The 100 Percent

As Election Day approaches, much of the nation must surely be experiencing Percent Fatigue.

The campaign took shape amid talk of the 99 Percent and the 1 Percent -- the divide delineated by Occupy Wall Street that speaks to how more and more of the spoils of the American economy have been flowing upward.

The Guys That Think Corporations Are People, Decide On More Major Rulings Starting Today

The Supreme Court term that begins Monday holds the prospect for major rulings about affirmative action, gay marriage and voting rights.

White House Hit With Cyberattack

The White House is confirming it was hit by a cyberattack, possibly from China, but the official who confirmed the attempt insists it was not serious. TheWashington Free Beacon, a conservative website, first reported the attack last night, claiming that hackers linked to the Chinese government broke into a highly sensitive computer network in the White House Military Office used to house nuclear commands. But while the White House confirmed the attempted hack to Politico—which notes that it was without being asked—it said only an unclassified network was affected and that no harm had been done and no data was stolen during the "isolated" attack.

Japan's New Fine for Illegal Downloads: 2 Years in Jail

Japan is really cracking down on online piracy: As of today, anyone who possesses illegally downloaded music or movies could go to prison for as long as two years, CNN reports. They also face fines of nearly $26,000. Possessing content that infringes on copyright laws has been illegal in the country since 2010, but the penalties take effect today after politicians voted in favor of them in June. Those who upload music and videos illegally face even stiffer penalties, the BBC reports: up to 10 years in prison and more than $128,000 in fines.

Gen. John Allen: 'I'm Mad As Hell' About Insider Attacks In Afghanistan

The top American commander of troops in Afghanistan showed signs of impatience about the growing spate of insider attacks that have taken a toll on U.S. troops during a blunt interview on "60 Minutes" Sunday night.

"I'm mad as hell about them, to be honest with you," Gen. John Allen said in response to a question about the incidents, which the military calls insider, or green-on-blue, attacks. "We're going to get after this. It reverberates everywhere, across the United States. You know, we're willing to sacrifice a lot for this campaign. But we're not willing to be murdered for it."