TOP STORIES:

Pork-barrel spending increases in 2009; Alarkon THE HILL

Deficit Plays Into Health Reform; Montgomery WASHINGTON POST

Supporters of Health-Care Change Prepare Counterattack; Maher, Bendavid WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Great ‘Prevention’ Myth; Krauthammer WASHINGTON POST

Obama’s Senior Moment; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

HOUSE:

At Indiana Forum, Skepticism of Overhaul Reigns; Belkin WALL STREET JOURNAL

Suspension lifted for contractor tied to Murtha; Yost ASSOCIATED PRESS

E-mails from public overload House Web site; Flaherty ASSOCIATED PRESS

Town halls too heated for some; Kiely USA TODAY

Members March Through Dozens of Town-Hall Meetings; Geier ROLL CALL

Hoekstra Says Michigan Officials Should Tour Gitmo; Bendery ROLL CALL

Boehner Pits Pelosi Against Obama in Health Care Debate; Bendery ROLL CALL

GOP Launches Site to Track Federal Spending; Kucinich ROLL CALL

Michigan GOP lawmakers don’t want Gitmo prisoners; McCaffrey THE HILL

GOP lawmaker criticizes Nazi talk; Hooper THE HILL

Congress moves to extend unemployment benefits; McCaffrey THE HILL

Estate Tax, Expiring Tax Breaks Await Congress; CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

GOP Unlikely to Land Top Recruit Against Space in Ohio; Whittington ROLL CALL

Bachmann Compares Herself to Palin in New Fundraising Appeal; Kurtz ROLL CALL

New Independent Poll Shows California Special Is Wide Open; Kurtz ROLL CALL

Biden and lobbyist don’t mix at Grayson fundraiser; Blake THE HILL

Rice Campaign Builds Momentum in South Carolina 3; Cadei CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

U.S. Senator to Meet Myanmar Leader; Stolberg, Otterman NEW YORK TIMES

Senators Investigate Hospital Purchasing; Walsh NEW YORK TIMES

Sen. Webb to Visit Burma in Wake of American’s Arrest; Lynch WASHINGTON POST

Are Dems losing August?; Lerer POLITICO

Senate committee scraps healthcare provision that gave rise to ‘death panel’ claims; Parsons, Zajac LOS ANGELES TIMES

Specter Faces Heat at Latest Town Hall; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Gillibrand Urges Kansas Senators to Lift Hold on McHugh Nomination; Stanton ROLL CALL

Finance Committee to drop end-of-life provision; O’Brien THE HILL

McConnell Wants To ‘Kill’ Warming Bill; CONGRESS DAILY

SENATE ELECTIONS:

Simmons, Foley Dueling Early For GOP Nod; McPike CONGRESS DAILY

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Host Loses Some Sponsors After an Obama Remark; Stelter NEW YORK TIMES

Allen Tries to Shake Off the ‘Macaca’ Shadow; Somashekhar WASHINGTON POST

Overlooking a Revolution; Ravindran WASHINGTON POST

Newt’s advice for Palin comeback; Cummings POLITICO

Bill: ‘New era of progressive politics’; Mahtesian POLITICO

Giuliani: Obama failing to lead; Barr POLITICO

California: Whitman, Brown Lead for Governor; CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Corzine targets rival over talks with Rove; Santi ASSOCIATED PRESS

ADMINISTRATION:

Clinton Supports President of Liberia; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton Dismisses Flap, Calls Africa Trip ‘Great’; Sheridan WASHINGTON POST

Hagel Climbing the Ladder in Obama White House; Kamen WASHINGTON POST

In Africa, Clinton Balances Criticism, Praise; Childress, Solomon WALL STREET JOURNAL

From ‘Yes, We Can,’ to ‘No! Don’t!’; Noonan WALL STREET JOURNAL

Sharpton, Gingrich push Obama’s school reforms; Quaid ASSOCIATED PRESS

Hamas looks at Obama plan ‘positively,’ with condition; Johnson THE HILL

SCOTUS:

No Coverage

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

Invigorated by Clunker Cash, Ford Moves to Increase Output; Vlasic NEW YORK TIMES

France, Germany Fend Off Recession; Faiola WASHINGTON POST

Obama Wants Big Banks To Pay More for Oversight; Cho WASHINGTON POST

Optimism Bypasses Consumers; Shin, Mui WASHINGTON POST

Rethinking the Fed Chairmanship and Weighing Who’s Right for the Job; Pearlstein WASHINGTON POST

‘Clunkers’ Plan Needs a Tuneup; Mitchell, Linebaugh WALL STREET JOURNAL

Europe Recovers as U.S. Lags; Walker, Gauthier-Villars WALL STREET JOURNAL

Geithner Sees Good Vital Signs; Solomon WALL STREET JOURNAL

Retail Sales Fell in July Despite Clunkers Program; Murray, Alini WALL STREET JOURNAL

Bernanke in the Cross-Hairs; Strassel WALL STREET JOURNAL

Dealers Can Reserve Vehicles to Cover Clunker Trade-Ins; ASSOCIATED PRESS

HEALTHCARE:

False ‘Death Panel’ Rumor Has Some Familiar Roots; Rutenberg, Calmes NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Proposal to Create Medicare Panel Meets With Resistance; Pear NEW YORK TIMES

How an Agency Affected Policy; NEW YORK TIMES

Ad Campaign Counterattacks Against Overhaul’s Critics; Seelye NEW YORK TIMES

Republican Death Trip; Krugman NEW YORK TIMES

Obama to Take On Health-Care Critics; Kornblut WASHINGTON POST

‘Death Panel’ Sideshow; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

At the Town Halls, Trivializing Evil; Gerson WASHINGTON POST

Can Obama keep town halls cool?; Lee POLITICO

Massive campaign for Obama hits air; Allen POLITICO

Palin doubles down on ‘death panels’; Barr POLITICO

Dean responds to ‘outlandish’ claims; Heitz POLITICO

Obama visits mountain West, knowing vulnerability; Sidoti, Wyatt ASSOCIATED PRESS

White House uses e-mail to counter health critics; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Bill Clinton: GOP promotes fear over health care; Nephin ASSOCIATED PRESS

Palin stands by ‘death panel’ claim; Daly ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gordon Brown ‘tweets’ in defense of health care; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Health care showdown shifts to TV ads; Fritze, Jackson USA TODAY

Healthy debate; Editorial USA TODAY

Grand Junction a microcosm of efficient healthcare; Riccardi LOS ANGELES TIMES

White House deal with drug firms draws flak; Hamburger LOS ANGELES TIMES

Democrats Orchestrate Town-Hall Counterpunch; Stanton ROLL CALL

Obamacare’s backroom deal; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

Palin target renounces care rationing; Ward WASHINGTON TIMES

STIMULUS:

Major Carriers Shun Broadband Stimulus; Kang WASHINGTON POST

Analysts Give Stimulus Mixed Reviews; CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Pace of stimulus spending plummets; Dinan WASHINGTON TIMES

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Coal Industry Group Responds to Markey but Offers Few Public Details; Palmer ROLL CALL

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

A Technocrat Shakes Up the Afghan Campaign; Gall NEW YORK TIMES

Afghan Election Race Narrows; Gall NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. to Resume Training Georgian Troops; Shanker NEW YORK TIMES

Iran Seeks Ban on Striking Atomic Sites; Worth NEW YORK TIMES

Blasts Kill 21 at a Cafe in North Iraq; Santora NEW YORK TIMES

Iraq’s Sunnis; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

High-Stakes Opening and Closing Roles for a U.S. General in Iraq; Londoño WASHINGTON POST

With Karzai Favored to Win, U.S. Walks a Fine Line; Partlow, DeYoung WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Detains Journalist Fleeing Pakistan Threats; Aizenman WASHINGTON POST

Double Suicide Bombing Kills at Least 21 in Northern Iraq; Londoño, Brwari WASHINGTON POST

Gates: No Troop Request In Afghanistan Review; DeYoung WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Boots On Congo Ground; Michael O’Hanlon WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Seeds New Crops to Supplant Afghan Poppies; Dreazen WALL STREET JOURNAL

Killing of Militant Shows Cementing U.S.-Pakistan Ties; Seib WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Afghans Have a Referendum on Democracy; Marlowe WALL STREET JOURNAL

W.H. asks for $1B to add to Army; Rogers POLITICO

Poll shows Afghan vote headed for second round; Graff REUTERS

Gates: ‘A few years’ of combat in Afghanistan; Jakes, Gearan ASSOCIATED PRESS

EXCLUSIVE: General considers more Afghanistan fighters; Scarborough WASHINGTON TIMES

U.S. LOCAL:

Budget Deal Ending Need for I.O.U.’s in California; McKinley NEW YORK TIMES

California to Redeem IOUs Early; Woo WALL STREET JOURNAL

Michigan Prison Assessed for Possible Gitmo Transfers; ASSOCIATED PRESS

OF NOTE:

Former Aide to Bill Clinton Charged With Prison Breach; Barnes NEW YORK TIMES

World Trade Victory; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Analysis: Gov’t dallies, airline passengers suffer; Lowy ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOP BLOGS:

Montana stop could be rowdy; Lee POLITICO’S 44 BLOG

Matching e-mails with e-mails; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

ACLU v. single-payer?; Gerstein POLITICO’S UNDER THE RADAR BLOG

Democrats highlight kinder, gentler town halls; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

U.S. attorney docs ding Christie; Mahtesian POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

McHenry: I really do believe Obama was born in USA; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

New poll shows preference for raising taxes to preserve Soc Security; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

W.H. waives ethics rules for 2 Obama lawyers; Gerstein POLITICO’S UNDER THE RADAR BLOG

Specter’s week; Mahtesian POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

TOP STORIES:

Poll: Health care views take sympathetic tilt; Page USA TODAY

Americans aren’t going to buy health care spin, Mr. President; Rep. John Boehner USA TODAY

A Price to Pay for the Town Hall Rage; Broder WASHINGTON POST

Plan B for business groups; Frates POLITICO

Obama and the Permanent Campaign; Rove WALL STREET JOURNAL

Words count: Obama downplays war; Javers, Abrahamson POLITICO

Climate bill could cost 2 million jobs; Snyder THE HILL

U.S. Logs Monthly Budget Gap; Bater WALL STREET JOURNAL

Fed Views Recession as Near an End; Andrews NEW YORK TIMES

HOUSE:

More Evidence of a Scandal; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Rep.: Angry town halls are not new; O’Connor POLITICO

Rove testimony contradicts Wilson’s; Bresnahan, Gerstein POLITICO

Analysis: In attorneys probe, one burning question; Apuzzo ASSOCIATED PRESS

House Rules Chairwoman Takes Aim at Health Insurers; Dennis ROLL CALL

RSC Chairman Decries Choice of Robinson for Medal of Freedom; Bendery ROLL CALL

Pelosi, Frank urge clampdown on executive pay; Brush THE HILL

Rep. Cao to sit down with Obama on healthcare; Hooper THE HILL

Rep. Green to require photo ID at town halls; Soraghan THE HILL

‘Ready! Fire! Aim!’ no way to govern; Rep. Peter Hoekstra WASHINGTON TIMES

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

NRCC Targets Kagen in New TV Ad; Whittington ROLL CALL

Parties Make Tactical Choices in N.Y. 23 Special; Rothenberg ROLL CALL

Wealthy Oilman Joins Kansas 4th District Fray; Kapochunas CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

Raucous Crowd Greets Cardin at Health-Care Town Hall in Hagerstown; Davis WASHINGTON POST

Mexico’s Drug War; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

At town halls, Grassley retreats; Lerer POLITICO

Steele laughs at Specter; Barr POLITICO

US senator set for historic meet with Myanmar ruler; AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Jam-packed crowds press Grassley on health care; Glover ASSOCIATED PRESS

Georgia senator finds himself at center of health care debate; Abdullah MCCLATCHY NEWS

Grassley Downplays Legitimacy of Health Care Negotiations; Drucker ROLL CALL

Reid Fires Back Over Spoof Robocalls; Stanton ROLL CALL

Sen. Cardin hears an earful on healthcare; Rushing THE HILL

Anti-healthcare calls use Reid’s number; Wilson THE HILL

SENATE ELECTIONS:

At Town Hall, A Turning Point?; Cillizza WASHINGTON POST

NRSC Still Has Key Recruiting Holes to Fill; McArdle ROLL CALL

Giannoulias Consolidating Support in Illinois; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Ayotte touts conservative cred; NRSC gives her space; Wilson THE HILL

Huckabee adviser to run for Senate in Arkansas; Blake THE HILL

Eye on the Senate: Specter Leads Sestak By 13; CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Lowden More Likely to Run for Nevada Senate; Cadei CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Cheney Uncloaks His Frustration With Bush; Gellman WASHINGTON POST

McDonnell Proposes Drug Courts, Lifetime Sex Offender Tracking; Kumar WASHINGTON POST

Judge rules in Palin e-mail case; D’Oro ASSOCIATED PRESS

ADMINISTRATION:

Two Sides of Nigeria Addressed by Clinton; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton’s Flash of Pique in Congo; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Envoy Sees New Role at U.N.; Zraick NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Gives Medal of Freedom to 16 Luminaries; Stolberg NEW YORK TIMES

Presidential Vacations Carry Heavy Baggage; Eggen WASHINGTON POST

Food Firms Warn of Sugar Shortage; Kilman, Cui, Brat WALL STREET JOURNAL

Expanding the Charter Option; Chaker WALL STREET JOURNAL

Poll: Higher marks for Bill Clinton; Falcone POLITICO

Obama’s surgeon general nominee advises Burger King; McElhatton WASHINGTON TIMES

SCOTUS:

Justice Sonia Sotomayor celebrated at White House; Loven ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

W.T.O. Rules Against China’s Limits on Imports; Bradsher NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Trade Deficit Widened as Imports Rose in June; Healy NEW YORK TIMES

Huge Bonus Hangs Over Pay Review; Labaton, Dash NEW YORK TIMES

Fed Starts Rollback Of Rescue Efforts; Irwin WASHINGTON POST

Working to Please the Pay Czar; Davis, Solomon, Fitzpatrick WALL STREET JOURNAL

Fed Set to Trim Major Lifeline; Reddy WALL STREET JOURNAL

Medicine is Working, but U.S. Economy Isn’t Healthy Yet; Wessel WALL STREET JOURNAL

U.S. Employers Grow More Optimistic; Needleman WALL STREET JOURNAL

Ford Boosts Output to Meet ‘Clunkers’ Demand; Bennett WALL STREET JOURNAL

No Exit; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Federal spending tops $3 trillion; Dickson WASHINGTON TIMES

HEALTHCARE:

Obama Injects Himself Into Health Talks, Despite Risks; Kirkpatrick NEW YORK TIMES

Thousands Line Up for Promise of Free Health Care; Steinhauer NEW YORK TIMES

Bound by Blood, Torn by Policy and Angrier by the Minute; Rutenberg NEW YORK TIMES

Health Reform and Small Business; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Gunning for Health Care; Collins NEW YORK TIMES

10 Steps to Better Health Care; Gawande, Berwick, Fisher, McClellan NEW YORK TIMES

Health-Reform Rhetoric Gets Personal for Britons; Adam WASHINGTON POST

Progress Over Perfection; Paul Begala WASHINGTON POST

End-of-Life Provision Loses Favor; Adamy WALL STREET JOURNAL

Emanuel’s Brother Becomes a Target; Bendavid WALL STREET JOURNAL

Billy and the Beanstalk; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Calling all crazies: Obama needs you; Simon POLITICO

Palin says Obama brushes off reform concerns; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Just who are these health care protesters?; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOP Has Health Care Ideas but Prefers Attacks on Obama; Kondracke ROLL CALL

Insurers Try to Make Their Voices Heard in Health Debate; Ackley ROLL CALL

Former exec: Insurers fomenting town hall chaos; Soraghan THE HILL

Critics: Co-ops Are Disguised Public Plan; Dann CONGRESS DAILY

AARP wields its power in health care debate; Haberkorn WASHINGTON TIMES

Town hall face-offs erode health support; Lambro WASHINGTON TIMES

Rationing away medical care; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

Obamacare’s tax hikes; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

STIMULUS:

Stimulus Aid Planned for Two City Projects; Cardwell NEW YORK TIMES

Small-Business Stimulus Loans Slow to Trickle; Mandelbaum NEW YORK TIMES

Small Businesses Chase Big Stimulus Money; Knight WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Lessons of the ‘Stimulus’ Bill; McCrory WALL STREET JOURNAL

Some states get share of stimulus faster; Kelley, Heath USA TODAY

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Bush Mining Rule to Stand; Dean NEW YORK TIMES

An ‘Increase’ in Big Storms May Just Be Better Detection; Dean NEW YORK TIMES

Auto Parts Makers Change Tack, Seek Fair Winds; Hedgpeth WASHINGTON POST

Cap-and-Trade’s Unlikely Critics: Its Creators; Hilsenrath WALL STREET JOURNAL

Food Firms Fret Over Potential Impact of Climate Bill; Etter WALL STREET JOURNAL

SPIN METER: $3 billion buys not-so-green vehicles; Blackledge ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Groups Kicking Off Ad Campaign; Goode CONGRESS DAILY

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

A Window Into C.I.A.’s Embrace of Secret Jails; Johnston, Mazzetti NEW YORK TIMES

Iraqi Immigrants Face Lonely Struggle in U.S.; Semple NEW YORK TIMES

As Afghan Vote Nears, Taliban Intimidation Rises; Gall, Khapalwak NEW YORK TIMES

Bomb Wounds 2 Journalists in Afghanistan; Rahimi, Cowell NEW YORK TIMES

New Army Handbook Teaches Afghanistan Lessons; Shanker NEW YORK TIMES

In Afghanistan, A Test of Tactics; Tyson WASHINGTON POST

Why Are Afghans Smiling?; Graham, Shapiro WASHINGTON POST

Marines Raid Taliban-Controlled Town in Helmand Province; Montesquiou ASSOCIATED PRESS

Best Afghanistan defense: MRAPs + locals; Vanden Brook USA TODAY

U.S. LOCAL:

Michigan Prison Is Considered for Detainees; Saulny NEW YORK TIMES

Caution on Fighting Marriage Ban; McKinley NEW YORK TIMES

Terrorism Trials May Be at New Va. Court; Markon WASHINGTON POST

‘Fastest Dying Cities’ Meet for a Lively Talk; Belkin WALL STREET JOURNAL

CA gay rights group: Wait for 2012 to attack ban; Donald ASSOCIATED PRESS

OF NOTE:

Tighter Cellphone Laws Might Face Static; Halsey WASHINGTON POST

MOUNTAIN OF DEBT: Social Security crisis looms; Raum ASSOCIATED PRESS

Poll finds cultural morals gap; Sorokin WASHINGTON TIMES

TOP BLOGS:

Grassley on death panels: ‘You have every right to fear’; Lerer POLITICO LIVE

McCaskill says Rep. Scott’s racism charge ‘irresponsible’; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

FBI, Capitol Police investigate swastika at Rep. Scott’s office; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Cardin’s tough town hall; Kraushaar POLITICO LIVE

Dingell reaches out to man from town hall fight; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Isakson and the ‘end of life advisory board’; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

DCCC raises money off Palin ‘death panel’ comment; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

The Crist charm offensive; Kraushaar POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

Biden fundraising for Grayson; Isenstadt POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

TOP STORIES:

Guide to the 2010 House Races; Benenson CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

What They’re Really Arguing About; Balz WASHINGTON POST

Dem healthcare talking points: Change over status quo; Rushing THE HILL

Dems face senior angst on health care; Frates, McGrane POLITICO

Change We Can’t Believe In?; Marcus WASHINGTON POST

A President as Micromanager: How Much Detail Is Enough?; King, Weisman WALL STREET JOURNAL

‘A Recovery Only a Statistician Can Love’; Shin WASHINGTON POST

HOUSE:

E-Mail Reveals Rove’s Key Role in ’06 Dismissals; Lichtblau, Lipton NEW YORK TIMES

Miers Told House Panel of ‘Agitated’ Rove; Johnson WASHINGTON POST

Sticking Point; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

House Leaders Pare Pentagon Jet Order Amid Growing Outcry; Mullins, Cole WALL STREET JOURNAL

Air Congress Hits Turbulence; Fund WALL STREET JOURNAL

Lawmakers Seek ‘Clunker’ Vouchers for Out-of-Stock Cars; Mitchell WALL STREET JOURNAL

Consumer Product Destruction; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Democrats Tweaking Town-Hall Formats; Bendery ROLL CALL

David Scott’s District Office Defaced With Swastika; Bendery ROLL CALL

Liberals urge Obama to do more in Honduras; Soraghan THE HILL

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

Palin clan helps Idaho GOP hopeful for Congress; ASSOCIATED PRESS

NRCC Targets Vulnerable Democrats on Gitmo; Bendery ROLL CALL

GOP State Senator Will Run in Connecticut 4; Cadei CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Ohio’s 12th District (Central — Eastern Columbus and suburbs); CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

Senator Goes Face to Face With Dissent; Urbina, Seelye NEW YORK TIMES

Specter Faces Raucous Crowd at Town Hall Meeting; Rucker WASHINGTON POST

Going to the Mat On Health-Care Bill; Montgomery WASHINGTON POST

More Cap-and-Trade War; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

White House irked by GOP tactic; Allen POLITICO

Specter faces fury: ‘You work for us!’; Barr POLITICO

Lawmakers face angry crowds on health care; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodd undergoes surgery for prostate cancer; Miga ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dodd Undergoes Prostate Surgery; Brady ROLL CALL

Specter Requested Capitol Police Assistance at Town Hall; Yehle ROLL CALL

Activists Head to Iowa to Press Grassley on Health Care; Drucker ROLL CALL

Watchdog Group Releases Documents on Senators’ Requests for Jets; Yachnin ROLL CALL

Sen. Nelson responds to critics with healthcare ad; Swanson THE HILL

SENATE ELECTIONS:

GOP officials: Heller won’t take on Reid; Freking ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senate Race in Florida: Governor Crist Eyes Seat; Padgett TIME

Heller Won’t Challenge Reid in 2010; McArdle ROLL CALL

Rep. Heller won’t take on Reid; Blake THE HILL

Many Pa. Dems mum on Specter-Sestak race; Shalleck-Klein THE HILL

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Wireless Firms Dial Up Lobbyists; Schatz WALL STREET JOURNAL

Santorum dips toes in 2012 Iowa waters; Martin POLITICO

GOP targeting Dem voters in Garden State; Wilson THE HILL

Huntsman out as guv, takes new post as ambassador; Loomis SALT LAKE TRIBUNE

ADMINISTRATION:

Napolitano Focuses on Immigration Enforcement; McKinley NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Bares ‘Alien Files’ Kept on Immigrants; Lorber NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton Presents Plan to Fight Sexual Violence in Congo; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Presidents to the Rescue; Griffith NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Follows Clinton’s Lead On Creating Labor Council; Davidson WASHINGTON POST

Clinton Condemns Attacks on Civilians in E. Congo; Sheridan, McCrummen WASHINGTON POST

Student’s Nerves Are Cited in Clinton’s Reply; Solomon WALL STREET JOURNAL

Israel clouds Obama’s nuclear summit; Gerstein POLITICO

U.S. Freezes Assets of North Korea Bank; ASSOCIATED PRESS

SCOTUS:

No Coverage

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

A Clunker of a Program?; Sanger NEW YORK TIMES

Study Shows Rise in Average Borrowing by Students; Lewin NEW YORK TIMES

A Chance to Return the Favor; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Lying Low After a Layoff; Gowen WASHINGTON POST

Clunkers Program Clears Out Car Lots; Hedgpeth WASHINGTON POST

Fed Meeting Likely to Signal Fate of Intervention Programs; Irwin WASHINGTON POST

Bill Proposed to Regulate Derivatives Trade; Goldfarb WASHINGTON POST

Derivatives Overhaul Seeks to Reduce Risk; Lynch WALL STREET JOURNAL

Economists Call for Bernanke to Stay, Say Recession Is Over; Izzo WALL STREET JOURNAL

Fed likely to leave rates at lows to aid recovery; Aversa ASSOCIATED PRESS

Obama Proposes Rules on Trading in Derivatives; BLOOMBERG NEWS

HEALTHCARE:

Survey Finds High Fees Common in Medical Care; Kolata NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Offers Reassurance on Plan to Overhaul Health Care; Cooper NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Faces ‘Scare Tactics’ Head-On; Kornblut, Shear WASHINGTON POST

Behold, a National and Rational Conversation on Health Care; Pearlstein WASHINGTON POST

Easing The ‘Death Panel’ Fear; Parker WASHINGTON POST

Under Pressure, Obama Defends Health-Care Plan; Weisman WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Truth About Health Insurance; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Whole Foods Alternative to ObamaCare; Mackey WALL STREET JOURNAL

Obama takes aim at health foes; Henderson POLITICO

Obama looks West, to the Web in health care fight; Elliott ASSOCIATED PRESS

Analysis: Health care debate a long-running story; Mears ASSOCIATED PRESS

What protests? Obama faces no town hall outbursts; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ezekiel Emanuel, Obama’s ‘Deadly Doctor,’ Strikes Back; Scherer TIME

Many seniors aren’t sure healthcare system needs repair; Graham, Hook LOS ANGELES TIMES

Insurers Try to Make Their Voices Heard in Health Debate; Ackley ROLL CALL

Obama Says Getting Health Reform Done Trumps Bipartisanship; Koffler ROLL CALL

Republicans Charge Democrats With Confusing Constituents; Kucinich ROLL CALL

AFSCME Launches Push for Health Care Reform; Palmer ROLL CALL

A New Low in Support for Health Care Overhaul; Bettelheim CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Potemkin town halls; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

STIMULUS:

Inspector General Questions Value of Some Airport Stimulus Projects; Cooper NEW YORK TIMES

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

GM Says New Car Is Capable of 230 MPG; Whoriskey WASHINGTON POST

EXCLUSIVE: Energy bill requires doubling nuke use; Dinan WASHINGTON TIMES

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

2 U.S. Architects of Harsh Tactics in 9/11’s Wake; Shane NEW YORK TIMES

Shiites in Iraq Show Restraint as Sunnis Keep Attacking; Nordland NEW YORK TIMES

Kuwait Arrests 6 in Plot to Hit a U.S. Base; Worth NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Ambassador Seeks More Money for Afghanistan; DeYoung, Jaffe WASHINGTON POST

Iran Exiles Accuse U.S. Of Ignoring Its Pledges; Cody WASHINGTON POST

The Keeper of the Keys and the Mystery of the Bactrian Gold; Wonacott WALL STREET JOURNAL

Bombs Kill 9 Civilians in Afghanistan; ASSOCIATED PRESS

US Marines storm Taliban-held town in Afghanistan; Montesquiou ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. Strikes Mehsud’s Stronghold In Pakistan; Becatoros, Ahmed ASSOCIATED PRESS

US, Syria resuming talks about ’stability’ in Iraq; Schweid ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. LOCAL:

No Coverage

OF NOTE:

Eunice Kennedy Shriver, Influential Founder of Special Olympics, Dies at 88; Baranauckas NEW YORK TIMES

Money Sent Home by Latin American Expatriates to Drop; Jordan WALL STREET JOURNAL

Officials see rise in militia groups across U.S.; Sullivan ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOP BLOGS:

On Private Conference Call, Tea Party Organizers Say No Reform At All Is Goal; Sargent PLUM LINE BLOG

AARP checks Obama; POLITICO’S 44 BLOG

Despite Bush urging, Heller won’t run; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

Corzine still struggling; Kraushaar POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

TOP STORIES:

Soaring deficit may defy forecasts; Wolf USA TODAY

White House Adapts to New Playbook in Health Care Debate; Rutenberg, Calmes NEW YORK TIMES

Obama distances himself from Pelosi; Henderson POLITICO

Congress Retreats Over Jet Purchase; Mullins, Farnam WALL STREET JOURNAL

Obama Vows to Focus on Borders; Thompson, Booth WASHINGTON POST

At Mexico summit, Obama says immigration reform will have to wait; Nicholas, Wilkinson LOS ANGELES TIMES

HOUSE:

Hill jets may be scrapped; Bresnahan POLITICO

Cruising on private jets; Phillip, McGarr POLITICO

Probe targets office of Conyers’s wife; Falcone POLITICO

Has Congress Overreached in Search of Comfy Air Travel?; Thompson TIME

House’s global warming bill: $8B; Watson USA TODAY

Murtha Willing to Strike New Planes From Defense Bill; Singer ROLL CALL

Debbie Dingell Leaving General Motors; Murray ROLL CALL

CHC Leader ‘Disappointed’ in Obama’s Immigration Delay; Bendery ROLL CALL

Cantor Urges Colleagues to Up Pressure on Blue Dogs; Kucinich ROLL CALL

Lawmakers take to the tweets as recess heats up; Fabian THE HILL

Boehner calls Pelosi & Hoyer op-ed ‘reprehensible’; Swanson THE HILL

House Dems set up healthcare ‘war room’; Allen THE HILL

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

New York Democrats Pick Owens for Special Election; McArdle ROLL CALL

New York Dems turn to lawyer for McHugh seat; Wilson THE HILL

Another GOP Candidate Wants to Take on Himes; Cadei CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Cadigan Waging Kirk-Like Bid For Illinois 10 Seat; Giroux CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

More Quitters (R-Fla., R-Tex.); Editorial WASHINGTON POST

A Countrywide Lesson; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Harkin Makes Promoting Wellness Personal; Brady ROLL CALL

Senators ask Obama to lean on Arab states; Rushing THE HILL

Gillibrand open to second, ’significant’ stimulus; Alarkon THE HILL

SENATE ELECTIONS:

Top Aide to Blagojevich Plans to Run for U.S. Senate; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Veterans Group Endorses Sestak; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Serrano, McCarthy say no to Gillibrand challenge; Blake THE HILL

Why Rep. Barton (And Others) Are Eyeing Texas Senate Seat; Giroux CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

State Democrats Fear That Paterson Is Liability; Hernandez NEW YORK TIMES

Deeds Throws Abortion Gauntlet; Helderman WASHINGTON POST

GOP rebranding effort flames out; O’Connor POLITICO

Years before caucuses, Iowa ready for a fight; Glover ASSOCIATED PRESS

ADMINISTRATION:

Obama Sets Immigration Changes for 2010; Thompson, Lacey NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton Presses Congo on Minerals; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Dreams From His Mother; Dove NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton to Visit E. Congo, Will Press for Ways to End Long Conflict; Sheridan WASHINGTON POST

White House Objects to Poster That Invokes Obama Children; Kilpatrick, McCann WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Web-Tracking Plan Stirs Privacy Fears; Hsu, Kang WASHINGTON POST

Pay Is Scrutinized at U.S. Contractors; Schultz WALL STREET JOURNAL

Mary Robinson’s Medal of Freedom; John Bolton WALL STREET JOURNAL

Obama: Immigration bill this year; Lee POLITICO

Israel clouds Obama’s nuclear summit; Gerstein POLITICO

Fighting new flu strain will take collective vigilance; Secs. Kathleen Sebelius, Janet Napolitano, Arne Duncan YAHOO! NEWS

Obama Concedes Immigration Must Wait Until Next Year; Koffler ROLL CALL

SCOTUS:

A Century-Old Principle: Keep Corporate Money Out of Elections; Cohen NEW YORK TIMES

Supreme Court turns down Conrad Black bail request; ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

Troubled Assets May Still Pose Risk; Andrews NEW YORK TIMES

A Scary Reality; Herbert NEW YORK TIMES

Dealers Scramble to Find Fuel-Efficient Cars; Bennett WALL STREET JOURNAL

Lawmakers Urged to Raise Nation’s Debt Limit; Crittenden, Yoest WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Next Fannie Mae; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Watchdog says bad assets still threaten banks; Wagner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Report: ‘Danger’ remains 10 months into TARP; Brush THE HILL

HEALTHCARE:

Health Reform’s Hearing Problem; Allen WASHINGTON POST

Behind the Rage, a Cold Reality; Robinson WASHINGTON POST

Obama Heads to Town-Hall Meetings; Adamy WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Health-Care Grail; McGurn WALL STREET JOURNAL

Health Debate Isn’t About Health; Seib WALL STREET JOURNAL

Obama’s Tone-Deaf Health Campaign; Rabinowitz WALL STREET JOURNAL

Over the top and beneath contempt; Simon POLITICO

GOP govs defend town hall fury; Barr POLITICO

Obama opens viral front in health war; Allen POLITICO

Obama pitching health care plan to the insured; Elliott ASSOCIATED PRESS

FACT CHECK: No ‘death panel’ in health care bill; Alonso-Zaldivar ASSOCIATED PRESS

Obama braces for ‘vigorous’ town hall health talk; Loven ASSOCIATED PRESS

Top insurance lobbyist: August key in health drive; Fram ASSOCIATED PRESS

White House: No direct reponse to Pelosi, Hoyer column; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Religious left backs Obama on health overhaul; Stoddard REUTERS

In healthcare debate, ‘reality’ is in dispute; Parsons LOS ANGELES TIMES

Debate heats up on healthcare for illegal immigrants; Olivo LOS ANGELES TIMES

Obama Taps Into Religious Network for Health Care; Dennis ROLL CALL

AARP Launches Multimillion-Dollar Ad Campaign; Ackley ROLL CALL

Democrats fight back on healthcare, town halls; Soraghan THE HILL

Town halls underscore grassroots secrecy, critics say; Snyder THE HILL

CBO Explains Prevention Scoring Approach; Edney CONGRESS DAILY

EXCLUSIVE: Panel sees race bias in health care bill; Haberkorn WASHINGTON TIMES

STIMULUS:

Stimulus Funds Bring Relief to States, but What About 2010?; Richburg, Surdin WASHINGTON POST

Stay the Stimulus Course; Alan S. Blinder WASHINGTON POST

Gov’t watchdog questions airport stimulus projects; Lowy ASSOCIATED PRESS

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Selling Americans on a ‘Green-Collar’ Economy; Romano WASHINGTON POST

Coal’s Future Wagered on Carbon Capture; Mufson WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Says Refineries Bought Oil Smuggled From Mexico; ASSOCIATED PRESS

GM says mercury pollution not its problem anymore; Thomas ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

Sectarian Bombings Pulverize a Village in Iraq; Dagher NEW YORK TIMES

Taliban Seize Building for Attack on Afghan Government Offices; Wafa, Gall NEW YORK TIMES

Leadership of Taliban in Pakistan Still Unclear; Tavernise, Shah NEW YORK TIMES

More Than Missiles; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Potent Bombs Slow Marine Offensive; Tyson WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Officials Looking at Karzai Rival for Key New Post; Partlow WASHINGTON POST

Blasts Kill at Least 53 in Iraq; Londoño, Brwari WASHINGTON POST

Afghanistan Enlists Tribal Militia Forces; Gopal, Dreazen WALL STREET JOURNAL

Series of Bombings in Iraq Targets Shiites; Levinson WALL STREET JOURNAL

Al Qaeda Vies for More Power in Pakistani Taliban Group; Hussain, Rosenberg WALL STREET JOURNAL

U.S. commander seeks civilian ’surge’ in Afghanistan; Youssef, Strobel MCCLATCHY NEWS

Governors oppose DoD emergency powers; Wilson THE HILL

U.S. LOCAL:

Arizona’s Budget Breakthrough; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

OF NOTE:

Iranian Lawmakers Demand Say on Cabinet, Hinting at a Rift Among Hard-Liners; Worth, Fathi NEW YORK TIMES

The Two-State Solution Doesn’t Solve Anything; Agha, Malley NEW YORK TIMES

American found guilty of entering Suu Kyi’s home; ASSOCIATED PRESS

JFK’s sister Eunice Kennedy Shriver dies at 88; ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOP BLOGS:

Teamsters face threat of internal picket; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

Boehner: Pelosi’s ‘Un-American’ claim ‘reprehensible’; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Inside the GOP recess playbook; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Palin urges restraint at town halls; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

Skelton says no to Gitmo transfers to Leavenworth; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Specter ramps up attacks on Sestak; Kraushaar POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

Debbie Dingell takes GM buyout; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

TOP STORIES:

Deficit grew by $181 billion in July; Alarkon THE HILL

‘Un-American’ attacks can’t derail health care debate; Reps. Nancy Pelosi, Steny Hoyer USA TODAY

Poll: Americans divided on health care overhaul; Page USA TODAY

Tumultuous Environment Makes a Health Care Compromise More Unlikely; Harwood NEW YORK TIMES

Tax on High-End Health Plans Threatens Wider Group; Fuhrmans WALL STREET JOURNAL

Championing the Status Quo; Samuelson WASHINGTON POST

Averting the Worst; Krugman NEW YORK TIMES

Taliban Now Winning; Dreazen, Spiegel WALL STREET JOURNAL

Weis, Fighting Irish face a ‘prove it’ season at Notre Dame; Whiteside USA TODAY

HOUSE:

Key Democrat Feels the Heat After Voting for House Plan; Slevin WASHINGTON POST

House Leaders Hit the Road Over August; Bendery, Kucinich ROLL CALL

How Clout Really Works in Congress; Clarke CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Michigan crowd vents health care fury; Billups WASHINGTON TIMES

A jet-setting Congress; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

New Jersey’s Lance Readies for 2010 Joust; McCarthy CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Wisconsin: Health Care Vital Issue; Wu CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

Opposition Emerges to House’s Jet Spree; Mullins, Farnam WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Specter of Unlimited Liability; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

GOP senator warns against pulling a ‘Rumsfeld’; ASSOCIATED PRESS

GOP leader says no more stimulus spending needed; ASSOCIATED PRESS

McConnell Rips Obama on Health Care, Economy; Billings ROLL CALL

Durbin, Cornyn Show Opening for Middle Ground on Health Reform; Ackley ROLL CALL

Durbin: Health bill ‘doesn’t have to be perfect’; Fabian THE HILL

Durbin ‘open’ to health reform minus public option; Lengell WASHINGTON TIMES

Ten Questions Politicians Won’t Answer; Sen. Tom Coburn NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE

SENATE ELECTIONS:

Sotomayor and the 2010 Races; Cillizza WASHINGTON POST

Tarkanian Latest to Announce Bid Against Reid; Whittington ROLL CALL

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Republicans banking on 2012; Vogel POLITICO

Gov. Sanford’s Family Used State Aircraft; Davenport ASSOCIATED PRESS

Chafee On Ballot Would Complicate Rhode Island Race; Dumain CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Campaign Cash: Unions Big Givers in 2009; Roth, Knott CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

ADMINISTRATION:

Obama Arrives in Mexico for Start of Summit; Thompson, Lacey NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton Praises Angola, but Urges More Reform; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton Building Ties With Angola; Sheridan WASHINGTON POST

Obama, Mexican Leader Discuss Drug Cartels; Thompson WASHINGTON POST

A Global Court Quandary for the President; Bellinger WASHINGTON POST

A Summer Obama Drama; Hiatt WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Says North Korea Seeks Better Relations, Bilateral Talks; Bravin, Solomon WALL STREET JOURNAL

Arne Duncan, educational kingmaker; Henderson POLITICO

Leaders’ Summit ‘cordial’ so far; Lee POLITICO

Clinton: ‘We are under no illusions’; Siegel POLITICO

Kim Still in Control of N. Korea, Obama Aide Says; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clinton, Angola sign agreement to combat HIV/AIDS; Lee ASSOCIATED PRESS

Clinton: Husband’s N. Korea trip ‘absolutely not’ reward; Johnson THE HILL

SCOTUS:

Dems seize on votes for Sotomayor by GOP retirees; Rushing THE HILL

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

Effort to Rein in Pay on Wall Street Hits New Hurdle; Dash NEW YORK TIMES

G.D.P. R.I.P.; Zencey NEW YORK TIMES

$75 Billion Carrot, but Few Nibbles; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Pay Czar Quietly Meets With Rescued Companies; Dennis, Tse WASHINGTON POST

Treasury Plans Under Fire; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Debt Burden to Weigh on Stocks; Browning, Lobb WALL STREET JOURNAL

Unemployment Among Teenagers Remains Stubbornly High; Alini WALL STREET JOURNAL

Pace of Job Losses Sets Stage for Quick Labor-Market Rebound; Lahart WALL STREET JOURNAL

Where did that bank bailout go? Watchdogs aren’t entirely sure; Adams MCCLATCHY NEWS

U.S. banks to make $38 billion from overdraft fees: report; REUTERS

Clunkers program could drive used car prices up; Woodyard USA TODAY

HEALTHCARE:

A Primer on the Details of Health Care Reform; Pear, Herszenhorn NEW YORK TIMES

Louise’s Second Act; Warner NEW YORK TIMES

In Health Fight, Government and Insurers Are Cast as Villains; Bendavid WALL STREET JOURNAL

Consumer protections lost in health care debate; Alonso-Zaldivar ASSOCIATED PRESS

Misinformation, mayhem mar debate on health care; Editorial USA TODAY

Obama’s grass-roots network is put to the test; Wallsten LOS ANGELES TIMES

Sorting out claims about healthcare legislation; Levey LOS ANGELES TIMES

Gingrich: Palin concerns about euthanasia warranted; Fabian THE HILL

Drooping polls undercut scripted protest claims; Ward WASHINGTON TIMES

Look for the union label; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

STIMULUS:

No Coverage

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

A Real Bill for the Climate; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Miners Push Back Against Plan to Impose Royalties; Simon WALL STREET JOURNAL

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

U.S. to Hunt Down Afghan Drug Lords Tied to Taliban; Risen NEW YORK TIMES

Swine Flu Worries Iraqi Officials; Nordland NEW YORK TIMES

Claims Differ on Pakistani Taliban Struggle; Tavernise, Shah NEW YORK TIMES

Study to Seek Clues to Soldier Suicides; Vogel WASHINGTON POST

Contractor Is Held In 2 Killings in Iraq; Londoño WASHINGTON POST

A Taliban Takedown; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Why We Need the F-22; McPeak WALL STREET JOURNAL

Iran admits holding U.S. hikers; Allen POLITICO

String of bombings kill at least 42 in Iraq; Ahmed ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. commander says Taliban have Afghan momentum; REUTERS

White House: Afghan war not in crisis; Gearan ASSOCIATED PRESS

Sanctions Unlikely to Stop Iran’s Nuclear Quest; Karon TIME

Official: Closing Gitmo prison can be done by Jan.; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mullen: Detainee photos endanger troops; Miller, Dinan WASHINGTON TIMES

EXCLUSIVE: Report sees recipe for civil war in Iraq; Lake WASHINGTON TIMES

U.S. LOCAL:

States End Up Losers in Gambling Pullback; Dougherty WALL STREET JOURNAL

OF NOTE:

The Unfunny Truth; Douthat NEW YORK TIMES

Preparing for Swine Flu’s Return; Stein WASHINGTON POST

Iranian Officials Call for Arrest of Opposition Leaders; Erdbrink WASHINGTON POST

Our Unconstitutional Census; Baker, Stonecipher WALL STREET JOURNAL

Immune system cancer found in young 9/11 officers; Caruso ASSOCIATED PRESS

Weis, Fighting Irish face a ‘prove it’ season at Notre Dame; Whiteside USA TODAY

TOP BLOGS:

Obama political arm urges supporters to visit cong. Offices; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

Jones: North Korean leader seems fully in control; Lovley POLITICO LIVE BLOG

Levin: U.S. shouldn’t be ‘cowed’ by Gitmo prisoners; Gerstein POLITICO LIVE BLOG

Gingrich: A slippery slope from gov’t health to euthanasia; Lovley POLITICO LIVE BLOG

McConnell: Don’t ‘demonize’ health reform opponents; Gerstein POLITICO LIVE BLOG

Bloomberg, Booker say Obama stimulus has brought ‘hope’; Lovley POLITICO LIVE BLOG

Graham: Don’t ‘Rumsfeld Afghanistan’; Gerstein POLITICO LIVE BLOG

I’ve decided to stop posting morning clips on Saturdays and Sundays.  My audience shrinks considerably on weekends, so it makes sense to focus only on weekdays.  I may reconsider this after August recess.

TOP STORIES:

Geithner asks Congress for higher U.S. debt limit; Lawder REUTERS

Lawmakers’ Global-Warming Trip Hit Tourist Hot Spots; Mullins, Farnam WALL STREET JOURNAL

Health Debate Turns Hostile at Town Hall Meetings; Urbina NEW YORK TIMES

Obama uses jobs report to press health care reform; Sidoti ASSOCIATED PRESS

As Economy Turns, Washington Looks Better; Leonhardt NEW YORK TIMES

Republicans Gather to Plot Strategy for 2010; Blackmon, Bauerlein WALL STREET JOURNAL

HOUSE:

Pentagon Takes Aim at Jets for Congressional Travel; Mullins, Cole WALL STREET JOURNAL

Geithner Asks Congress to Increase Federal Debt Limit; Boles, Crittenden WALL STREET JOURNAL

Fear and loathing at N.Y. town hall; McGrane POLITICO

Defiant response to health protests from Dingell; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Towns denies VIP mortgage treatment; Crabtree THE HILL

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

Top Recruit Poised to Enter Race for Sestak Seat; Toeplitz, Whittington ROLL CALL

SENATE:

Senators Are Cleared of Ethics Complaints; Herszenhorn NEW YORK TIMES

Senator Fears Letter Sends Wrong Signal on Honduras; Thompson NEW YORK TIMES

In a Surprise, Senator Martinez Resigns Early; Herszenhorn NEW YORK TIMES

Senate Historian Reflects on 34 Years of Queries; Fuller NEW YORK TIMES

Ethics Committee Clears Dodd, Conrad; Goldfarb, Pershing WASHINGTON POST

Florida’s Martinez Says He Will Give Up Senate Seat Soon; Bacon, Cillizza WASHINGTON POST

Florida Sen. Mel Martinez to Resign; Republicans Plan to Keep Seat; Davis WALL STREET JOURNAL

Senate Ethics Panel Clears Dodd, Conrad on Countrywide Loans; Crittenden, Holzer WALL STREET JOURNAL

D.C. takes Franken by storm; Mullins POLITICO

Martinez: Time to ‘move on’; Kraushaar, Raju POLITICO

Committee drops Countrywide probe; Bresnahan, Kady POLITICO

Sgt. at arms: Beware of tempers; Raju POLITICO

Congress may extend unemployment benefits; Sullivan REUTERS  

Senate confirms 2 Interior officials; Hebert ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senate confirms new NIH director; ASSOCIATED PRESS

US Senate confirms Obama envoys to China, Japan; AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

GOP Tributes to Martinez Pour In; Brady ROLL CALL

GOP Coordinates Block of Obama Nominee; Stanton ROLL CALL

Senate Confirms Three Prominent GOPers to Obama Posts; Brady ROLL CALL

Sometimes ‘Sorry’ Works; Wolfe CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

McCaskill Seeks Conrad’s Support On Pay/Go; Sanchez CONGRESS DAILY

SENATE ELECTIONS:

Recognizing Long Odds, Maloney Drops Her Senate Bid; Hernandez NEW YORK TIMES

Maloney won’t challenge Gillibrand for NY Senate; Bauman ASSOCIATED PRESS

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Governor Sanford’s Wife Moves Out of Mansion; Dewan NEW YORK TIMES

Virginia’s McDonnell enlisted to hit at Dem agenda; Fabian THE HILL

Dems pressure GOP leaders over Limbaugh comments; Hooper THE HILL

Gibbs: Those comparing Dems to Nazis ‘on thin ice’; Youngman THE HILL

ADMINISTRATION:

Clinton Seeks South African Support on Zimbabwe; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Colombia President, on South America Tour, Defends U.S. Military Role; Barrionuevo NEW YORK TIMES

Schumer Aide Is Confirmed as United States Attorney; Weiser NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Gets Some Good News on Economy, Terror Fight; Fletcher WASHINGTON POST

Clinton Hails Zuma’s Policies on HIV/AIDS; Sheridan WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Plan Raises Ire in Latin America; Forero WASHINGTON POST

A Medal Not Worth AIPAC’s Mettle; Cohen WASHINGTON POST

Obama to Meet Leaders of Mexico, Canada; Williamson, Luhnow WALL STREET JOURNAL

Obama’s Agenda: A Midyear Briefing; Meckler WALL STREET JOURNAL

SCOTUS:

Even for the Experienced Sotomayor, Many Changes Await; Barnes WASHINGTON POST

Admin asks SCOTUS to block photos; Gerstein POLITICO

Sotomayor to be sworn in as justice Saturday; ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

Job Losses Slow, Signaling Momentum for a Recovery; Uchitelle, Healy NEW YORK TIMES

Job Market Blues; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

A.I.G. Posts Its First Quarterly Profit Since 2007; Walsh NEW YORK TIMES

Doing the ‘Clunker’ Calculus; Wald NEW YORK TIMES

In Jobless Rate Dip, a Partial Picture; Irwin, Shin WASHINGTON POST

Freddie Mac Reports Profit; Goldfarb WASHINGTON POST

Three Banks Fail as 2009 U.S. Total Rises to 72; Fitzpatrick WALL STREET JOURNAL

A Jobs Bottom; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

A Blueprint for More Bailouts; Freeman WALL STREET JOURNAL

Deficit Concerns Rise on To-Do List; Williamson WALL STREET JOURNAL

Finance Plan Stalls; Paletta WALL STREET JOURNAL

Strength in numbers; Lerer POLITICO

HEALTHCARE:

Obama Reverses Stand on Drug Industry Deal; Kirkpatrick NEW YORK TIMES

August Is the Cruelest Month; Collins NEW YORK TIMES

Health Care Hullabaloo; Blow NEW YORK TIMES

Expanding Preventive Care May Add to Costs, CBO Says; Montgomery WASHINGTON POST

Undue Influence; Lane WASHINGTON POST

Support Slips for Health Overhaul; Adamy WALL STREET JOURNAL

Will a Public Option Hurt Insurance Company Profits?; Arends WALL STREET JOURNAL

Man vs. Mutt; Dalrymple WALL STREET JOURNAL

Lawmakers Rethink Town Halls; Adamy, Bendavid WALL STREET JOURNAL

Drug Dealers; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

A Town-Hall Protest in Maryland; Schulz WALL STREET JOURNAL

Palin says Obama’s health care plan is ‘evil’; Thiessen ASSOCIATED PRESS

Drug industry helping Obama overhaul health care; Espo ASSOCIATED PRESS

Demonstrators disrupt health care forums; Cappiello ASSOCIATED PRESS

Healthcare critics make outlandish claims, Obama says; Spetalnick REUTERS  

Democrats struggle to sell an undecided health plan; Hook LOS ANGELES TIMES

Gibbs Tells Members to Keep Holding Town Halls; Koffler ROLL CALL

Business Roundtable Urges 8 GOP Senators to Produce Health Care Package; Ackley ROLL CALL

Obama hits at healthcare critics in radio address; Fabian THE HILL

STIMULUS:

Stimulus: One Down, One to Go?; Radnofsky WALL STREET JOURNAL

Pelosi: Stimulus having positive effects; Swanson THE HILL

LABOR/EFCA:

For Labor, Small Shifts, Big Wishes; Trottman WALL STREET JOURNAL

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Energy Fight Heats Up for White House; Power WALL STREET JOURNAL

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

Taliban Leader In Pakistan Is Reportedly Killed; Shah, Tavernise, Mazzetti NEW YORK TIMES

Attacks on Shiites Kill Scores in Iraq; Dagher NEW YORK TIMES

Pakistan’s No. 1 Enemy: Ex-Ally Bent by Al Qaeda; Gall, Khan NEW YORK TIMES

Afghan Leader Courts the Warlord Vote, but Others Fear the Cost; Oppel NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. and Britain Again Target Afghan Poppies; DeYoung WASHINGTON POST

A Psychological Blow For Pakistani Taliban; Warrick, Partlow, Khan WASHINGTON POST

Suicide Bombing in Northern Iraq, Series of Blasts in Baghdad Kill at Least 50; Londoño, Brwari WASHINGTON POST

War Strategy Enters Risky Phase; Spiegel WALL STREET JOURNAL

An Outreach Effort, but Nuclear Threat Looms; Solomon WALL STREET JOURNAL

Iraq’s Maliki Seeks Tighter Media Grip; Levinson WALL STREET JOURNAL

4 Soldiers Killed in 2 Afghan Attacks; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Reports: Deputy says Pakistan’s Mehsud is alive; Toosi ASSOCIATED PRESS

The Case for Leaving Iraq – Now; McGirk TIME

U.S. LOCAL:

Attacks on Homeless Bring Push on Hate Crime Laws; Lichtblau NEW YORK TIMES

Lawsuit Seeks Right to Carry Concealed Weapons in the District; Alexander WASHINGTON POST

Calif. Lawmaker Plans to Sue Over Schwarzenegger’s Budget Vetoes; Woo WALL STREET JOURNAL

OF NOTE:

No Coverage

TOP BLOGS:

Palin calls Dems healthcare plan “evil,” cites threat to Trig; Martin POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

So where’s your birth certificate, congressman?; McGarr POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Maloney not running against Gillibrand; Kraushaar POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

TOP STORIES:

Congress Gets an Upgrade; Mullins WALL STREET JOURNAL

The Town Hall Mob; Krugman NEW YORK TIMES

Health Reform and the Polls; Rasmussen WALL STREET JOURNAL

Sotomayor Confirmed by Senate, 68-31; Savage NEW YORK TIMES

With Senate Vote, Congress Refuels ‘Clunkers’ Program; Hedgpeth, Bacon WASHINGTON POST

Key Lawmaker Received Countrywide Loans; Emshwiller WALL STREET JOURNAL

Deficit a Growing Concern for Public — and White House; Seib WALL STREET JOURNAL

HOUSE:

Blue Dog Blues; Strassel WALL STREET JOURNAL

Oberstar threatens to ‘roll over’ W.H.; Lovley, Libit POLITICO

House Democrat received Countrywide loans: report; REUTERS

What Congress has, hasn’t done so far this year; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Top US lawmaker to visit Israel; AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

Lawmakers fund projects the Pentagon doesn’t want; Editorial USA TODAY

Markey Probes Coal Industry Group Over Forged Letters; Bendery ROLL CALL

Cantor swipes at Obama policy on Mideast trip; Johnson THE HILL

Rep. Moran ‘looking forward’ to town hall protesters; Hooper THE HILL

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

In Bid for House Seat, a Question of Identity for Republicans Upstate; Peters NEW YORK TIMES

Lou Holtz Won’t Run for Congress; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Schakowsky to Endorse Hamos in Race to Replace Kirk; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Costello Joins GOP Race in Pennsylvania 6; Giroux CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

Senators Hear Concerns Over Costs of Health Proposal; Pear, Herszenhorn NEW YORK TIMES

Climate Bill Is Threatened by Senators; Broder NEW YORK TIMES

Senators Weigh Postal Service’s Future; Fuller NEW YORK TIMES

Senate Adds Cash to ‘Clunkers’ Plan; Wald NEW YORK TIMES

Senate Health-Care Negotiators Hope to Keep Deal Alive During Break; Murray WASHINGTON POST

Clash of the Clunkers; Milbank WASHINGTON POST

Senate Adds $2 Billion to ‘Clunkers’ Plan; Boles WALL STREET JOURNAL

Immigration Effort Draws GOP Backer; Simpson WALL STREET JOURNAL

Senate Democrats Want Climate Bill to Protect Manufacturing; Power WALL STREET JOURNAL

Cash-for-clunkers flush with cash again; Raju POLITICO

Reid: GOP ‘run by a talk show host’; Isenstadt POLITICO

Conrad rips Issa investigation; Raju POLITICO

Reid downplays talk of reconciliation; Raju POLITICO

US Senator Webb to make rare Myanmar visit; AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE

A deadly amendment to the hate-crimes bill; Editorial LOS ANGELES TIMES

Democrats Hope Recess Recharges Their Agenda; Pierce ROLL CALL

Health Care Negotiators Head Home; Still Talking; Drucker ROLL CALL

Obama Tells Health Care Negotiators to Keep Working; Pierce ROLL CALL

Senate approves $2 billion for ‘cash for clunkers’; Bolton THE HILL

Medicaid costs fueling dispute between states, Senate; Young THE HILL

Conrad, Issa spar over Countrywide probe; Crabtree THE HILL

Reid opposes effort to fill Senate vacancies by election; Bolton THE HILL

Kansas senators fight Gitmo move; Rowland WASHINGTON TIMES

SENATE ELECTIONS:

No Coverage

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Results of State Elections May Show How Obama Is Doing; Nagourney NEW YORK TIMES

President Tells His Backers To Get ‘Fired Up’ for Deeds; Helderman WASHINGTON POST

Is Bush still relevant?; Coller POLITICO

Obama injects life into Deeds campaign; Martin POLITICO

Beck’s ‘poison’ joke gets harsh rebuke; Bresnahan POLITICO

Obama raises money for Deeds, sans healthcare talk; Wilson THE HILL

Obama ratings may be aiding GOP in Virginia; Wilson THE HILL

New Jersey: More Older Voters Want Corzine Out; Kapochunas CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

McDonnell Still Leads in Virginia; McDonald CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

ADMINISTRATION:

Clinton Offers Assurances to Somalis; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Jewish Groups Say Obama’s Pick for Medal Has Anti-Israel Bias; Landler NEW YORK TIMES

Detention Reform; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Agency Plans to Improve Oversight of Immigrant Detention; Hsu WASHINGTON POST

Clinton Regrets U.S. Not Part of Court; Sheridan WASHINGTON POST

In Tire Tariff Case, Obama Faces First Chinese Trade Policy Test; Shin WASHINGTON POST

After the Thrill Is Gone; Gerson WASHINGTON POST

Doubt Raised on Gitmo Closing Date; Gorman, Perez WALL STREET JOURNAL

It’s Time to Legislate a Spending Cap; Moore WALL STREET JOURNAL

Clinton wants SAfrica to press Zimbabwe reform; Lee ASSOCIATED PRESS

Obama’s Approval Ratings Show a Summer Slump; Walsh US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT

Obama aims to overhaul immigration jail system; Gorman LOS ANGELES TIMES

Obama’s counter-terrorism advisor denounces Bush-era policies; Miller LOS ANGELES TIMES

EXCLUSIVE: Obama pledge to whistleblowers in doubt; LoBianco WASHINGTON TIMES

U.S. no longer at war with ‘terrorism’; Ward WASHINGTON TIMES

SCOTUS:

Sotomayor Faces Heavy Workload of Complex Cases; Liptak NEW YORK TIMES

Sotomayor Wins Confirmation; Goldstein, Kane WASHINGTON POST

Justice Sotomayor; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Alaska freshman pegs Sotomayor as a moderate; Alarkon THE HILL

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

Another Hurdle for the Jobless: Credit Inquiries; Glater NEW YORK TIMES

Ex-Chief of A.I.G. Settles S.E.C. Case for $15 Million; Walsh, Healy NEW YORK TIMES

Birth Rate Is Said to Fall as a Result of Recession; Roberts NEW YORK TIMES

Job Losses Slow but Still Weigh on Economy; Irwin, Shin WASHINGTON POST

Mortgage Giants’ Revamp Disputed; Cho, Goldfarb WASHINGTON POST

Fixing Fannie Mae; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Bankers Beat Odds in Toxic Pay Plan; Lucchetti WALL STREET JOURNAL

Fannie Seeks $10.7 Billion From Treasury After Big Loss; Timiraos WALL STREET JOURNAL

Washington vs. Silicon Valley; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

W.H. braces for 10% unemployment; Javers POLITICO

Fewer layoffs expected as recession winds down; Aversa ASSOCIATED PRESS

HEALTHCARE:

Democrats Say No to Cost Cap for Drug Manufacturers; Kirkpatrick NEW YORK TIMES

Governors Fear Added Costs in Health Care Overhaul; Krauss NEW YORK TIMES

Republicans Propagating Falsehoods in Attacks on Health-Care Reform; Pearlstein WASHINGTON POST

Democrats Weigh the Calculus of Public Insurance; MacGillis WASHINGTON POST

Health-Care Reform: A Better Plan; Krauthammer WASHINGTON POST

Harry and Louise, Closet Socialists; Kinsley WASHINGTON POST

‘You Are Terrifying Us’; Noonan WALL STREET JOURNAL

France Fights Universal Care’s High Cost; Gauthier-Villars WALL STREET JOURNAL

White House Vows to Defend Democrats on Health Reform; Meckler WALL STREET JOURNAL

Rahm warns liberal groups to stop ads; Martin POLITICO

WH to Dems: Punch back twice as hard; Brown POLITICO

Groups coordinate Obama opposition; Allen POLITICO

White House advises Dems on health care protests; Alonso-Zaldivar, Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

THE INFLUENCE GAME: Insurers fighting back quietly; Fram ASSOCIATED PRESS

Activists to keep heat on with health protests; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Axelrod Counsels Democrats on August Recess Strategy; Drucker ROLL CALL

Democrats Brace for More Protests; Bendery, Pierce ROLL CALL

Castellani Urges Bipartisan Health Bill; Ackley ROLL CALL

Democrats Strike Back Against Health Insurers; Ackley ROLL CALL

Axelrod gives Dems their health talking points; Bolton, Young THE HILL

Democrats slam town-hall protests as ‘phony’; Bolton THE HILL

STIMULUS:

With Jobs Data Due, Experts See Some Lift From Stimulus; Andrews NEW YORK TIMES

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Culling the Gas Hogs; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Can Wal-Mart Be Sustainable?; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Oil slips below $72 ahead of US unemployment data; Kennedy ASSOCIATED PRESS

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

Iraqis Freed by U.S. Face Few Jobs and Little Hope; Robertson NEW YORK TIMES

White House Struggles to Gauge Afghan Success; Sanger, Schmitt, Shanker NEW YORK TIMES

5 U.S. Marines Killed in Afghanistan; Filkins, Wafa NEW YORK TIMES

C.I.A. Missile Strike May Have Killed Pakistan’s Taliban Leader, Officials Say; Mazzetti, Schmitt NEW YORK TIMES

A $191 Million Question; O’Harrow WASHINGTON POST

Pakistan Taliban Chief May Have Been Killed; Warrick WASHINGTON POST

Police: 7 die in Baghdad as bombs target Shiites; Ahmed ASSOCIATED PRESS

3 NATO troops killed in southern Afghanistan; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Adviser: US has 2 more tough years in Afghanistan; Gearan ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. LOCAL:

Virginia Governor Sets Free 3 Sailors Convicted in Rape and Murder; Urbina NEW YORK TIMES

California Scrambles to Prepare for Inmate Release; White, Knutson WALL STREET JOURNAL

OF NOTE:

Iran’s Show Trial; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

UPS Employees Say They Were Forced to Lobby Against FedEx; Eggen WASHINGTON POST

GAO: Postal Service in financial disarray; Yager THE HILL

TOP BLOGS:

Deficit hits record $1.3 trillion for July; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

And now fist fights at a town hall?; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Another Dem overrun by protesters at town hall; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

Dems rip Limbaugh’s use of Nazi symbol; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG

NJ-Gov, VA-Gov: Republicans Lead in New R2K Polls; SWING STATE PROJECT

TOP STORIES:

U.S. Considers Remaking Mortgage Giants; Goldfarb, Cho WASHINGTON POST

GOP Talking Points Target House, HELP Bills, Not Finance; Edney CONGRESS DAILY

Senators Closer To Health Package; Murray, Montgomery WASHINGTON POST

ObamaCare’s Real Price Tag; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Why Obama May Fail; Henninger WALL STREET JOURNAL

Pelosi’s plan: wine, dine big donors; Bresnahan POLITICO

Obama’s Battle Against Terrorism To Go Beyond Bombs and Bullets; Hsu, Warrick WASHINGTON POST

Stimulus to aid foreign battery makers; Seper WASHINGTON TIMES

HOUSE:

Ex-Rep. Jefferson Convicted in Bribery Scheme; Stout NEW YORK TIMES

Jefferson Convicted In Bribery Scheme; Markon, Schulte WASHINGTON POST

The Blue Dogs and the Bloc Party; Broder WASHINGTON POST

Young Adults Ask Congress for Aid; Murray WALL STREET JOURNAL

Surf’s up for Barney Frank; Libit POLITICO

Don’t call her Nancy; Gerstein POLITICO

Letter scandal has lobbying on defense; Frates POLITICO

GE revs up for a funding fight; DiMascio POLITICO

Issa Finds Unlikely Role Model: Waxman; Kucinich, Bendery ROLL CALL

Tax cut for trial lawyers; Editorial WASHINGTON TIMES

Flying Miss Nancy; Editorial INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

Democrats target House GOP stalwart in California; Hotakainen MCCLATCHY NEWS

Capitol presents final Hill to climb for Holtz; Lopresti GANNETT

Frankly Speaking, Cao’s Candor Not Always Good; McArdle ROLL CALL

Ohio: County Commissioner to Challenge Tiberi; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Florida: Can Boehner Convince His Bud Holtz to Run?; Kucinich ROLL CALL

California: NRCC May Wade Into 10th District Special; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Rhode Island: Langevin to Face Primary With State Rep.; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Minnesota: Tinklenberg Helps Clear Field for Clark; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Nation: DCCC Continues Recess Radio Ad Push; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

CQ Ratings Change: Strong Challenger in Ohio 12; Giroux CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

CQ Ratings Change: Rival Emerges In Florida 16; Kapochunas CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

SENATE:

Centrist Democrats Upbeat on Health Care Bill; Herszenhorn, Pear NEW YORK TIMES

Sen. Enzi Won’t Rush Into Health-Bill Deal; Hitt WALL STREET JOURNAL

Grassley’s Leverage; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Sotomayor tops Senate sprint to recess; Rogers POLITICO

Dodd to colleagues: Stick to basics; Brown POLITICO

Scrap cash for clunkers; Sen. Jim Inhofe POLITICO

Senate to consider $2 billion ‘clunkers’ refill; Thomas, Kellman ASSOCIATED PRESS

Baucus aims for middle with health care overhaul; Gouras ASSOCIATED PRESS

New Test for Old Alliance; Pierce ROLL CALL

Senate Will Wrap Up Thursday; Brady ROLL CALL

Democrats Together on Message, but Still Divided on Health Care; Drucker ROLL CALL

Senate Dems: No tax hikes for healthcare; Young THE HILL

Rockefeller bemoans health reform delay; Haberkorn WASHINGTON TIMES

SENATE ELECTIONS:

Dem race goes blue in Kentucky; Kraushaar POLITICO

Ron Paul son Rand joins Ky. GOP race for Senate; Alford ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cornyn declines to endorse Ensign in 2012; Gamboa ASSOCIATED PRESS

Arlen Specter’s challenge; Editorial LOS ANGELES TIMES

Cornyn Bullish on GOP’s 2010 Senate Prospects; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

New Hampshire: Cornyn Says NRSC Not Endorsing Ayotte, Yet; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Pennsylvania: Specter, Sestak to Square Off at Netroots; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

Silver State special; Blake, Wilson THE HILL

Cornyn: Public anger on healthcare a good opportunity for GOP; Wilson THE HILL

For Cornyn, Grass Seems Greener In Fiorina Candidacy; Kapochunas CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

Candidates In Ohio Campaigning Like It’s Already 2010; McPike CONGRESS DAILY

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

With Scandal as Backdrop, New Jersey Race Heats Up; Halbfinger NEW YORK TIMES

Corzine resurrects Bush in gov. race; Kraushaar POLITICO

Obama loses favor in Va., could hurt Deeds; Abruzzese WASHINGTON TIMES

ADMINISTRATION:

Barack’s Progress Report; Collins NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. to Reform Policy on Detention for Immigrants; Bernstein NEW YORK TIMES

Kenya’s Volatile Politics Shadow Clinton; Gettleman NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Back in Indiana With Message and Aid; Calmes NEW YORK TIMES

A Champion for Workers’ Safety; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Too Soon To Return Home, Say Darfurians; Lynch WASHINGTON POST

Obama vs. the Regulators; Rosen, Lefkowitz WASHINGTON POST

U.S. Decides Not to Impose Sanctions on Honduras; Luhnow, Cordoba WALL STREET JOURNAL

Hillary of Africa; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

U.S. wants Israel to freeze settlement for year: report; REUTERS

Obama tells struggling nation: ‘We don’t give up’; Feller ASSOCIATED PRESS

LaHood extolls ‘cash for clunkers’ as huge success; ASSOCIATED PRESS

Kansans to Obama: Come to Leavenworth; Rushing THE HILL

Gibbs backtracks on Ahmadinejad ‘elected’ remark; Johnson THE HILL

SCOTUS:

Democrats Rally for Sotomayor; Goldstein, Kane WASHINGTON POST

GOP Eyes Next Court Pick With Sotomayor Vote; Peterson WALL STREET JOURNAL

Senate poised to make history with Sotomayor vote; Davis ASSOCIATED PRESS

Race Enters Debate on Sotomayor; Stanton ROLL CALL

Menendez: GOP Will Pay a Price for Voting Against Sotomayor; Stanton ROLL CALL

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

Geithner Takes Regulators to Task on Turf Battle; Labaton NEW YORK TIMES

Despite Bailouts, Business as Usual at Goldman; Anderson NEW YORK TIMES

As U.S. Weighs Future of Housing Giants, Overseer Is Leaving; Duhigg NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Likely to Sell G.M. Stake Before Chrysler; Bunkley NEW YORK TIMES

Post Office Loses $2.4 Billion; O’Keefe WASHINGTON POST

Fed Reviews Two Programs As Markets Look More Stable; Hilsenrath WALL STREET JOURNAL

HEALTHCARE:

White House Affirms Deal on Drug Cost; Kirkpatrick NEW YORK TIMES

Protests at Democrats’ Health-Care Events Spark Political Tug of War; Rucker, Eggen WASHINGTON POST

Health Reform and the Tax Pledge; Rove WALL STREET JOURNAL

Will a Public Option Hurt Insurance Company Profits?; Arends WALL STREET JOURNAL

Town hall trouble from both sides now; McGrane POLITICO

Virtual town halls gaining popularity; Libit POLITICO

Recess gets louder; Abrahamson POLITICO

Barack Obama urges backers to fight health ‘lies’; Allen POLITICO

Activists say no letup for health protests; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Health care debate: How many actually uninsured?; Werner ASSOCIATED PRESS

Healthcare debate gets uglier; Hook LOS ANGELES TIMES

Health Blame Game Builds; Drucker ROLL CALL

Steele Says GOP Is Not to Blame for Angry Voters; Kucinich ROLL CALL

Dems seek to unite for recess push; Bolton THE HILL

Parties cry foul over spate of homestate showdowns; O’Brien, Hooper THE HILL

Steele: Health protests not ‘Republican cabal’; O’Brien THE HILL

STIMULUS:

No Coverage

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

China Sees Progress on Climate Accord, but Resists an Emissions Ceiling; Wines NEW YORK TIMES

Grants Steered to Green Car Research; Hedgpeth, Wilson WASHINGTON POST

Rise in Pump Price Looks Temporary; Campoy WALL STREET JOURNAL

U.S. to spend $2.4 billion to boost use of electric vehicles; Schoof MCCLATCHY NEWS

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

Strike Kills Wife of Taliban Chief; NEW YORK TIMES

Road Bomb Kills Afghans; U.S. Airstrike Is Disputed; Filkins NEW YORK TIMES

Soldier Who Didn’t Obey Is Jailed; McKinley NEW YORK TIMES

Change of Guard in Baghdad’s Green Zone; Londoño WASHINGTON POST

Iraqi Authorities to Remove Capital’s Blast Walls; Londoño WASHINGTON POST

Bomb in southern Afghanistan kills 21 civilians; Sameem REUTERS

Adm. Mullen decries ‘culture of poverty’ in Afghanistan; Carter WASHINGTON TIMES

U.S. LOCAL:

Arizona G.O.P. Divided Over Budget; Steinhauer NEW YORK TIMES

OF NOTE:

After Clinton Trip, U.S. Studies Signals From N. Korea; Landler NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton and Gore, Together Again; Nagourney NEW YORK TIMES

Next Steps With North Korea; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Democracy Behind Bars; Thompson NEW YORK TIMES

Pressure Point; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Georgia, On the Rebound; Mikheil Saakashvili WASHINGTON POST

Inauguration Marked by Dissent; Taghavi WALL STREET JOURNAL

Petitions for US worker green cards down sharply; Garay ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOP BLOGS:

CNN Refusing To Run Health Care Ad Critical Of Insurance Industry; Sargent WHO RUNS GOV BLOG

FL-16: Chris Craft Launches Bid Against Rooney; SWING STATE PROJECT

TOP STORIES:

House Orders Up Three Elite Jets; Singer ROLL CALL

Gov’t insurance would allow coverage for abortion; Alonso-Zaldivar ASSOCIATED PRESS

Groups Take Health-Reform Debate to Airwaves; Pershing WASHINGTON POST

W.H. launches attacks on attacks; Brown POLITICO

Obama Setting Out to Put Brighter Face on Economy; Stolberg NEW YORK TIMES

Climate bill may fall by the wayside; Lerer POLITICO

Dems vs. Dems; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

Obama Squelches His Truth Whisperers; Marcus WASHINGTON POST

HOUSE:

Coal Group Is Linked to Fake Letters on Climate Bill; Strom NEW YORK TIMES

Playing a Deadly Game With AIDS; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Coal Group Reveals 6 More Forged Lobbying Letters; Fahrenthold WASHINGTON POST

‘Blue Dogs’ or Corporate Shills?; Frank WALL STREET JOURNAL

Liberal House Dems hold their ground; O’Connor POLITICO

Democrats Gird for Town-Hall Protests; Bendery, Kucinich ROLL CALL

Blue Dogs Spend Recess Listening; Dennis ROLL CALL

Liberals to Pelosi: Take Our Concerns Seriously; Bendery ROLL CALL

Pelosi: A committee of one on healthcare legislation; Soraghan, Allen THE HILL

Roberts, Rogers ready to fight Gitmo plans; Rushing THE HILL

Issa wants answers from Emanuel; Hooper THE HILL

Six Months In, Media Still Do PR For Obama; Rep. Lamar Smith INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY

HOUSE ELECTIONS:

Republicans on a road trip to recruit; O’Connor POLITICO

House race may split black vote; Isenstadt POLITICO

Tinklenberg Drops Out of Race Against Bachmann; Toeplitz ROLL CALL

SENATE:

Obama Pushes Democrats for Unity on Health Plan; Pear, Herszenhorn NEW YORK TIMES

Senate Is Expected to Extend ‘Clunker’ Trade-Ins; Wald NEW YORK TIMES

Leahy Blocks Positive Report on Mexico’s Rights Record; Booth, Fainaru WASHINGTON POST

Metro Chief Begs Senate for More Money to Maintain Subway; Hohmann WASHINGTON POST

Corn Power; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Nominations Roadblock; Editorial WASHINGTON POST

Filibuster Nation; Meyerson WASHINGTON POST

How We Can Achieve Bipartisan Health Reform; Sens. Ron Wyden, Robert F. Bennett WASHINGTON POST

Class war: Jr. Dems split on health bill; Raju POLITICO

Anti-Nelson ad lists wrong number; Mullins POLITICO

‘Clunkers’ rebates look likely for another month; Thomas, Kellman ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senate boosts food stamps as unemployment rises; Taylor ASSOCIATED PRESS

My compromise works; Sen. Kent Conrad USA TODAY

Health Reform Gets Final Push; Drucker ROLL CALL

Senate Works to Pass ‘Clunker’ Bill by Break; Brady ROLL CALL

Obama pressures Senate Dems to move healthcare; Young THE HILL

Pep talk leaves Dems confident on clunkers, healthcare; Youngman THE HILL

Harkin resists pressure to spend more on science and education; Alarkon THE HILL

Senators, Obama Begin To Settle On Message Strategies; Edney, Friedman CONGRESS DAILY

SENATE ELECTIONS:

Specter Faces Democratic Primary Challenge; Sherman WALL STREET JOURNAL

Not anti-Hispanic to oppose Sotomayor; Marco Rubio POLITICO

Toomey says he’d back Sotomayor; POLITICO

Senate candidates from opposite sides use same strategy against Specter; Wilson THE HILL

Castle to Decide on 2010 in ‘Month or So’; Giroux CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY

POLITICS/CAMPAIGNS:

Is Race for Governor More About Obama?; Somashekhar WASHINGTON POST

Mayors, Guns & Money; Roig-Franzia WASHINGTON POST

A Tip for The GOP: Look Away; Parker WASHINGTON POST

Bush staffers’ run for election likely to test W’s legacy; Wilson THE HILL

Poll: McDonnell widens lead in Va. Race; Abruzzese WASHINGTON TIMES

ADMINISTRATION:

Federal Agency Plans Distracted Driving Forum; Richtel NEW YORK TIMES

Leadership Vacancy Raises Fears About USAID’s Future; Sheridan WASHINGTON POST

Transportation Chief to Study Texting Ban; Conkey WALL STREET JOURNAL

U.S. Chides Kenya Before Clinton Visit; Childress WALL STREET JOURNAL

Toughened quarantine pitch readied; Gerstein POLITICO

Obama vs. Drudge; Allen POLITICO

Obama ventures back to hurting region — with money; Feller ASSOCIATED PRESS

Gibbs: Ahmadinejad ‘elected leader’ of Iran; ASSOCIATED PRESS

SCOTUS:

GOP Senators Seem Unconcerned About Hispanic Backlash; Kane, Bacon WASHINGTON POST

Sotomayor Vote Tests GOP; Bustillo, Benning WALL STREET JOURNAL

Republicans, Democrats at odds in Sotomayor debate; Davis ASSOCIATED PRESS

Senate conducts historic debate on Sotomayor; Davis ASSOCIATED PRESS

BAILOUT/ECONOMY:

S.E.C. Starts Crackdown on ‘Flash’ Trading; Duhigg NEW YORK TIMES

Economic Statistics Improve, but Hope Is Elusive; Davey NEW YORK TIMES

G.M. Chairman Vows to Defend Market Share; Vlasic NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Effort Aids Only 9% of Eligible Homeowners; Fuller NEW YORK TIMES

Many ‘Clunker’ Dumpers Buy Foreign; Hedgpeth, Freeman WASHINGTON POST

Bank Regulators Resist Reform; Appelbaum, Cho WASHINGTON POST

Economists Upgrade Second-Half GDP Forecasts; Murray WALL STREET JOURNAL

Lean Inventories Imperil Car Sales; Kellogg, Mitchell WALL STREET JOURNAL

Foreclosure Plan Is Off to a Bumpy Start; Simon WALL STREET JOURNAL

The $100 Million Banker; Editorial WALL STREET JOURNAL

HEALTHCARE:

For Health Insurers’ Lobbyist, Good Will Is Tested; Abelson NEW YORK TIMES

Obama Returns to Grass Roots for Reform; Connolly WASHINGTON POST

As Congress Goes on Break, Health Lobbying Heats Up; Adamy, Williamson WALL STREET JOURNAL

Health-Care Overhaul Creates Dilemma for Some Catholics; Simon WALL STREET JOURNAL

How to Fix the Health-Care ‘Wedge’; Laffer WALL STREET JOURNAL

With bill elusive, Dems pitch small ball; Rogers POLITICO

Health co-ops emerge as weak substitute; Editorial USA TODAY

Seniors defend Medicare plan Obama calls ‘wasteful’; Fritze USA TODAY

Obama’s Charm School Is in Session; Koffler ROLL CALL

Medical Labs Draw Blood In Co-Payment Struggle; Ackley ROLL CALL

Health insurance industry pushes back on Democrats; Young THE HILL

Dems attack, create grass-roots efforts on health; Ward, Mosk WASHINGTON TIMES

STIMULUS:

Stimulus Slow to Flow to Infrastructure; Conkey, Radnofsky WALL STREET JOURNAL

A123 Looks Set to Land U.S. Funds for Battery; Power, Smith WALL STREET JOURNAL

Biden says economic stimulus meeting its goals; Superville ASSOCIATED PRESS

LABOR/EFCA:

No Coverage

ENERGY/ENVIRONMENT:

Group pushes ‘clean coal’ in ad blitz; Lerer POLITICO

Report: Early costs of climate bill will be modest; Hebert ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coal Caught in Dust-Up; Palmer ROLL CALL

Report: Climate bill spells gloom for jobs; Dinan WASHINGTON TIMES

DEFENSE/WAR ON TERROR:

Neighbors by Day, Soldiers by Night in Afghanistan; Dao NEW YORK TIMES

U.S. Says Sunni Insurgent Leader Was Arrested During Raids in Northern Iraq; Williams, Nordland NEW YORK TIMES

Rockets Hit Afghan Capital, 2 Near the U.S. Embassy; Rahimi, Gall NEW YORK TIMES

Justice Too Long Delayed; Editorial NEW YORK TIMES

Kabul Is Shelled By the Taliban; Gopal, Rosenberg WALL STREET JOURNAL

Top US general in Iraq calls American role crucial; Gamel ASSOCIATED PRESS

U.S. LOCAL:

California Prisons Must Cut Inmate Population; Moore NEW YORK TIMES

Detainees Could Be Boon for Mich. Town; Lydersen WASHINGTON POST

OF NOTE:

In Release of Journalists, Both Clintons Had Key Roles; Landler, Baker NEW YORK TIMES

Green Shoots in Palestine; Friedman NEW YORK TIMES

N. Korea Releases U.S. Journalists; Kessler NEW YORK TIMES

Clinton finds footing in familiar story; Harris, Allen POLITICO

AP sources: Russian subs patrolling off East Coast; Baldor ASSOCIATED PRESS

TOP BLOGS:

Obama: ‘Left-wing groups’ should back off; POLITICO’S 44 BLOG

Bucking Obama; Kraushaar POLITICO’S SCORECARD BLOG

More gay angst; Smith POLITICO’S SMITH BLOG

Another Dem shouted down at town hall; Kady POLITICO’S THRUSH BLOG