Harvard Prof Gates Is Half-Irish, Related to Cop Who Arrested Him  —  Two Men at Center of Controversy Linked by Irish Heritage  —  Henry Louis Gates Jr., the black professor at the center of the racial story involving his arrest outside his Harvard University-owned house, has spoken proudly of his Irish roots.

Andrew Sullivan is Right  —  It doesn't happen terribly often, but I'm with Andrew Sullivan on the need to lay Obama birther-ism to rest— a subject on which he's been blogging with some energy over the last day.  —  Indeed, it's almost as if birthers have allowed an intense …

Dem healthcare infighting intensifies  —  A House fight among Democrats on overhauling the nation's healthcare system has spread to the Senate, where centrists and liberals are clashing over the direction the legislation should take.  —  Trouble is brewing now that a bipartisan group of senators …

Democrats Say House May Miss Deadline on Health Care  —  U.S. House Democratic leaders, struggling to reach an accord with party dissidents on health care, said they're likely to miss President Barack Obama's August deadline for legislation overhauling the medical system.

Palin tests radio waters.  —  Alaska's now former Governor is coy about her future political plans, but radio is at least one option she's leaving on the table.  While not exactly shopping the GOP's 2008 vice presidential candidate, sources say Palin representatives have been quietly testing …

Bill Kristol Says Things That Are The Opposite of True … “One reason the price of health care is going up so fast is because of government programs,” says Kristol.  “The price of Medicare and Medicaid have gone up faster than private insurance.  That's well-documented.”

LET IT DIE?  —  In light of reports that Senate Dems may strip the public option and the employer mandate from the health-care bill, Steve M. asks a good question: “Is this even worth it?  Is it even worth fighting to pass a compromised, inadequate bill?”  —  I largely agree with his take on the politics.

Iowa caucuses move to Saturday in '10  —  The Iowa Republican and Democratic parties together announced Tuesday that they will hold the state's 2010 primary caucuses on a Saturday, a move that party leaders say is designed to increase turnout in a non-presidential year.

Axelrod's Son Hired by Huffington Post  —  David Axelrod's son is following his father's career path — that is, the one he had before becoming a political strategist.  —  Ethan Axelrod is joining the Huffington Post, the liberal Web site that has been largely supportive of President Obama.

The Health Care Bill Dies? … Well, as the French would say... Quelle surprise!  —  It's funny, earlier this summer I was watching the Federer-Roddick Wimbledon Final.  Great match in a way, final set was 30 games long, one of the all-time epic battles.  And yet, as I watched it …

Political consultant Jack Shaw found dead in Jersey City  —  JERSEY CITY — Jack Shaw, a Jersey City political consultant who was among 44 people charged in a federal corruption probe, has died.  —  Two officials with knowledge of the investigation said Shaw was found at home with several bottles of pills nearby.

Stocks go up as agenda slides  —  The Democratic agenda in Washington has gone off the rails just as markets are enjoying their best run of the Obama presidency, and there's a school of thought on Wall Street that it's no coincidence.  —  While a string of better-than-expected earnings reports …

Memo: No health vote before recess UPDATE  —  Democratic leaders may have thrown in the towel — telling their Republican counterparts that there will be no health care vote on the House floor before the August recess starts this Friday, according a Republican memo obtained by POLITICO.  —  The memo:

NPR Poll Finds Tough Sledding For Obama … text sizeAAA  —  President Obama has hit a rough patch this summer, squeezed between a lingering recession and rising questions about the health care overhaul he has made the centerpiece of his first-year agenda.

Israel moves towards “normal” relations with Obama  —  U.S. Middle East envoy George Mitchell was in Israel today.  He met one-on-one for two-and-a half hours Prime Minister Netanyahu.  —  According to this report, Mitchell failed to obtain any agreement from Israel regarding the total freeze …

Feds Push Mortgage Companies to Modify More Loans  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration, scrambling to get its main housing initiative on track, extracted a pledge from 25 mortgage company executives to improve their efforts to assist borrowers in danger of foreclosure.

Chicago Sees Coldest July In 67 Years  —  Average Temperature Only 68.9 Degrees  —  CHICAGO (CBS) ― Have you left your air conditioner in the closet this summer, and worn long pants more often than shorts?  If so, you may not be surprised to find out that Chicago is seeing its coldest July in more than 65 years.

Y'feeling alright?  —  I had a rough day in the dentist's chair.  Okay, it wasn't a whole day, but it felt like it.  —  Lambert has been saying for some time that we should stop saying “Single-Payer” and start saying “Medicare for All”.  Paul Krugman has proof that he's right …

Keyes and Birthers, Buckley and Birchers … I've held fire for the last several months as I've watched the so-called “Birther” movement gain steam.  —  At first it was amusing, like playing a drinking game — you know, like taking a shot every time Chris Matthews explains why he insists …

Police use Taser on deaf, disabled Alabama man  —  MOBILE, Alabama (AP) — Police in Mobile, Ala., used pepper spray and a Taser on a deaf, mentally disabled man who they said wouldn't leave a store's bathroom.  —  The family of 37-year-old Antonio Love has filed a formal complaint over the incident on Friday.