U.S. SENATE CAMPAIGN: Angle, Reid race still tight  —  More voters picking sides as senator's clout comes into play  —  Locked in a dead heat, both U.S. Sen. Harry Reid and Sharron Angle picked up support in the past two weeks, according to a poll for the Las Vegas Review-Journal and 8NewsNow …

Sacrilege at Ground Zero  —  A place is made sacred by a widespread belief that it was visited by the miraculous or the transcendent (Lourdes, the Temple Mount), by the presence there once of great nobility and sacrifice (Gettysburg), or by the blood of martyrs and the indescribable suffering of the innocent (Auschwitz).

Longshot US Senate candidate from SC indicted  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — Longshot U.S. Senate candidate Alvin Greene was indicted Friday on two charges, including a felony charge of showing pornography to a South Carolina college student.  —  A Richland County grand jury indicted Green for disseminating …

For Michelle Obama, extravagance dents popularity  —  After a widely admired start in the White House, first lady Michelle Obama's popularity is falling and, if the current downward trend in her approval ratings continues, could touch lows not seen since the scandal-tainted days of Hillary Rodham Clinton.

FULL AUDIO: Dr. Laura Schlessinger's N-word rant  —  On August 10, Dr. Laura Schlessinger launched into a racially charged rant, during which Schlessinger — in her own words — “articulated the ‘n’ word all the way out — more than one time.”  Among other things, Schlessinger also told …

Disappointed, down, despondent  —  And not about to rush to the polls in November, either  —  WHY, asks a Democrat leading a training session for fellow activists, doesn't “Yes we can” work as a slogan any more?  “Because we haven't,” a jaded participant responds.

CONTENTS NOT VERIFIED  —  It seems a bit strange to me that the media carefully warn about and label any content that involves sex, violence or strong language — but there's no similar labelling system for, say, sloppy journalism and other questionable content.  —  I figured it was time to fix that, so I made some stickers.

Dems Might Want to Re-Think Criticizing Linda McMahon's WWE Connection  —  Linda McMahon stepped down as CEO of World Wrestling Entertainment in September 2009 in order to run for the US Senate, and she has since become the Republican nominee from Connecticut.

Tea Party groups out against net neutrality  —  Tea Party groups are staking out an anti-regulatory position in the fight over net neutrality rules for phone and cable companies.  —  A coalition that included 35 Tea Party groups sent a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) …

Obama closes curtain on transparency  —  President Obama has abolished the position in his White House dedicated to transparency and shunted those duties into the portfolio of a partisan ex-lobbyist who is openly antagonistic to the notion of disclosure by government and politicians.

CNN Poll: Who's on top in hunt for 2012 GOP nomination?  —  Mitt Romney, Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich, Mike Huckabee and Ron Paul (left to right) top a list of potential 2012 GOP contenders, according to a new CNN poll.  (PHOTO CREDITS: Getty Images)  —  Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) …

Facing Ethics Charges, Rep. Waters Points Finger at Bush Administration  —  Embattled Rep. Maxine Waters on Friday blamed the Bush administration for her ethics problems — saying she had to intervene with the Treasury Department on behalf of minority-owned banks seeking federal bailout funds …

OUR DAUGHTER ISN'T A SELFISH BRAT; YOUR SON JUST HASN'T READ  —  ATLAS SHRUGGED.  —  I'd like to start by saying that I don't get into belligerent shouting matches at the playground very often.  The Tot Lot, by its very nature, can be an extremely volatile place—a veritable powder keg …

Op-Ed Columnist: Paralysis at the Federal Reserve  —  Ten years ago, one of America's leading economists delivered a stinging critique of the Bank of Japan, Japan's equivalent of the Federal Reserve, titled “Japanese Monetary Policy: A Case of Self-Induced Paralysis?”

Elizabeth Warren, likely to head new consumer agency, provokes strong feelings  —  Somewhere along the line, Elizabeth Warren became a symbol.  —  She's either the plain-spoken, supremely smart crusader for middle-class families that her supporters adore, or she's the power-hungry headline seeker …

The Anti-Obama Democrats  —  Democrats in deep-red states who voted against health reform and higher spending may yet survive the midterm.  —  It's 81 days to the election.  Expect many of them to be filled with the explanations Democrats are now serving up as to why Nov. 2 is likely to be a terrible, horrible, no-good, very bad day.

Does the past record of journalists matter?  —  The Atlantic's James Fallows, whose analysis I often find worthwhile, yesterday defended Jeffrey Goldberg and his Iran article from unidentified critics (emphasis added): … First of all, it's inaccurate to claim that critiques of Goldberg's article are based on what he did in the past.

‘Professional left’ not ready to back an Obama challenger  —  As angry as it might be, the professional left isn't ready to back a primary challenger to President Obama just yet.  —  Two high-profile liberals on Thursday said they are not interested in running against the president in 2012 …

M-D Poll: Crist approval drops to 44%  —  Gov. Charlie Crist's job approval ratings have dropped to an all-time low for him — 44 percent — and represent the lowest posted by a Florida governor in 16 years, according to a new Mason-Dixon poll.  This is the first time Crist's job performance has dropped below 50 percent.

Ex-Inmate's Dilemma: $2.2 Million or a Lawsuit  —  HOUSTON — Since a judge let him out of prison for a rape that prosecutors now say he did not commit, Michael A. Green has had trouble sleeping.  —  Late at night, he walks the neat, quiet sidewalks in the neighborhood where he is staying with an aunt …