The Backlash Myth  —  Many of my liberal friends are convinced that the Republican Party has a death wish.  It is sprinting to the right-most fever swamps of American life.  It will end up alienating the moderate voters it needs to win elections.  —  There's only one problem with this theory.

Ex-aides unload on Christine O'Donnell  —  By pulling off arguably the biggest upset of the primary election season Tuesday, Christine O'Donnell shocked the Republican establishment and political pundits who didn't think her campaign for the Delaware GOP Senate nomination had a chance.

Murkowski Will Run As Write-In  —  Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) will run for re-election as a write-in candidate after losing her bid for renomination, according to sources briefed on Murkowski's decision.  —  Murkowski's decision will set up a 3-way battle between the incumbent …

Bayh Says Poverty Increase Means Congress Should Ignore ‘Fairness’ And Cut Taxes For The Rich  —  Yesterday, the Census Bureau released a report showing that one in seven Americans is currently living in poverty, and that the median income decreased by nearly five percent during the last decade.

Fighting to Protect Consumers  —  Over the past several weeks, the President and I have had extensive conversations about the vital importance of consumer financial protection.  —  The President asked me, and I enthusiastically agreed, to serve as an Assistant to the President and Special Advisor …

Howard Dean: ‘I actually approve’ of tea party  —  Howard Dean, whose 2004 presidential bid tapped the anger of a disaffected Democratic base, expressed a surprising admiration for the mad-as-hell tea party movement — but thinks it will be ultimately hobbled by a “racist fringe” encouraged by a “race-baiting” FOX News network.

Mao's Great Leap Forward ‘killed 45 million in four years’  —  Mao Zedong, founder of the People's Republic of China, qualifies as the greatest mass murderer in world history, an expert who had unprecedented access to official Communist Party archives said yesterday.

Romney Unleashed … That's how Mitt Romney, potential presidential candidate, begins his speech to the Values Voter Summit here in Washington today.  The rest of the speech is much less temperate than anything I've heard Romney give this year.  Romney has the fundamentals for a presidential bid down pat …

Ad Watch: Pelosi's VP Pick Slams Her, Obama in New Ad  —  ABC's Z. Byron Wolf reports:  —  Here's a sign of the times that takes Democrats breaking with President Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to a new level.  —  Remember Chet Edwards?  —  He's the moderate Texas Congressman …

Stimulus funds failed to create enough jobs: LA City Controller  —  The Los Angeles City Controller said on Thursday the city's use of its share of the $800 billion federal stimulus find has been disappointing.  —  The city received $111 million in stimulus under American Recovery and Reinvestment Act …

Palin Endorses Continetti  —  THE WEEKLY STANDARD has obtained an advance copy of the new paperback edition of The Persecution of Sarah Palin by (THE WEEKLY STANDARD's) Matthew Continetti.  As you can see on the cover, the book carries with it the official endorsement of none other than Sarah Palin herself.

The Rout Is On.  —  Campaigns hate it when I suggest they have their races won, so let's include all the traditional caveats.  In a New York minute, everything can change; every candidate is one gaffe away from self-destruction, October surprises may abound, the only poll that matters …

America's newest dance hit: “Dude, you have no Koran”  —  I linked an item about this the other day in Headlines but the Times provides detailed background in case you missed it.  Long story short: Yet another pastor was set to torch The Book That Must Not Be Burned until a plucky stoner …

If you thought Christine O'Donnell was bad...  Meet the GOP's extreme nominee for Delaware's open seat in the House, Glen Urquhart.  Since Mike Castle vacated the seat in order to (unsuccessfully) run for Senate, the Republicans nominated Urquhart in a tight primary election.

Huckabee Supports Denying Coverage For Those With Preexisting Conditions  —  1 hour and 42 minutes ago — Chris Harris  —  Today marks the start of the religious right's Values Voter Summit in Washington, DC.  After a rousing multi-verse rendition of the Star Spangled Banner, former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee took the stage.

No meeting for O'Donnell and NRSC  —  There was no meeting Friday between Delaware Senate candidate Christine O'Donnell (R) and National Republican Senate Campaign Chairman John Cornyn (R-Texas).  —  The two were supposed to met when O'Donnell came to Washington.