Congressional GOP Leaders Slowly Convincing Newer Members of Importance of Raising Debt Ceiling  —  Boehner: He would have to bring newer members of his caucus along for a deal to be struck.  —  Sometimes your closest allies can become your biggest headaches.

We're Spent  —  THERE is no shortage of explanations for the economy's maddening inability to leave behind the Great Recession and start adding large numbers of jobs: The deficit is too big.  The stimulus was flawed.  China is overtaking us.  Businesses are overregulated.  Wall Street is underregulated.

Rebekah Brooks arrested over phone-hacking allegations  —  Met police say 43-year-old woman, believed to be Rebekah Brooks, was arrested by appointment at a London police station  —  Rebekah Brooks has been arrested by police investigating allegations of phone hacking by the News of the World …

S&P Raises State of Ohio's Credit Rating; Cites GOP Governor Kasich's Whining About His Predecessor and His Budget, But Mostly His Budget  —  By electing a fiscal conservative, Ohio is moving in the right direction when it comes to economic vibrancy. … Unlike President Obama …

Woman Gropes TSA Agent's Breast at Security Checkpoint  —  PHOENIX - We hear a lot of complaints about security screeners groping airline passengers.  —  But now, a Colorado woman is accused of putting her hands on a TSA agent at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix.

New Stable of Wealthy Donors Fueled Obama Campaign's Record Fund-Raising Quarter  —  President Obama recruited roughly 150 new elite donors, raising as much as a half a million dollars each, to help propel him to a large and early lead over his Republican opponents in the race for campaign cash …

QVC Cancelled My Appearance!!  —  I was to have been on QVC today to introduce my book, “Prime Time,” about aging and the life cycle.  The network said they got a lot of calls yesterday criticizing me for my opposition to the Vietnam War and threatening to boycott the show if I was allowed to appear.

No bargaining with Barack Obluffer  —  There is something surreal and unnerving about the so-called “debt ceiling” negotiations staggering on in Washington.  In the real world, negotiations on an increase in one's debt limit are conducted between the borrower and the lender.

Obama's communications gap  —  A prominent Bush administration official was talking privately about Barack Obama last week: He's probably going to win in 2012, this Republican said.  He deserves credit for “going big” in the budget talks and capturing the center of the debate.

Palestinians may give up on bid for full UN membership to avoid U.S. veto, sources say  —  Palestinian sources and European diplomats say Palestinians will seek recognition by the General Assembly instead of Security Council.  —  Wishing to avoid an American veto at the Security Council …