News and Its Critics  —  A tabloid's excesses don't tarnish thousands of other journalists.  —  When News Corp. and CEO Rupert Murdoch secured enough shares to buy Dow Jones & Co. four years ago, these columns welcomed our new owner and promised to stand by the same standards and principles we always had.

Obama officially threatens to veto ‘cut, cap and balance’  —  The White House on Monday warned President Obama will veto GOP legislation to “cut, cap and balance” spending and the budget.  —  In a statement of administration policy, the White House Office of Management and Budget labeled the GOP bill as an “empty political statement.”

The Republican Retreat  —  In the negotiations over the debt ceiling, the Republican Party had everything mapped out except the endgame.  —  For months, Republican leaders used all the tools at their disposal — the anti-spending intensity of their base, the White House's desire for a deal …