Poll: 71% shun GOP handling of debt crisis  —  CBS News Poll analysis by the CBS News Polling Unit: Sarah Dutton, Jennifer De Pinto, Fred Backus and Anthony Salvanto.  —  Americans are unimpressed with their political leaders' handling of the debt ceiling crisis, with a new CBS News poll showing …

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.

Phone Hacking: John Yates ‘to be suspended’ over Neil Wallis links  —  One of Scotland Yard's most senior officers, John Yates, is likely to be suspended on Monday pending an investigation over the phone hacking scandal and his links to Neil Wallis, sources have told The Daily Telegraph.

Moody's suggests U.S. eliminates debt ceiling  —  * Says ceiling brings periodic uncertainty to bond holders  —  * Suggests example of Chile in curbing debt  —  Ratings agency Moody's on Monday suggested the United States should eliminate its statutory limit on government debt to reduce uncertainty among bond holders.

The Slow, Painful Coming Death Of The Independent, Conservative Blogosphere  —  Way, way back in 2001, when I got started in the blogosphere, the Right side of the blogosphere was bigger and more influential than the Left.  Why?  Well, in American politics, the energy tends to be with the party that's out of power.

Chance for quick budget deal fades  —  Timing of special session is in doubt as GOP legislative leaders try to line up enough votes to end state shutdown.  —  Four days after the announcement of a budget deal, fresh signs emerged Sunday that the agreement is not coming together as first hoped …

How Much Longer Can Obama Defy Political Gravity?  —  ANALYSIS By AMY WALTER (@amyewalter): Although President Obama's job approval rating of 48 percent (according to Pollster.com average) isn't exactly stellar, it is remarkably high given the level of economic pessimism and despair among American electorate.

Gay rights groups target Bachmann  —  In the early weeks of her presidential run, Michele Bachmann has avoided getting bogged down in the divisive, distracting terrain of social policy.  —  Gay rights groups say they plan to change that.  —  Even as Bachmann's tightly-disciplined campaign …

Letting Bankers Walk  —  Ever since the current economic crisis began, it has seemed that five words sum up the central principle of United States financial policy: go easy on the bankers.  —  This principle was on display during the final months of the Bush administration …