I am going to be honest with the American people  —  The first step to fixing a problem is honestly admitting there is a problem.  America's goal must be to fix Social Security by making it more financially sound and sustainable for the long term.  But Americans deserve a frank and honest discussion …

GOP grumbles about jobs plan  —  House Republicans may pass bits and pieces of President Barack Obama's jobs plan, but behind the scenes, some Republicans are becoming worried about giving Obama any victories — even on issues the GOP has supported in the past.

Turner poised for big upset  —  Republican Bob Turner is poised to pull a huge upset in the race to replace Anthony Weiner as the Congressman from New York's 9th Congressional District.  He leads Democrat David Weprin 47-41 with Socialist Workers candidate Christopher Hoeppner at 4% and 7% of voters remaining undecided.

Al Gore in 24-hour broadcast to convert climate skeptics  —  (Reuters) - Former President Al Gore will renew his 30-year campaign to convince skeptics of the link between climate change and extreme weather events this week in a 24-hour global multi-media event.

Shocking Barro  —  People have been asking for my reaction to Robert Barro's op-ed, so I finally went and read it.  And I have to say that I'm shocked by the laziness - he's not even trying to present a coherent argument.  —  I mean, here's the structure of what he says:

An Impeccable Disaster  —  On Thursday Jean-Claude Trichet, the president of the European Central Bank or E.C.B. — Europe's equivalent to Ben Bernanke — lost his sang-froid.  In response to a question about whether the E.C.B. is becoming a “bad bank” thanks to its purchases of troubled nations' debt …

Veto a State, Lose an Ally  —  The United States must support the Palestinian bid for statehood at the United Nations this month or risk losing the little credibility it has in the Arab world.  If it does not, American influence will decline further, Israeli security will be undermined …

EPA regulation forces closure of Texas energy facilities, eliminates 500 jobs  —  Texas energy company Luminant announced on Monday new burdensome Environmental Protection Agency regulations are forcing it to close several facilities, which will result in about 500 job losses.

Capital gains tax rates benefiting wealthy feed growing gap between rich and poor  —  The K Street office of Mark Bloomfield, president of the American Council for Capital Formation, is full of knickknacks collected in three decades of lobbying for cutting the capital gains tax.

For Perry, being governor has perks  —  Texas Gov. Rick Perry's humble origins and down home straight talk are central to his political identity, but for years Perry has enjoyed lavish perks and travel — mostly funded by a group of deep-pocketed supporters — that are allowed under his state's lax ethics and campaign rules.

MEMO: National poll on government regulations  —  DATE: SEPTEMBER 12, 2011 TO: PUBLIC NOTICE FROM: NICHOLAS THOMPSON & BRIAN TRINGALI RE: KEY FINDINGS FROM NATIONAL SURVEY The Tarrance Group is pleased to present Public Notice with the key findings from a survey of N=801 registered “likely” voters across the country.

Walker protester honks off troopers  —  Some foes of Gov. Scott Walker march at the Capitol and carry protest signs.  Others join local demonstrations.  Still others send letters to the governor's office.  —  Then there's this guy.  —  Between 5:30 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. each day …

GOP Rep. McKeon would support tax hike to stave off more Pentagon cuts  —  House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-Calif.) said Monday he would support tax increases before further cuts to the Pentagon budget.  —  The hawkish Republican said he “would go for strengthening defense” …

Foreign Views Of U.S. Conduct In Afghanistan  —  I've been struck over the past three or four years by how many different Chinese people have expressed to me the view that the purpose of U.S. military engagement in Afghanistan is to establish a long-term presence there in order to encircle the PRC.