cnn.com — While he's not on the ballot, George W. Bush is still vital to the midterm election as far as the nation's top Democrat is concerned. President Obama has made a point recently to invoke Bush's name in what many say is a calculated effort to remind voters of the previous administration's economic policies, which Democrats argue led to the worst recession

huffingtonpost.com — A Tea Party-backed Senate candidate in Colorado was caught on tape Friday referring to 'birthers' who question President Obama's citizenship as "dumbasses." Republican Ken Buck, who has harnessed Tea Party support to become the front-runner for the GOP Senate nomination, made the comment unsolicited to a Democratic staffer after an event in Pueblo, Colorado.

huffingtonpost.com — For some time now, various "reporters" and on-air personalities on the Fox News Network have failed to report the full story or relevant facts, instead indulging in race baiting in order to exploit people's fears and crank up the fringe of their audience. This was exemplified by Glenn Beck's nightly assault on Van Jones earlier this year.

fivethirtyeight.com — Our latest Senate simulation has the chamber convening in 2011 with an average of 53.4 Democrats (counting Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders), 46.1 Republicans, and 0.5 Charlie Crists. This is an improvement for Republicans from our last forecast three weeks ago, which had 55.2 Democrats, 44.2 Republicans, and 0.6 Crists.

huffingtonpost.com — The Wall Street reform package currently awaiting the return of Congress from the Fourth of July recess is packed with provisions that will remake the financial landscape. One element, though, which has gotten relatively little attention in the media, is a wild card: the authorization of a far-reaching audit of the Federal Reserve for the first time in the central bank's history.

huffingtonpost.com — Too many Republican leaders are acquiescing to a poisonous "demagoguery" that threatens the party's long-term credibility, says a veteran GOP House member who was defeated in South Carolina's primary last month

huffingtonpost.com — President Barack Obama is wrapping up a two-day swing through Missouri and Nevada with a speech on clean energy that could deliver a boost to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who's in a tough fight for re-election.

huffingtonpost.com — Nearly four weeks ago, the 32-year-old unemployed military veteran turned South Carolina's political scene upside down when he won the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat. And unlike that high school student, he's taking a big chance: running against powerhouse Republican Sen. Jim DeMint.

news.yahoo.com — ... Sarah Palin told a crowd at a fundraiser at California State University in Stanislaus last weekend that Ronald Reagan ... was a California college graduate. She told the cheering crowd: "... Reagan went to Eureka College in Illinois from 1928 to 1932..."... Plus, team sends out wrong email

huffingtonpost.com — As the formal stages begin for the confirmation for Supreme Court nominee Elena Kagan, the most noteworthy element seems to be the potential for friction between conservative activists looking for a fight and the elected GOP.