POLITICAL WIRE: Contrary to David Brooks, Obama’s slide in the polls is only the second fastest of any President ever.

UPDATE: It was all a brilliant ploy to lower expectations!

SKIPPING SPOUSE TO SPOUSE: Not only a man’s game, contrary to portrayals.

A REPORT from the Whole Foods “buycott” effort.

UPDATE: Gateway Pundit has a roundup.

POCKETS OF RACISM IN SURPRISING PLACES.

USUALLY PRESIDENTS ARE PAST THE 8-MONTH MARK BEFORE THEY HIT THIS STAGE: Obama’s Political Operation Escalates Attack On Media. It’s like W’s whole second term, playing out at double speed.

DEALERS STILL WAITING FOR CLUNKER CASH: “During the month long program, Billion Automotive sold close to a thousand vehicles but has only been reimbursed for 272 of them. Vern Eide sold over 200 cars and has only been paid for 27 of them, and that’s fueling lots of concerns in the auto industry.” I’m sure they’ll do better with health care. . . .

BILL WHITTLE, SCOTT OTT, AND STEPHEN GREEN: Dead Ted & Mary Jo: What’s One Life Worth? I’ve read the Ursula K. Leguin story that Bill Whittle cites.

READER MAUREEN DUFFY WRITES:

I was in an Indianapolis hospital parking lot and noticed a van covered with all the usual “progressive” bumper stickers. Except for one.

Looks like the Tea Party philosophy is taking hold in the most unexpected places.

Indeed. I find this less surprising than some might.

REPORTING FROM THE Steny Hoyer townhall.

CNN POLL: Independents Disapprove of Obama. “Fifty-three percent of independents questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Tuesday say they disapprove of how Obama’s handling his duties in the White House, with 43 percent in approval. That result marks the first time in a CNN poll that a majority of independents give the president’s performance a thumbs-down.”

FAKE DEATH THREATS against Rep. John Salazar. First the Democratic vandalism of Democratic HQ, now this. It’s almost as if someone’s trying to stage events to make the Tea Party crowd look bad. Not trying very successfully, but . . . .

HOPE, CHANGE, and transparency.

THE REFRAMING OF 9/11?

STILL MORE ON Charles Rangel’s tax and financial problems. “Charlie Rangel is one lucky guy. The Democratic congressman from Harlem, N.Y., just discovered that his net wealth is twice what he thought. That’s a pretty good day at the office for a public servant. Mr. Rangel also realized that he made tens of thousands of dollars more than he reported in many different years over the past decade. This is the most recent string in a series of financial bonanzas for Mr. Rangel, who last year admitted he had forgotten about $75,000 in rental income on his Caribbean resort property.”

CITIZEN WITH CAMERA CAPTURES what the legacy media can’t. Or won’t.

SO WHY ARE .PDFS FROM EWETUQ.NET trying to download to my computer when I visit certain sites? The technical-contact email is bogus.

IOWAHAWK: Remembering the “Lion of Leinenkugel.”

HMM: Obama White House Has Secret Plan To Harvest Personal Data From Social Networking Websites. I’m not sure if this is as scary as they’re making it sound. Any thoughts?

CAR LUST: Joys of the Volkswagen GTI.

PRESIDENT OBAMA WILL BE SPEAKING TO THE NATION’S SCHOOL CHILDREN ON SEPTEMBER 8TH, and — besides the obvious parodies — it’s got some people planning to keep their kids home that day.

ALFONZO RACHEL: Bill Maher, Smug Idiocy, and How Lazy Stoners Prove the Existence of a Higher Power. “Hell, Bill, we know America isn’t perfect — you’re here! As a testament of God’s unfathomable patience.”

POLITICIZING THE CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION? Why should it be different from the rest of Justice?

A FUNDRAISING DRIVE from science fiction writer Dave Freer. With a free book for donors.

FROM CARNEGIE MELLON: Compare risks of death at DeathRiskRankings.com.

LOSS OF WILL: “Here is a disturbing fact to ponder: If George Will were commander in chief, we would, under his leadership, have begun and lost two wars of enormous consequence. The damage to America — militarily, geopolitically, and morally — would be staggering. The boon to militant Islam — militarily, geopolitically, and in terms of morale — would be incalculable. Yet nowhere in his most recent column does Will even begin to grapple with what surrender in Afghanistan would mean — to that country, to Pakistan, to jihadists around the world, to confidence in America’s word and will, and to our national-security interests.”