Curt quips, gaffes and stumbles: Debates have history of memorable moments

Here we go again. Voters, pundits and political junkies will be glued to Wednesday night's presidential debate to see more than just a back-and-forth on national defense, the economy and other issues.

Ryan, Biden on stump; Romney, Obama eye Wednesday's debate

With both Barack Obama and Mitt Romney off the campaign trail on Saturday, the vice presidential candidates had the day's political spotlight to themselves, with Paul Ryan speaking to supporters in New Hampshire and Joseph R. Biden stumping for votes in Florida.

Military heroes' Social Security numbers posted online

The Social Security numbers of some of the nation's most highly decorated Army war heroes from Iraq and Afghanistan were posted this week by a civilian contractor on a publicly available website.

DHS grants gay partners discretion in deportation cases

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said this week gay and lesbian partners will be considered as family members when immigration agents are trying to decide whether or not to try to deport someone from the U.S.

Romney rips Obama over Middle East

Four days before facing Barack Obama in the first of three presidential debates, Mitt Romney used his weekly podcast speech to sharpen his critique of his opponent, charging the president with bungling the crisis in the Middle East.

Questions linger about Rep. Jackson's Hill future

His home in Washington is for sale. His wife says he'll come back to work only when a doctor approves. He vowed to return to the campaign by Labor Day, and then didn't.

Ex-N.Y. Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger dies

Former New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs Sulzberger, who led the newspaper to new levels of influence and profit while standing up for press freedom and editorial independence during some of the most significant moments in 20th-century journalism, died Saturday. He was 86.

Algeria at U.N.: Limit free speech, protect Islam

Algeria is proposing an initiative under the auspices of the United Nations that would limit freedom of expression in order to prevent the stigmatizing and denigrating of Islam.

U.S. officials explain Libya attack intelligence

U.S. intelligence officials sought to explain Friday why the Obama administration's understanding of the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi is "evolving."

Romney insists Pa. in play in November

Mitt Romney courted military cadets and top-dollar donors on Friday as he declared Pennsylvania up for grabs in the November election — a state where the campaign is not running television ads and where poll numbers suggest that Friday's pit stop appeared to be more about raising the money needed to compete in more hotly-contested battleground states.

U.S. takes Iranian dissident group MeK off terrorist list

The Obama administration has taken the Mujahideen-e-Khalq off the U.S. terrorist blacklist culminating an expensive PR campaign by the Iranian dissidents.

Bank of America to pay $2.43B in settlement

Bank of America says it has agreed to pay $2.43 billion to settle a class-action lawsuit related to its acquisition of Merrill Lynch at the height of the financial crisis.

Wizards G John Wall out 8 weeks with knee injury

Washington Wizards point guard John Wall will miss at least the next eight weeks with a stress injury to his left patella, the team announced Friday.

Neb. Senate hopeful Kerrey hammers opponent on spending, deficits

Trailing by double digits in the polls, Nebraska Senate hopeful Bob Kerrey is trying to outflank his Republican opponent, Deb Fischer, on the critical issues of government spending, budget deficits and entitlement reform.

No sign of remains in new Mich. search for Hoffa

Authorities drilled through concrete and removed two samples of wet soil and clay in a modest Detroit-area neighborhood Friday in the latest effort to find the remains of Teamsters boss Jimmy Hoffa, who disappeared in 1975.

Commentary

HARRIGAN AND DAVIES: Uncle Sam's New (Fiscal) Year resolutions

TRIPLETT: On China's many atrocities

It just so happens that both the United States and China will be engaged in leadership decisions this fall. In the case of the United States, after a full discussion of the issues, the American people will elect a new president or re-elect the incumbent. The American president will become (or remain) the leader of the alliance of democratic nations.

SHAPIRO: China is our friend

Both presidential candidates are trying to outdo each other on who is tougher against China. President Obama claims Mitt Romney outsourced American jobs to Chinese factories, while Mr. Romney argues that Mr. Obama hasn't done enough on China's cheating trade practices. Both miss the point: China and the United States need to work together to obtain stability and peace in the world. In short, the U.S. and China are married and must get along -- divorce is not an option.

KNIGHT: Suppressing the vote

During World War II, American soldiers in the Pacific listened to Radio Tokyo and other English-language programs on Japanese-run stations.

EDITORIAL: Government on autopilot

California Gov. Jerry Brown on Tuesday signed a law unleashing driverless cars on Golden State highways. The autonomous vehicle technology pioneered by Google lets highly sophisticated computer programming take over the tedious duty of navigating automobiles around difficult obstacles, making all the decisions needed to reach the destination. There is no human involvement needed, which is the perfect metaphor for how lawmakers operate.