There’s New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte, whose heralded entry into the race for Sen. Judd Gregg’s, R-Ill., seat was distracted by a debate over whether she pledged to serve out her term in full.     ABC News: Growing Pains Among Senate Recruits? Rick Klein 7/15/09 http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2009/07/growing-pains-among-senate-recruits.html   ABC News’ Rick Klein reports: Republicans are rightly pleased with some recent recruiting successes in 2010 Senate races.

Bankers “attack” reform — consumer agency hearings this week – static.uspirg.org 07/16/2009 We testify today at a hearing of the Financial Services Committee on the Obama financial regulatory reform plan (my own testimony ). Yesterday, a phalanx of bank lobbyists testified as well. Apparently, there wasn’t enough room at the table, because bank lawyer-lobbyist Ollie Ireland is joining consumer and community advocates as yet another industry witness today.

A number of leading republicans are believed to have been informed of threats against them because of their outspoken condemnation of rioting in north Belfast this week. One of those threatened is local Sinn Fein assembly member Gerry Kelly . Mr Kelly and other leading figures in Ardoyne have severely criticised dissident republicans whom they accuse of orchestrating the past three nights of violence in the area. Sen. Lindsey O.

Washington Post CIA was a long way from Jason Bourne Los Angeles Times The agency tried to assemble a team of anti-terrorist assassins. But officials could not solve logistical problems, including how to get close to targets while keeping US involvement secret. By Greg Miller Reporting from Washington — In movies, … The CIA Is Keeping Secrets.

The president is correct that health care reform is essential to a strong economy. He accurately identifies the underlying problem as extraordinary growth in health spending, leading to slower wage growth, too many uninsured and unsustainable government spending. He is correct that reform needs to “bend the cost curve” downward to stop families, employers and governments from chasing their own tails. Unfortunately, the legislation being developed in Congress moves in the opposite direction.

“Barack Obama is very unpopular,” said Dan Boren, Oklahoma’s only Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives. “He got 34 percent of the vote statewide, and less in our district. If he were to run for re-election today, I bet it would be even worse.” Boren does support some of Obama’s initiatives, like the economic stimulus package. He has voted for Obama-supported bills 81 percent of the time, according to a recent Congressional Quarterly study. But despite this, he said the president is too liberal.

W.H. rolls out Medicare agency plan (Politico) – enuws.com 07/16/2009 Politico – After weeks of talk, theW.H. has begun circulating draft legislation spelling out Obama’s proposal. See the original post: (Politico)”> (Politico)”>W.H. rolls out Medicare agency plan (Politico) Dems Sneak Hate Crimes Bill In Defense Initative – prophecynewsheadlines.com 07/16/2009 Democrats are expected to sneak the hate crimes bill through the Senate as early as t