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Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 5 ways they differ on military issues

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has not been expansive regarding his views of the war in Afghanistan – perhaps because both he and President Obama do not have significantly different plans. But here are five areas where the candidates differ on military issues.

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Robert Reich Chuck Hagel vs. the neocons

That the neocons hate Chuck Hagel is the best sign yet that he may be the right person for the job, Reich writes.
Decoder Wire Why might Republicans cave in 'fiscal cliff' talks?

The GOP and President Obama have long disagreed over taxes for the rich. Although there are signs of potential movement with the fiscal cliff looming, there are also reasons it might not happen.
Decoder Wire Abandon no-new-tax pledge? Some in GOP consider the unthinkable.

Exit polls showed that the GOP is seen as favoring the wealthy over the middle class. That may be leading some to reconsider the party's devotion to the no-new-tax pledge – at least for the rich.
Decoder Wire Has John Boehner really agreed to increase taxes on the rich?

Since the election, House Speaker John Boehner (R) has had some conciliatory-sounding words about the need to avoid the 'fiscal cliff.' While he's said 'new revenue' might be part of the solution, it's problematic to assume he means higher taxes on the rich.
Republicans, Democrats dance around the 'fiscal cliff'

President Obama and Speaker Boehner want to avoid the looming 'fiscal cliff,' which will require new revenues as well as budget cuts. Can that happen without more taxes on the wealthy?
Sarah Palin’s advice to Mitt Romney: 'Go rogue'

Mitt Romney has been getting lots of gratuitous advice from fellow Republicans worried about what they see as a presidential campaign slipping toward defeat. Some want Paul Ryan to play a more active role. Sarah Palin says the Romney campaign needs a ‘come to Jesus’ moment.
Can Romney's campaign get back on track? (+video)

Following the release of a video from one of presidential candidate Mitt Romney's fundraisers, some commentators question his campaign strategy, while others defend him. Polls show the presidential race is still close.
Decoder Wire Mitt Romney 'victim' remarks: a game changer? (+video)

Barack Obama's 'guns or religion' gaffe didn't flip votes. Gaffes seldom do. But many voters question whether Mitt Romney 'understands the problems of people like me' – and his claim that 47 percent of Americans 'believe they are victims' doesn't help.
Decoder Wire Romney 9/11 speech: Chance to make up for convention omission?

Romney addresses the National Guard convention Tuesday, amid lingering criticism over his decision not to mention Afghanistan or thank the troops in his address at the GOP convention.
Obama slips ahead of Romney in key polls. More than a bounce? (+video)

President Obama's post-convention poll bounce appears to be real. Some Romney supporters are worried, but he has two major advantages: an economy that continues to falter under Obama's watch and the ability to raise and spend money on campaign ads.
Briefing
Obama vs. Romney 101: 5 ways they differ on military issues

Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney has not been expansive regarding his views of the war in Afghanistan – perhaps because both he and President Obama do not have significantly different plans. But here are five areas where the candidates differ on military issues.
Tea party claims 'seat at the table' with Romney's Paul Ryan pick for VP

Tea party activists expected to be snubbed at the GOP convention. But tea partyers say they're very encouraged by Mitt Romney's selection of Rep. Paul Ryan – a leader among fiscal conservatives – to be his vice presidential running mate.
Veepstakes: Why rise of Paul Ryan, Chris Christie signals trouble for Romney

Beltway chatterers are telling Mitt Romney, who is down in the polls, he needs to go bold with his choice of running mate – and are pointing to Rep. Paul Ryan and Gov. Chris Christie.
The Vote Mitt Romney VP pick: Convention speaker list offers fresh tea leaves

Pressure is mounting on Mitt Romney to 'go bold' with his VP pick, even if the assumption is that he'll play it safe. A three-day bus tour at week's end is being eyed as a good time to make an announcement.
The Vote Romney tax returns: Harry Reid may be bluffing, but he's winning

There's no proof that Sen. Harry Reid is correct in asserting that Mitt Romney paid no taxes for 10 years. But he has succeeded in keeping the political universe focused on Romney's wealth and finances, not the struggling economy.
Will Romney release more tax returns? (+video)

Republican Presidential Candidate and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney is 'not enthusiastic' about releasing more of his tax documents. He expressed concern that the facts would be distorted by the Obama campaign. Meanwhile, Romney may be nearing a decision on his choice of running mate.
Decoder Wire Mitt Romney: Republican 'friendly fire' grows over tax returns

Romney's refusal to release more tax returns is drawing sharper barbs from members of his own party. Could the vice presidential pick stem the criticism?
Bain Capital, tax returns continue to dog Romney. Can Obama make it stick?

The Sunday TV talk shows were filled with campaign surrogates for Mitt Romney and Barack Obama arguing about Romney's income taxes and his years running Bain Capital. It's meat for political junkies, but do average voters care?
Why are all these conservatives beating up on Mitt Romney?

Mitt Romney has been taking flak from some prominent conservatives. They want to see a specific plan for the economy, and some say the fancy vacation home feeds the rich-guy image.
Decoder Wire Romney raised $100 million in June. Will that quiet conservative critics? (+video)

Mitt Romney's haul in June was a monthly record for a GOP candidate. He'll need that money in the Battle of the Ads, which will only escalate. But conservative critics are clamoring for more from their party's standard-bearer.
Romney's safe approach draws criticism from some in GOP

As President Barack Obama's campaign intensifies criticism of Romney's background, some influential Republicans charge that Romney's message on the economy and other issues is short on detail and muddled at best.
Obama invokes executive privilege to protect Eric Holder: Can he do that?

Just minutes before Congress began preparing a contempt vote against Eric Holder, Obama raised the stakes in the long-running conflict over the botched ‘Fast and Furious’ gun-walking affair by claiming executive privilege to keep tens of thousands of e-mails secret.
The Vote Mitt Romney: Is his lead really insurmountable?

Mitt Romney's team is using delegate math to make the case to his rivals that they should drop out. The former governor has about 415 delegates, with 1,144 needed to secure the nomination.
Backchannels Inside AIPAC and out, Obama's opponents turn up the heat

Attack ads from lobbying groups, warnings of nuclear doom from GOP hopefuls, and saber-rattling from the punditocracy surround AIPAC's annual meeting.
Why conservative critics are now backing Mitt Romney

Conservative Republican critics of Mitt Romney are now lining up behind him, in part because the bruising primary race is hurting the GOP in the eyes of voters, say polls.