Obama's news conference: The economy, health costs, Israel, Afghans, GOP, mosque and, oh, the economy

Full text of the Democratic president's 76-minute dialogue with the press, his first since May.

Text Of President Obama's News Conference

The news conference in the East Room of the White House was the longest of Obama's presidency.

Ten Things Dems Could Do to Win

The Nation -- Yes, the country is in a foul mood, with 15 million unemployed. The Democrats may get clobbered in 2010. And even if we survive, how do we hang on for the long term? If our great founder, FDR, could come back to us, he might remind us of the three simple rules that once, long ago, Democrats used to follow:

Hurley and family adapt

TEWKSBURY - John Hurley stares into the light of a computer screen late at night and searches for answers. He will be up for work at 4:30 a.m. while helping his sons Pat, Sean and Dan to organize their respective lives in shifts as they all care for their mother Carol, who in February of 2009 was diagnosed with the onset of Alzheimer’s.

Press Conference by President Obama

11:02 A.M. EDT THE PRESIDENT:  Have a seat, everybody.  Good morning.  Before I take your questions, I just want to talk a little bit about our continuing efforts to dig ourselves out of this recession and to grow our economy.   As I said in Cleveland on Wednesday, I ran for President because I believed the policies of the previous decade had left our economy weaker and our middle class ...

Report: Maine No.1 in welfare dependence

A conservative think tank says dependence has skyrocketed during the Baldacci administration, with enrollment growing by 70 percent since 2003.

Santa Barbara elected leaders rally in support of jail tax; activist attempts to disrupt event by blowing car horn

“ Measure S will reduce jail overcrowding,” said Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider . “It will reduce jail recidivism. It will increase public safety throughout the county.