Former Republican speechwriter and game show host Ben Stein likely won't be invited back on Fox & Friends any time soon after the conservative economist dropped a megaton truth bomb in the studio earlier this morning.

Grover Norquist, head of Americans for Tax Reform, is the guy who makes most Republican members of Congress sign a pledge never to raise taxes, making him one of the more powerful people in Washington. But today he's confirmed that there's a loophole in his pledge — one that's potentially worth $4 trillion in new tax revenue! Washington is too weird.

The White House has maintained its unwavering promise that the President won't sign any major deficit reduction deal without substantial revenue increases. Much of this could come through closing tax loopholes and canceling ending major subsidies, but obviously the cornerstone of the White House's call for more revenues is to return the highest two income tax bracket rates to their Clinton-era levels. But yet again, it's starting to sound like that's being put on hold.

The Senate is voting on whether to move forward with President Obama's tax compromise, and will likely approve it. But how is this grab-bag of taxcuttery even polling? Quite well! Not necessarily for its contents, though.

Barack Obama just announced his final deal with Republican leaders on extending the Bush tax cuts, unemployment benefits, and other issues, after secret negotiations. Here are the details. In short: There won't be much government revenue next year.

The House has passed middle-class-only tax cut extensions, 234-188. Now they're censuring Charlie Rangel!

Incoming House Speaker John Boehner isn't happy with House Democrats' tricky plan to force a vote — expected this afternoon — on extending middle-class tax cuts only. You can tell he's mad when he starts calling things "chickencrap."

All 42 Senate Republicans have signed a very strongly worded letter pledging to block all legislation until George W. Bush's tax cuts are renewed. Suck on that, people whose unemployment insurance expires today! And who will name the post offices?

Democrats said just last week that they'd focus their lame duck legislative efforts on renewing the Bush tax cuts for the middle class only. So it's likely that they'll soon cave entirely to Republi— oh look, they already did.

The Democrats have found themselves a fresh new cliff to drive over, everyone! Yesterday the party leadership decided not to vote on extending middle-class Bush tax cuts before election day. That just would've mobilized their supporters too much, you see?

Intentionally annoying Sen. Joe Lieberman feels relevant again! Today he said "I will do everything I can" to stop Democrats from allowing Bush's upper-class tax cuts to expire. Everything? Will he streak around the Capitol's south lawn wearing diapers? Probably.

Beautifully tanned House minority leader John Boehner strangely went off-message on CBS' Face the Nation yesterday, by apparently agreeing to Barack Obama's plan for extending certain Bush tax cuts. What is wrong with him?

The Democrats will need complete party cohesion to pass Barack Obama's extension of all Bush tax cuts except those for the top two income brackets. But now, predictably, Sen. Ben Nelson and other Democratic "centrists" are voicing their bullshit opposition.

Barack Obama gave a solid speech in Ohio today, attacking Republican policies and obstructionism, and outlining several new economic initiatives. Reporters are giddy over his new tone of "populism," which is... what, exactly?

Members of Congress are finally heading back to their jobs after an entire month of summer vacation. And, to their disgust, they have important work ahead: determining the future of the expiring Bush tax cuts. What will they do?