Free Republic

As he retreats to Camp David for a final summer getaway, President Barack Obama is mapping out a post- Labor Day plan to regain the political offensive, including a private meeting next Tuesday with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid . After taking office with a two-thirds approval rating, Obama has watched it slip closer to 50 percent. Over the summer, he lost ground on the health care debate and other aspects of his crowded agenda, and his dealings with Congress — controlled by fellow Democrats — also worsened as worries increased about losses in next...

The U.S. dollar is getting a boost from the slide in the euro caused by voters' resounding rejection of a European constitution in France and the Netherlands. The respite from the dollar's three-year tailspin offers a bit of hope for travelers who are looking to hold down the shocking cost of a European vacation since the dollar lost nearly half its value against the euro at the end of last year. "Americans will eat out more in Paris, buy more Burberry coats in London and more diamonds in Amsterdam," said Bob Whitley, president of the U.S. Tour Operators Association. The...