The Week - In a group photo with world leaders, Obama's waving hand blocks the face of Mongolia's president — and incites a fresh round of internet ridicule

The Week - After years of frustrating Israel and its supporters, the U.S. president finally takes a firm stand — though his motives are suspect

Politico - Opinion: Not only is Mitt Romney smart, principled, conservative and experienced; he's also electable.

The Week - The GOP frontrunner verbally assaults the president, arguing that Obama's Mideast policy is hurting Israel. Would President Perry do any better?

The Week - It's a given that much of the GOP will oppose the president's plan to raise taxes — but it's possible that some centrist Democrats might balk, too

Politico - Opinion: Will Obama stick to this course and can it make a positive difference? Yes, and yes.

The Nation - The Nation -- For the past week, Rep. Michele Bachmann has tried to revive her flagging presidential campaign by turning a HPV vaccine into a Tea Party litmus test. During a debate on Monday, Bachmann tore into front-runner Gov. Rick Perry for his 2007 executive order that would have required all sixth grade girls in Texas to get the Gardasil vaccine, unless their parents opted out of their program.

The Nation - The Nation -- Texas Governor Rick Perry stood out Wednesday morning at his speech to leaders of religious Jewish and pro-Israel organizations at the W hotel near Union Square in Manhattan. Standing in front of a group of bearded, mostly yarmulke wearing men -- and they were almost all men -- Perry emceed the event, speaking first and then introducing a string of increasingly minor figures.

The Week - President Obama's support among American Jews has dropped 28 percentage points since his inauguration, and his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu "started off scratchy — and went downhill from there," says John Heilemann in New York magazine. Obama's political team is rightly worried — and a bit perplexed. Going all-out for Israel at the United Nations this week (the president has threatened a U.S. veto of a U.N.-recognized Palestinian state), "Obama is the best friend Israel has right now." Indeed, since his first day in office, Obama has been "every bit as pro-Israel as the country's own prime minister — and, if you look from the proper angle, maybe even more so." Here, an excerpt.

The Week - The GOP presidential frontrunner and the last GOP president have known each other a long time — and their relationship has reportedly gone from bad to worse

The Week - Judging by his plans for job creation and deficit reduction, the president has given up on policy accomplishments in favor of playing politics

AP - Taiwan, China and Congress won't be cheering the Obama administration's decision to upgrade Taiwan's fleet of F-16 fighter jets but not sell it new planes. But it may be a compromise they can all live with.

Politico - Opinion: The broad middle class — the triumph and strength of America’s democracy — is sinking.  

Politico - Opinion: The deficit deal is unlikely to deliver big reductions in defense spending in coming years.

The Weekly Standard - To find a metaphor for the failed Obama presidency, look no further than Solyndra. Before it went bankrupt, the solar panel manufacturer was more than the recipient of a $535 million loan guarantee from the federal government. It was the model for the White House effort to put the American economy on a “new foundation.”

Politico - Opinion: Despite both men's abundance of promise, they are now bound by their own collapse.

The Week - Chicago Tribune columnist Steve Chapman suggests the president ought to quit while he's behind

The Week - The president wants a new tax rate for wealthy Americans — inspired by billionaire Warren Buffett, who pays a lower tax rate than his secretary

Politico - Opinion: Investments in information technology spending can yield big gains in productivity.

The Week - Kevin Keller is marrying Mr. Right, and some critics think that's very wrong

The Week - A new poll names the Secretary of State the best liked politician in the U.S. What's behind the recent good will?

The Week - The hardline conservative blogosphere insists the first lady badmouthed the flag — even though no one heard what she said

The Week - The decidedly unauthorized new Palin bio is full of unflattering, thinly-sourced gossip — leading the "lamestream media" to rally to Palin's defense

The Week - James Carville argues that Obama needs to clean house, indict bankers, and panic — lest we wind up with "a crazy person running our nation"