Midday Open Thread

• Nine U.S. and NATO soldiers were killed over the weekend in Afghanistan.
• Pakastani police arrested a suspect in the killing of WSJ journalist Daniel Pearl.
• The remains of Navy Pilot Scott Speicher have been positively identified. Capt. Speicher had been missing since his plane was shot down over Iraq in 1991.
• John McCain says he is "back and forth" on whether to vote to confirm Judge Sotomayor.
• Time is running out for tens of thousands of unemployed U.S. workers.
• Media Matters is planning to run attack ads on CNN, aimed at Lou Dobbs and his obsession with "birthers."
• Also. After rumors started flying about the Palins being on the verge of divorce, Sarah Palin's spokesperson - Meg Stapleton - dropped a note on Facebook.

  No Truth to Latest Rumors
  Yesterday at 1:50pm
  Yet again, some so-called journalists have decided to make up a story. There is no truth to the recent “story” (and story is the correct term for this type of fiction) that the Palins are divorcing. The Palins remain married, committed to each other and their family, and have not purchased land in Montana (last week it was reported to be Long Island).

  Less than one week ago, Governor Palin asked the media to “quit making things up.” We appreciate that the more professional journalists decided to question this story before repeating it.

  Meg Stapleton

• Paul McCartney performed in DC last night and dedicated the classic Michelle to the First Lady.