Politics

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Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio exits after announcing July 17, 2012, in Phoenix that President Obama's birth certificate, as presented by the White House in April 2011, is a forgery based on an investigation by the Sheriff's office. (Associated Press)

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Syrian President Bashar Assad (left) stands next to Gen. Dawoud Rajha (right), Syria's defense minister, during a ceremony to mark the 38th anniversary of the October 1973 Arab-Israeli war, in Damascus, Syria, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/SANA)

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Washington Nationals SS Ian Desmond celebrates July 17, 2012, after scoring in the bottom of the ninth inning of the Nationals' 5-4, 10-inning win against the New York Mets at Nationals Park in Washington. (Ryan M.L. Young/The Washington Times)

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Ross Detwiler pitches during the Washington Nationals game against the New York Mets at Nationals Park, Washington D.C.,Tuesday, July 17, 2012. (Ryan M.L. Young/The Washington Times)

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Former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul A. Volcker (left) and former New York Lt. Gov. Richard Ravitch’s State Budget Crisis Task Force’s report says states’ financial problems aren’t just a result of the recession and slow recovery, but have built up over years. As an example, state and local government pension plans are at least $1 trillion short of what they need to pay for their pension promises. (Rod Lamkey Jr./The Washington Times)

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“The 4% Solution: Unleashing the Economic Growth America Needs” is the first book released by The Bush Institute. (The Bush Institute)

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Former Vice President Dick Cheney, who also served five terms as Wyoming’s representative in the U.S. House, returns to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet with Senate Republican leaders at a political strategy luncheon. He is accompanied by Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming (left), the Republican Policy Committee chairman. (Associated Press)

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**FILE** GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks at an event at Horizontal Wireline Services in Irwin, Pa., on July 17, 2012. Pennsylvania is considered a battleground state, even though the state went for the Democrats in 2008. (Associated Press)

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Mitt Romney presses the flesh during a campaign event Tuesday in Irwin, Pa., at Horizontal Wireline Services. In his remarks, he said President Obama has a fundamental misunderstanding of business. (Associated Press)

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GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney speaks at an event at Horizontal Wireline Services in Irwin, Pa., on Tuesday. Some GOP strategists say Mr. Romney has been slow to respond to attacks by the president and his allies, and needs to go on offense. (Associated Press)