Friday evening must-reads

U.S. braces for S&P downgrade

Insatiable mortgage giant wants more

Good news from Washington: Obama's birthday party was AWESOME

MSM welcomes lowest labor force participation rates since 1984 as "good news"

Average length of unemployment surges to new high: 40.4 weeks

Can Obama's reelection hope live on 9% unemployment?

Michelle Malkin: Schooling Matt Damon

Rich Lowry: The war on lemonade stands

Pawlenty reverses on marriage pledge

The left's everlasting talking point: Why the "gender gap" will never go away

Gallup: Tea party rivals self-described liberals

Italy considers its own balanced budget amendment

Anti-Zionist smear: The Norway terrorist was no friend of Israel

Q: What exactly is President Obama doing to help the economy? A: Er, uh... I dunno.

Have a great weekend!