Health-care debate reaches its final lap: My bet is that the president will find his votes. If only Ted Kennedy were still here to be one of them. | Susan Estrich/Rasmussen Reports

Jihad Jane, international woman of mystery: Does this drab housewife really represent the changing face of terrorism? | Froma Harrop/Rasmussen Reports

It's time for black leaders to lead: Instead of hosting forums, perhaps they should be promoting a vision – one with a consistent, inspirational message and down-to-earth, step-by-step methods. | Sylvester Brown  Jr./New American Media

Real genius in D.C.: In Washington, the national pastime is not baseball but gotcha. And the more you try to do, the more likely you are to be gotten. | Susan Estrich/Rasmussen Reports

Want a model for a group to mentor young African-American males? Look to St. Louis  Twenty-six years ago the Rev. C. Garnett Henning of St. Paul A.M. E. Church set up “a manhood, leadership and development group” that is still at work today. | George Curry, NNPA Columnist

Lt. gov. pick will tell a lot about state Democrats : Will Quinn take a leadership role? Will downstate get a nod? Will the person have budget experience? | Bloomington Pantagraph, editorial

Redevelopment bond numbers don't add up : The plan to help a Glen Carbon development looks like a windfall for the Legoland-plus development and a loss for the state and surrounding municipalities. | Belleville News Democrat, editorial

Illinois doesn't need a lieutenant governor - at least not one that has no ties to the gubernatorial candidate or government experience. | Eric Zorn, Chicago Tribune

Pat Robertson's canard about Haiti making a pact with the devil repeats a myth that Europeans have used to belittle the country. | Thomas Rogers, Salon

New chant of Iranian protesters is "Death to no one!": Thirty years after American hostages were taken, young Iranians are raising a gentle accusatory finger at their own parental generation. | Hamid Dabashi/CNN

In defense if the National Health Service. Criticism of the British health-care system is not only often mistaken, it blinds Americans to the faults within their own method of providing and paying for medical care. | The Economist

Tighter capital requirements. As consumers still clammer for access to credit and banks appear ready to pump up the bonuses again, governments have few options but to require a capital buffer that will protect against loss. | The Economist