Congressional gutcheck

September 8: When Congress reconvenes, the protesters at numerous congressional town hall meetings will begin to see just how clearly their representatives got the message. President Barack Obama has indicated he'd like Congress to restart work on stalled healthcare proposals that have both tanked his own approval ratings and emboldened his opponents.

NFL opener

September 10: Just as the regular season kicks off for the NFL with an opening day matchup between Pittsburgh and Tennessee, some reports say the $8 billion a year industry is on a collision course for a labor dispute with the NFL players union. The league's salary cap expires in seven months and many are beginning to think the 2010 season could be played sans salary limitations.

Terrorist attacks

September 11: Gavin DeGraw, The Roots, the Harlem Boys and Girls choir, singer Anjulie, and others perform in a free concert at New York's Beacon Theater marking the eighth anniversary of the attacks of 2001. President Obama signed legislation in April marking the day for the first time as a National Day of Service and Remembrance to encourage volunteerism in memory of the day's victims (more at 911DayOfService.org).

Tea Party march

September 12: Former House majority leader Dick Armey will headline an event billed as the "Tea Party" March on Washington. After the success of local "Tea Party" protests, thousands of tax protesters and frustrated conservatives will flock to the Washington Mall in the nation's capital to voice concerns over expansion of the federal government and the higher taxes that would naturally follow.

Brown imperiled

September 17: With British Prime Minister Gordon Brown fading in the polls, he could face a leadership challenge when members of the Labour Party meet for their annual conference in Brighton beginning Sept. 17. Facing withering criticism, Brown's beleaguered party trails the Conservatives in polls leading up to the next general election scheduled sometime before early June 2010.

Pawlenty in Ohio

September 19: In a prelude to a possible run for the White House in 2012, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty will head to the Buckeye State to headline the Leading Ohio Dinner, a bigwig event put on by the Ohio Republican Party. Last month, Pawlenty spoke at Florida's Statesman's Dinner, a similar event in a similarly crucial presidential battleground state.