Primary money  —  The money that counts in a Democratic primary is that raised in chunks of $2,300 or less.  Everything over that may be a sign of general election strength, or a mark that you have rich friends, but it's not getting spent on TV in Iowa or early voting programs in California.

Obama leads — in cash  —  $32 million in the second quarter will allow him to 'vigorously' compete in important early states  —  WASHINGTON — White House hopeful Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) beat chief rival Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) in second-quarter fund-raising …

Michael Gordon trains his stenographer weapons on Iran  —  The Bush administration's most reliable pro-surge "reporter," Michael Gordon of The New York Times, this morning filed an article — headlined: "U.S. Ties Iranians to Iraq Attack That Killed G.I.'s" — that might be the most war-fueling article yet with regard to Iran.

U.S. plays down report of imminent al Qaeda attack  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Monday played down a report that al Qaeda was planning a spectacular attack on the United States, saying there was no credible information about an imminent threat.