Depressingly stupid goddamn journalism  —  Dear Dr. Atrios.  I have a good Wanker of the Day nominee for you.  His name is Jake Tapper and he's (tragically) a senior national correspondent at ABC.  He's also apparently illiterate.  Check it: … Or perhaps you should actually read …

Obama: Most Liberal Senator In 2007  —  Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., was the most liberal senator in 2007, according to National Journal's 27th annual vote ratings.  The insurgent presidential candidate shifted further to the left last year in the run-up to the primaries …

Rally for Romney  —  I have spent nearly four decades in the conservative movement — from precinct worker to the Reagan White House.  I campaigned for Reagan in 1976 and 1980.  I served in several top positions during the Reagan administration, including chief of staff to Attorney General Edwin Meese.

Clinton and Obama go one-on-one in tonight's debate  —  LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama will duel for Super Tuesday votes Thursday night as the Democratic presidential hopefuls face off for the first time together minus former Sen. John Edwards.

Sources: Al Qaeda's No. 3 man killed  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — A senior al Qaeda terrorist active in operational planning and training has been killed in Pakistan, a knowledgeable Western official and an unnamed military source said Thursday.  —  The official identified the terrorist as Abu Laith al-Libi …

The Choice  —  It's gotten to that time in the primary contest where lines are drawn, camps are solidified and conversations around dinner tables grow heated.  My friend Dan recently put it this way: “You start talking about the candidates, and next thing you know someone's crying!”

Ted Olson  —  Ted Olson, fomer U.S. Solicitor General and conservative legal icon, has just informed me that he is endorsing John McCain.

Obama's Muslim Summit  —  Reuters reports that if Barack Obama becomes President, he'll hold a summit with all leaders of Muslim countries: … Is he planning on doing this before or after bombing Pakistan?  Because that could have an effect on that gap he's talking about.

How One News Organization Handled the Edwards and Giuliani Stories  —  Now some fresh pickings from the Political Grapevine:  —  Post Mortem  —  This is what the Associated Press wrote today about John Edwards' decision to drop out of the presidential race.

MOVEON POLLS OPEN TO FIERCE DEBATE...  It's on.  MoveOn's endorsement primary began Thursday, as hundreds of thousands of activists are expected to cast virtual ballots deciding whether the netroots group will formally back Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama.  The ballots ask people to pick a candidate …

Poll: Clinton, McCain leading in Minnesota  —  With just five days until Minnesota's precinct caucuses, a new statewide poll shows Republican John McCain and Democrat Hillary Clinton leading in the race for president.  The Minnesota Public Radio News/Humphrey Institute poll shows McCain …

Obama: Decriminalize pot  —  Last fall during a nationally televised presidential debate, Sen. Barack Obama hesitantly raised his hand and joined with most of his Democratic rivals to declare that he opposed decriminalizing marijuana.  (Play video)  —  But as a candidate for the U.S. Senate …

Can Friends of Israel—and Jews—Trust Obama?  —  In a word, Yes.  —  Florida, of course, is a different story, but back in Iowa there was no need for Barack Obama or any other candidate to worry about the Jewish vote.  There are 7,000 Jews in the entire state, including 100 Hassidim …

Do Not Pass Go.  Get to the Hospital.  —  I would recommend that anybody who needs some kind of medical procedure go ahead with it now just in case the Democrats win the Oval Office.  I have never heard so much socialist pablum as I am hearing tonight from these two on nationalizing the health care industry.