GOP sees Rev. Wright as pathway to victory  —  For months, Republican party officials have watched with increasing trepidation as Barack Obama has shattered fundraising records, packed arena after arena with shrieking fans and pulled in significant Republican and independent votes.

Questions About Obama  —  For the first time in two months, Democrats who had concluded that Barack Obama had sewn up the nomination, Democrats who support Barack Obama, Democrats who had concluded, as I had, that the mathematics work against Hillary Clinton, are filling my inbox and voice mail …

Paul slighted by the ‘neoconservative’ GOP  —  Ron Paul says the legions of newcomers his presidential campaign brought to the Republican Party are getting the cold shoulder from John McCain and from the party.  —  The Texas congressman says neither he nor his supporters have heard …

Cheney On Two-Thirds Of The American Public Opposing The Iraq War: ‘So?’  —  This morning, on the fifth anniversary of the Iraq invasion, ABC's Good Morning America aired an interview with Vice President Cheney on the war.  During the segment, Cheney flatly told White House correspondent Martha Raddatz …

Bear's Run-Up Sets the Stage For Epic Clash  —  Speculators Ignite Rally, Driving Shares Up 23%; Disbelief on Deal Price  —  Investors aren't ready to give up on the Bear just yet.  —  Betting that J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. will have to pay up to seal its fire-sale deal to acquire Bear Stearns Cos. …

PATERSON GAL'S TAPE SHOCKER  —  OLYMPICS BABE BARES RECORDING & JOB ‘HE GOT ME’  —  An attractive Olympic gold-medalist says she had a close personal relationship with Gov. Paterson earlier this year - during which time she recorded a series of secret telephone conversations with him.

Gleanings  —  Mmmmmmm.  Sockpuppetty goodness: … Yes, Gleen(s), manufactured out of the rhetorical opportunities created by you and likeminded individuals who were eager to demagogue the Hagee issue.  The only double standard in question is the one that causes you to believe …

Lame duck reporters are bored  —  When White House press secretary Dana Perino appeared on “The Daily Show” last week, host Jon Stewart asked how she got the day off: “Did they not need press secretarying today?”  —  These days, with President Bush largely relegated to the sidelines rather …

Choose, or Lose in November  —  WE Democrats have a problem, but it's one we can fix.  —  We are blessed with two fine candidates, but it's entirely possible that when primary season ends on June 3, we will still lack a clear nominee.  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton could each still believe …

The Mystery of Global Warming's Missing Heat  —  Listen Now  —  · Some 3,000 scientific robots that are plying the ocean have sent home a puzzling message.  These diving instruments suggest that the oceans have not warmed up at all over the past four or five years.

A Good Name Dragged Down  —  Consumers Get Tangled In Terrorist Watchlist  —  One man went into a Glen Burnie, Md., Toyota dealership to buy a car, only to be told that a name check revealed he was on a U.S. Treasury Department watchlist of suspected terrorists and drug dealers.

Sharpton supporting Barack - silently  —  The Rev. Al Sharpton is backing Barack Obama, but he's made the strategic decision to keep his support quiet.  —  That's the message Sharpton delivered to his flock last Saturday as he boasted of talking to Obama “two or three times a week” …