Biden Punks Crocker: ‘I Would Therefore Pick Al Qaeda on The Afghanistan-Pakistan Border’  —  There was once a blog called Joe Biden Is Thugged Out.  (I swear this is true.)  Biden just proved why.  He asked Ryan Crocker, who used to be ambassador to Pakistan, whether it would be better …

Jay defends endorsement of Sen. Obama  —  Sen. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., defended his decision to make an endorsement in the race for president during an interview with Gazette editors on Monday.  —  Rockefeller said some have criticized him for endorsing Sen. Barack Obama before the West Virginia primary in May.

Obama supporter Oprah takes a big dive  —  Much hay was made nearly a year ago when Oprah Winfrey announced that she would support — and campaign for — Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama.  Her effect in boosting support for Obama in early primary and caucus states like Iowa …

Grover Norquist Endorses Condi Rice for Veep  —  No speaker goes to conservative activist Grover Norquist's Wednesday breakfast meeting without a purpose.  And so it was with Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice two weeks ago when she convinced a rapt audience — without even raising the possibility …

The Coming Tax Bomb  —  As the presidential campaign enters its final stages, there will be increased debate over budget priorities and how they will be paid for.  Many commentators and political leaders, including Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, believe that tax increases are needed …

Michelle Obama speaks at presidential rally in Skibo Gym  —  Only a week after her husband drew throngs to Soldiers and Sailors, Michelle Obama wooed a small crowd at Skibo Gymnasium on Wednesday.  —  Skibo's risers were packed with community members and students from many of Pittsburgh's universities.

Obama, 2000: Not A Lot Of “Ideological Differences” With Bobby Rush  —  In yesterday's conversation with Time's Joe Klein (transcript here) I noted that when then Illinois State Senator Barack Obama ran against incumbent Congressman Bobby Rush in the 2000 Democratic primary …

Absolut vodka pulls ad showing California in Mexico  —  MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The distillers of Sweden's Absolut vodka have withdrawn an advertisement run in Mexico that angered many U.S. citizens by idealizing an early 19th century map showing chunks of the United States as Mexican.

Lee Hamilton denies Michael Mukasey's claim about 9/11  —  I just received the following statement from the Vice Chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Rep. Lee Hamilton, in response to my inquiries last week (and numerous follow-up inquiries from readers here) about Attorney General Michael Mukasey's claims …

The 10 Pieces of U.S. Infrastructure We Must Fix Now  —  No one can predict what bridge, levee or water main will fail next.  But some problems are widely known, and work is long overdue.  As PM's new special report makes blatantly clear, we need to begin rebuilding the nation's infrastructure somewhere.

Surprising Political Endorsements By U.S. Troops  —  American Soldiers Speak Out About Their Presidential Endorsements  —  ABC's Martha Raddatz asked American soldiers in Iraq what issues are most important to them when looking at the presidential candidates.