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 …

They Need More White People  —  The Tartan, Carnegie Mellon's student newspaper, reports on a campaign event featuring Michelle Obama: … The Obama campaign discriminates against people of color, and their own supporters no less, in what is presumably a misguided pander to white voters.

Report: Jimmy Carter to Meet With Hamas Leader in Syria  —  NEW YORK CITY — Former President Jimmy Carter is reportedly preparing an unprecedented meeting with the leader of Hamas, an organization that the U.S. government considers one of the leading terrorist threats in the world.

NYT Mag On Matthews: The Excerpts  —  Earlier: Forthcoming?  NYT Mag Piece on Matthews.  —  Earlier: Leibovich Dishes On Matthews  —  Earlier: NYT Mag On Matthews: NBC Forced Chris To Apologize.  —  We've got an advanced copy of Mark Leibovich's piece on Chris Matthews, entitled “Chris Matthews, Seriously.

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.

Joe Klein from Time Magazine on Barack Obama's positions.  —  HH: Joined now by Joe Klein of Time Magazine, knows all, sees all, comments on all from Time Magazine, sometimes at their blog, the Swamp[land], often in his column.  Joe, welcome back, good to have you on the Hugh Hewitt Show.

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 …

In Justice Shift, Corporate Deals Replace Trials  —  WASHINGTON — In 2005, federal authorities concluded that a Monsanto consultant had visited the home of an Indonesian official and, with the approval of a senior company executive, handed over an envelope stuffed with hundred-dollar bills.

More Good News: Seattle Times Axes 200  —  The “team” responsible for tossing litter onto my lawn every so often grew smaller today.  Seattle Times to Cut Approximately 200 Employees via The Stranger “Seattle's Only Newspaper”  —  A memo just promulgated onto the web by the odious “Stranger” …

What Is the Cost of Freedom?  —  Surprise, surprise.  Having failed to penetrate General Petraeus's story about the great improvements on the ground in Iraq, liberals are now trying to make the case that the cost of the Iraq war may have somehow undermined the economy, and even caused the current slowdown.

Gallup Daily: Obama Maintains Lead in Democratic Race  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama continues to hold a significant lead over Hillary Clinton, 51% to 43%, in Democratic voters' presidential nomination preferences.  —  Gallup Poll Daily tracking from April 5-7 shows Obama …

Run, Condi, Run!  —  Oh, please; oh, please; oh, please.  I know it's undignified to beg, but please let John McCain pick Condoleezza Rice as his running mate.  —  I know that this campaign has already bestowed an embarrassment of riches upon those of us who are paid to watch and listen.

Why Iraq Matters  —  Losing wars is always bad.  One of the major reasons for America's current global predominance economically and politically is that America doesn't lose wars very often.  It seems likely, however, that the American people are about to be told that they have to decide …

U.S. intel: AQ mastermind of London bombings, British airline plot dead  —  Predator missile strike?  Delta Force hit-and-run deep behind enemy lines?  Nope.  Better: … Never heard of him?  Most people haven't.  The Times devoted a few paragraphs to him in a story last May about the next generation …

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.