Stephanopoulos defends debate performance: ‘We asked tough but appropriate questions’  —  Despite criticism, ABC's George Stephanopoulos defended his performance in last night's Democratic debate, which he co-moderated with Charles Gibson.  —  “We asked tough but appropriate questions,” Stephanopoulos told me by phone this afternoon.

For senior, abortion a medium for art, political discourse  —  Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement.  —  Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself …

VOTE FOR BARACK OBAMA  —  THE CHOICE in Tuesday's Democratic presidential primary is not only the one between a white woman and a black man.  It's a choice between the past and the future.  —  More specifically, the nation must decide how to face the future racing toward us in the form …

No Whining About the Media  —  Three quick points on the Democratic debate last night:  —  First, Democrats, and especially Obama supporters, are going to jump all over ABC for the choice of topics: too many gaffe questions, not enough policy questions.  —  I understand the complaints, but I thought the questions were excellent.

Obama on debate: ‘Sen. Clinton looked in her element’  —  Just now in Raleigh, Obama took issue with ABC News' conduct during last night's debate, and used it to link Clinton to traditional political tactics.

Democratic Operative Takes on McCain's Age  —  Despite a recent promise from Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean not to make Sen. John McCain's age — he turns 72 in August — an issue in the presidential campaign, a senior Democratic operative has started a new website designed to draw attention to just that fact.

How Not To Unify The Party  —  Our friend Markos approvingly quotes this offensive comment: … It is bizarre that any Dem who wants to win in November with a unified Party would quote that approvingly.  For the record, would “not a Dem” say this? … (Emphasis supplied.)  I wonder who the real Dems are.

Another Notable Debate Freak-Out [Dan Collins; UPDATED, with verified Jeff G sighting]  —  At the HuffPo, Jeffrey Feldman entitles his bad acid diary entry, “Et Tu, ABC?”  —  This casts Obama as Julius Caesar, and ABC as Brutus, which is psychologically interesting in and of itself …

Congress May Seek Criminal Probe of Altered Earmark  —  The Senate moved yesterday toward asking the Justice Department for a criminal investigation of a $10 million legislative earmark whose provisions were mysteriously altered after Congress gave final approval to a huge 2005 highway funding bill.