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 …

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.

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.

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.