Clinton defends Obama from Bush  —  Hillary, today in Rapid City, South Dakota, defended Obama from President Bush's apparent comparison of him to Neville Chamberlain, Ken Vogel reports.  —  She told reporters: … “There is a very clear difference between Democrats and Republicans …

California Supreme Court Overturns Gay Marriage Ban  —  The California Supreme Court, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, ruled on Thursday that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.  —  The 4-to-3 decision …

TOO HARD A BALL  —  Right-Wing Radio yakker crashes and burns like the Hindenburg while trying to talk about appeasement ...

McCain adviser ousted in conflict uproar  —  John McCain's campaign asked a prominent Republican consultant, Craig Shirley, to leave his official campaign role Thursday after a Politico inquiry about Shirley's dual role consulting for the campaign and for an independent “527” group opposing the Democratic presidential candidates.

Women Threaten Obama Boycott  —  FROM GUEST-BLOGGER RICK KLEIN, OF ABC'S THE NOTE  —  I've posted a few times in the last two days about female supporters of Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton who are angry — at the Democratic Party, at the Obama campaign, or at the general situation that sees …

House Republicans Collapse on Iraq  —  Today, about 100 House Republicans refused to vote for more war funding, voting ‘present’.  They are trying to hand off the war to the Democrats, but even Democrats were able to increase their ‘no’ vote number on funding from 141 to 149; the bill failed.

Conyers: 'We're closing in on Rove'  —  Just off the House floor today, the Crypt overheard House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers tell two other people: “We're closing in on Rove.  Someone's got to kick his ass.”  —  Asked a few minutes later for a more official explanation …

How Bush's grandfather helped Hitler's rise to power  —  Rumours of a link between the US first family and the Nazi war machine have circulated for decades.  Now the Guardian can reveal how repercussions of events that culminated in action under the Trading with the Enemy Act are still being felt by today's president

Re: The Obama Campaign Goes Completely Insane  —  I completely concur with John.  The President's speech was a beautiful, eloquent address celebrating the birth of the Jewish state.  Here is the offending passage: … Obama's faux anger in reaction to Bush's speech is ludicrous.

Mom indicted in deadly MySpace hoax  —  LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — A Missouri woman was indicted Thursday for her alleged role in perpetrating a hoax on the online social network MySpace against a 13-year-old neighbor who committed suicide.  —  Lori Drew, of suburban St. Louis …