Hillary Clinton Raises the Specter of the Unspeakable  —  Smart candidates don't invoke the possibility of their opponents being killed.  This seems so obvious it shouldn't need to be said, but apparently, it needs to be said.  —  “We all remember Bobby Kennedy was assassinated in June in California …

GOP strategists mull McCain ‘blowout’  —  It sounds crazy at first.  Amid dire reports about the toxic political environment for Republican candidates and the challenges facing John McCain, many top GOP strategists believe he can defeat Barack Obama — and by a margin exceeding President Bush's Electoral College victory in 2004.

Lack of Progress in McCain's Bid Is G.O.P. Concern  —  WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain's presidential campaign is in a troubled stretch, hindered by resignations of staff members, a lagging effort to build a national campaign organization and questions over whether he has taken full advantage …

KLEIN PLAYS THE FOOL!  Joe Klein hacked on your side this week.  Josh Marshall praised him for it:  —  IN PRAISE OF VAGUE DREAM-HEADS: This morning, we went to scope a tree house (complete with hanging bridge to the regular house!) constructed by a guy at the bagel joint for his (roughly) eight-year-old daughter.

Puerto Rico Gets Its Moment in the Sun (the Political One) as Primary Nears  —  SAN JUAN, P.R. — Puerto Rico traditionally complains of being ignored by the rest of the United States, but that has just changed, if only for the moment.  With a Democratic presidential primary to be held here on June 1 …

‘Nothing but Misogynists’  —  Hillary Clinton is now complaining that her candidacy has been harmed by sexism.  Interviewed earlier this week by the Washington Post, Sen. Clinton said the polls show that “more people would be reluctant to vote for a woman [than] to vote for an African American.”

The Wisdom In Talking  —  As President Bush commemorated Israel's 60th anniversary by attacking Barack Obama from overseas, here at home he found an all-too-frequent ally: John McCain.  —  When Bush accused “some” — including Obama, Bush aides explained — of “the false comfort of appeasement,” McCain echoed this slander.

How telecoms are attempting to buy amnesty from Congress  —  (updated below)  —  One of the benefits from the protracted battle over telecom amnesty is that it is a perfect microcosm for how our government institutions work.  And a casual review of the available evidence regarding …

Gaffe-Prone Obama: 'Thank you everybody.  It's good to be in Sunshine!'  —  How many gaffes can a politician get away with?  —  Obviously none if you're a Republican.  —  But Barack Obama can pretty much say anything and the media brushes it off.  —  Aren't double standards wonderful?

Cable Prices Keep Rising, and Customers Keep Paying  —  Americans discouraged by higher gas prices and airline fares may decide to spend more vacation time at home, perhaps watching television.  —  But that, too, will cost them more than ever.  —  Cable prices have risen 77 percent since 1996 …

Key Al Qaeda figure apparently died in U.S. strike in Pakistan  —  He's believed to be an Algerian involved in training militants and planning attacks on the West.  —  WASHINGTON — An Al Qaeda figure killed in a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan last week is believed to have been an Algerian allegedly involved …

Housing woes mount for Rep. Laura Richardson  —  FORECLOSURE: South Bay politician has three homes that have gone into default.  —  Rep. Laura Richardson, who lost her Sacramento home in a recent foreclosure auction, has also defaulted on properties in Long Beach and San Pedro, records show.

Blue America Welcomes Regina Thomas (GA-12)  —  Blue Dog (and virulent Bush Dog) John Barrow (GA-12) always thought he would be vulnerable from the right.  So he moved so far right that he's usually the Democrat most likely to vote with the GOP in the entire Democratic caucus.

Bush scales back McCain events  —  President Bush is scaling back next week's fundraising swings for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) at the request of the campaign, which wants the events closed to the press, POLITICO has learned.  —  The change — in both Arizona and Utah …