MEMORIAL DAY: A CONTRAST  —  Barack Obama must be the most gaffe-prone politician in memory.  Today, he delivered a Memorial Day speech in New Mexico.  After greeting the local Democratic Party dignitaries, he began: … Memorial Day honors those who have died in our nation's military service.

Sydney Pollack, Film Director, Is Dead at 73  —  LOS ANGELES — Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay as director, producer and sometime actor whose star-laden movies like “The Way We Were,” “Tootsie” and “Out of Africa” were among the most successful of the 1970s and '80s, died Monday at home here.

McCain says Obama has long wanted to “surrender” in Iraq  —  McCain used his Memorial Day speech today in New Mexico to pay tribute to the nation's fallen and defend his stance on the GI Bill, never mentioning Obama's name  —  But then, in an interview with AP, he ratcheted up the rhetoric …

Newsweek Buries Isikoff Scoop to Benefit Obama?  —  I'm no fan of oversimplifying the decision-making process that guides news coverage or promotion thereof, let alone promulgating conspiracy theories, but I have to ask about this:  —  Michael Isikoff's investigative piece outlining …

Bill Clinton: ‘Cover up’ hiding Hillary Clinton's chances  —  (CNN) — Former President Bill Clinton said that Democrats were more likely to lose in November if Hillary Clinton is not the nominee, and suggested some were trying to “push and pressure and bully” superdelegates to make up their minds prematurely.

A proposed solution for Fla. and Mich.  —  Here are two important neutral principles that should guide the Democratic National Committee's Rules Committee when it meets May 31 to decide whether to seat the Michigan and Florida delegations — and, if so, how to allocate them between Sens. Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Post Buyouts Come With an Emotional Cost  —  Let's not bury the lead: This is a rough time for the newspaper business, a rough time for The Washington Post and a rough time for me.  —  No one need shed any tears for the people leaving this building.  The more than 100 journalists …

Fidel Castro bashes Obama Cuba policy  —  HAVANA (AP) — Former President Fidel Castro says Sen. Barack Obama's plan to maintain Washington's trade embargo against Cuba will cause hunger and suffering on the island.  —  In a column published Monday by government-run newspapers …

The era of big Clintons is soon over  —  WASHINGTON - There's been a Clinton running for the White House or living in it for approximately forever.  Bill, it could be said, was born to run.  Running became Hillary's destiny, too.  —  One quarter of Americans have never known life without …

On the Trail, One Aide Looms Over Obama  —  In the last year, Barack Obama has learned a thing or two about running for president, and Reggie Love has learned a thing or two about Barack Obama.  —  Mr. Love now knows that when it comes to food, Senator Obama “eats pretty much anything …

Robert Novak attacks Gov. Kathleen Sebelius and a touch of John Stewart  —  The Prince of darkness returns!  Novakula dusts off his old weather beaten type writer to give us his idiotic tirade against the very popular Sebelius.  Here's their response to Novak. … Wow, she supports women's rights.

Peacekeepers ‘abusing children’  —  Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.  —  Children in post-conflict areas are being abused by the very people drafted into such zones to help look after them, says Save the Children.

Dead Troops Remembered By President Who Had Them Killed  —  Yes, that's a harsh headline for this piece.  —  But I'll ask you to forgive me because, as a Veteran, there isn't a day on the calendar that causes my hatred — and I do indeed mean hatred — of George W. Bush to bubble over the top more than Memorial Day.

Texas needs two senators who will back our veterans  —  John Cornyn failed to stand up for our troops — I will  —  Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed Sen. Jim Webb's, D-Va., expanded version of the GI Bill, ensuring educational benefits for all service members, including activated National Guard …

YouTube suit called threat to online communication  —  NEW YORK - A $1 billion copyright infringement lawsuit challenging YouTube's ability to keep copyrighted material off its popular video-sharing site threatens how hundreds of millions of people exchange all kinds of information on the Internet, YouTube owner Google Inc. said.