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.

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.

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 …

The empire's hypocritical politics  —  IT would be dishonest of me to remain silent after hearing the speech Obama delivered on the afternoon of May 23 at the Cuban American National Foundation created by Ronald Reagan.  I listened to his speech, as I did McCain's and Bush's.

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 …

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.

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 …

Bernier resigns  —  Prime Minister Stephen Harper has accepted the resignation of his embattled foreign affairs minister over an apparent security breach involving cabinet documents.  —  Mr. Harper told an extraordinary new conference on Parliament Hill that Maxime Bernier's controversial relationship …