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.

Election 2008: Kentucky Senate  —  Kentucky Senate: Lunsford (D) 49% McConnell (R) 44%  —  The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey of the Kentucky Senate race shows Democratic challenger Bruce Lunsford with a five percentage point lead over long-time Republican Senator Mitch McConnell.

The Running Mate Choice  —  My first thought on the running mate question is that to balance his ticket, Barack Obama should pick a really old white general.  Therefore, he should pick Dwight Eisenhower.  John McCain, on the other hand, needs to pick someone younger than himself.

Democrats ‘very close’ to end  —  Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton Tuesday begin the final sprint in their epic battle for the Democratic presidential nomination, with the windup contests one week away and the Illinois senator inching closer and closer to victory.

No Clear Map For Clinton's Political Future  —  In August 1980, with no hope left of winning the nomination, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy conceded defeat to incumbent Jimmy Carter in the Democratic presidential race.  —  “For me, a few hours ago, this campaign came to an end,” Kennedy said at the Democratic National Convention in New York.

Obama Wins ‘Rock The Vote’ TouchTone Survey  —  Among other constituencies, Barack Obama appears to have won over the nation's bar crowd—the majority of which said they'd rather toast a win with Obama as opposed to Hillary Clinton or John McCain, according to the latest Rock the Vote survey.

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 …

McCain Trumpets Independence From Bush, Except for Fundraising  —  John McCain's challenge in winning the presidency isn't unique.  George H.W. Bush in 1988 and Al Gore in 2000 also struggled to chisel an identity separate from a two- term incumbent president of their party.

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 …

Nuclear Agency Accuses Iran of Willful Lack of Cooperation  —  PARIS — The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an unusually blunt and detailed report, said Monday that Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern” …

Obama Talks of Family's Military Service  —  From CBS News' Maria Gavrilovic:  —  LAS CRUCES, N.M. — Despite not having served in the military himself, Barack Obama used his Memorial Day remarks to speak about his family's service.  “My grandfather marched in Patton's army …

How Bush Sold the War  —  In the fall of 2003, a few months after Saddam Hussein's overthrow, U.S. officials began to despair of finding stockpiles of Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.  The resulting embarrassment caused a radical shift in administration rhetoric about the war in Iraq.

Republicans Are in Denial  —  As congressional Republicans contemplate the prospect of an electoral disaster this November, much is being written about the supposed soul-searching in the Republican Party.  A more accurate description of our state is paralysis and denial.