In Book, Ex-Spokesman Has Harsh Words for Bush  —  PHOENIX — President Bush “convinces himself to believe what suits his needs at the moment,” and has engaged in “self-deception” to justify his political ends, Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary, writes in a critical new memoir about his years in the West Wing.

RELEASE THE MEMOIRS!... There was a hint last November that Scott McClellan's memoir was going to be unrelenting on George Bush, Karl Rove and the gang, but that was quickly dismissed as overhyped.  The book is now on the verge of being released, and in fact was on sale over the weekend at D.C.-area bookstores.

WHERE IN THE WORLD IS AUSCHWITZ?  —  AUSCHWITZ, JANUARY 1945. … IN AN ATTEMPT TO BURNISH HIS CREDENTIALS WITH AMERICA'S VETERANS, BARACK OBAMA HAS FREQUENTLY TALKED ABOUT HIS GRANDFATHER “WHO SERVED IN PATTON'S ARMY.”  HE HAS NOW ADDED A NEW EPISODE TO HIS WORLD WAR II REPERTOIRE: THE UNCLE WHO LIBERATED AUSCHWITZ.

Obama rejects McCain's proposal for a joint trip to Iraq  —  Even more amusing than Maverick's savviness in forcing this choice on him is TPM straining to spin it as some sort of manifestation of principle — a standard Obama reaction whenever he weasels out of some tough decision …