McClellan: WH wanted him to stay silent  —  Former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, speaking out for the first time since publication of his searing memoir, told NBC's “Today” show on Thursday that he erroneously believed what President Bush was saying about the war but now is answering …

Pelosi Credits Iran's “Goodwill” for Surge Success  —  In an interview yesterday with the San Francisco Chronicle, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi claimed the U.S. troop surge failed to accomplish its goal.  She then partially credited the success of the troop surge to “the goodwill of the Iranians …

Obama “deeply disappointed” in Father Michael Pfleger.  UPDATE Pfleger apology.  —  WASHINGTON—Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) said in a statement he was “deeply disappointed” in Father Michael Pfleger, after the priest —in a scene caught on videotape— mocked Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y) …

McCain's Negatives Mostly Political, Obama's More Personal  —  Clinton Backers Cool to Obama - White Female Support in Question  —  Overview  —  As the end of the primary season draws near, Barack Obama is the clear favorite of Democratic voters for their party's presidential nomination.

George Bush Authorized the Leak of Valerie Wilson's Identity  —  Scottie McC doesn't know it yet.  But that's basically what he revealed this morning on the Today Show (h/t Rayne).  —  During the interview, Scottie revealed the two things that really pissed him off with the Bush Administration.

Google Technorati more:  —  Hillary and Bill: EAT THIS and shut up about your Electoral College Argument Du Jour.  Somehow the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy accusation that served you so well in the 1990s has become a Vast LEFT-WING Conspiracy??  Whatever suits your purpose I guess....

Dunkin' Donuts pulls Rachael Ray ad  —  The coffee and donut chain says it yanked online spot to avoid ‘misperception’; professor says links to extremism are narrow-minded and even racist.  —  BOSTON (AP) — Dunkin' Donuts has pulled an online advertisement featuring Rachael Ray after complaints …

Presidential Candidates May Miss Climate Vote  —  LOS ANGELES — While the three remaining presidential candidates have touted climate change as a central theme in their campaigns, all of them may miss next week's critical vote when the Senate considers a landmark bill imposing mandatory limits on greenhouse gases.

Obama played hardball in first Chicago campaign  —  (CNN) — When the Democratic National Committee meets Saturday on the thorny issue of seating the Florida and Michigan delegations at its August convention, party officials will have to fashion a solution that satisfies supporters …

Election 2008: Mississippi Senate Special  —  Mississippi's appoints U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R) finds himself in a very tight election battle to win the job on his own.  University of Virginia's Larry Sabato has noted that this will be a “real political battle” which is “a rarity in a state that's usually red as red can be.”

Clinton Recalls Her Trips With McCain to Conflict Zones  —  Matt Phillips reports from Madison, S.D., on the presidential race.  —  During one of those candidate-drops-into-a-diner-for-a- chat rituals in eastern South Dakota today, Sen. Hillary Clinton took an indirect jab at Democratic front-runner Sen. Barack Obama.

Why are you making me hurt you?  —  Man, this is Carville (courtesy of The Jed Report) blaming the Obama campaign, and how they played the assassination story, for Hillary potentially pushing this race past June 3rd.  Incredible.  I was in college for most of the 90s doing the sort of illicit, dumb things that people in college do.

Simple comment on Jim Webb as veep  —  Since I am the last person within reach of a computer to weigh in about Jim Webb as a running mate for Barack Obama, I'll make up for the lateness with the simplicity of my point:  — Until 7pm November 4, 2008, Webb might well be a very strong addition to the ticket.