MCCAIN, THE SURGE, AND ‘VERB TENSES’  —  GREENSDALE, WI, MAY 28, 2008. … JOHN MCCAIN GOT AHEAD OF EVENTS THIS WEEK IN CLAIMING THAT THE UNITED STATES MILITARY HAS GONE DOWN TO “PRE-SURGE LEVELS” IN IRAQ.  THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN UNTIL LATER THIS YEAR, EVEN BY THE MOST OPTIMISTIC SCENARIO.

Bob Dole Calls Scott McClellan a ‘Miserable Creature’  —  Bob Dole says Bob Dole is mad at Scott McClellan.  —  The former Senate majority leader and 1996 Republican presidential candidate sent a nasty e-mail to McClellan calling him a “miserable creature” for his latest book blasting the Bush administration, FOX News has learned.

Obama plans election kick-off at GOP convention site  —  Senior political officials tell Politico's Mike Allen that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).is likely to hold a huge rally Tuesday night in the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, the site of the Republican National Convention from Sept. 1 to 4.

Post Updated Below  —  FOREWORD: Barack Obama and Howard Dean are about to walk into Harold Ickes' trap tomorrow, and they aren't likely to even realize their mistake until Hillary Clinton cries “foul!” next week and announces that “justice” and “voters' rights” are forcing her to carry …

Former Bush donors now giving to Obama  —  WASHINGTON — Beverly Fanning is among the campaign donors who'll be joining President Bush at a gala at Washington's Ford's Theater Sunday night, but she says that won't dissuade her from her current passion: volunteering for Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

Vatican says will excommunicate women priests  —  VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - The Vatican issued its most explicit decree so far against the ordination of women priests on Thursday, punishing them and the bishops who try to ordain them with automatic excommunication.

Clinton's Last Stand; Challenges for Obama, McCain  —  (05-30) 13:16 PDT SAN FRANCISCO —  Democrats are preparing for the final curtain in a long 2008 primary drama this weekend as Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton makes a last-stand effort for the party's presidential nomination …

McAuliffe doesn't like McClellan book, either  —  Give the Macker credit: he knows from loyalty.  —  In an interview with the multi-media Tammy Haddad for National Journal:

DNCC Credentials Record Number Of Blogs To Cover 2008 Democratic National Convention In Denver  —  Bloggers to Receive Unprecedented Access, Connect Diverse Communities to Historic Event  —  Progressive Community to Provide Additional Workspace, Resources for Bloggers During Convention Week

Kerry: On Sept. 11 We Were at Peace  —  Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) believes that on September 11 “we were basically at peace.”  —  Asked to clarify his remarks, specifically asking about the attacks on the U.S.S. Cole during Barack Obama campaign conference call, Kerry said, “well …

Reporter Ordered To Testify About Sources  —  A leading reporter on the national security beat, William Gertz of the Washington Times, has been ordered to appear before a federal judge next month to identify the sources for a news article about the prosecution of a Chinese spy ring based in southern California.

Catholic League slams priest, Obama  —  The Catholic League - a group dedicated to protecting the free-speech rights of Catholics “whenever and wherever they are threatened” - criticized Barack Obama sharply today for his ties to a Catholic priest who stirred controversy at Obama's home church last weekend.

Iraqis Protest Long-Term U.S. Military Presence  —  Thousands of Iraqis Hit the Streets for the First Significant Anti-U.S. Rally in Years  —  Thousands of Iraqis filled the streets of Baghdad's Sadr City neighborhood this afternoon to demonstrate against a long-term United States presence in Iraq …

City Room: Latest Updates  —  The city's Office of Emergency Management has provided an update about the deadly crane collapse on the Upper East Side.  City officials have confirmed that two construction workers were killed in the 8 a.m. collapse, at East 91st Street and First Avenue, and that two other people were injured.

Happy Suck On This Day!  —  Five years, or 10 F.U.s, ago today, America's leading foreign affairs public intellectual explained the Iraq war to us. … Five years and 10 F.U.s later, Iraqis are still sucking on it!