Top Items:
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Dems pound McCain for new Iraq quote — The Obama campaign and Democratic leaders accused Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) of being confused and heartless after he told NBC's “Today” show Wednesday that it's “not too important” when U.S. troops return from Iraq. — Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) …
Discussion:
The Swamp, Confederate Yankee, rubber hose, Taylor Marsh, Political Machine, The Gavel and Daily Pundit
RELATED:
Marc Ambinder:
It's Not Important? Context Is Always Important — Democrats and allies are jumping on John McCain for telling NBC's Matt Lauer that “it's not important” when troops return from Iraq. Period. There's no because. There's almost never a because when one side seizes on the comments of another.
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Kerry: McCain confused, ‘unbelievably out of touch’ — John Kerry, who's served in the past as Obama's heavy-hitter on national security, expressed incredulity at McCain's remark this morning that the timing of troops return is “not too important.” — “It is unbelievably out of touch …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
EX POST MCCAINO — The McCain campaign is hitting back hard against Democratic criticism of his “not that important” quote this morning on Today. But as often is the case with McCain, the explanations of what he said are even sillier than the original statement.
Ben Smith / Ben Smith's Blogs:
(Re)-Interpreting McCain: ‘The question was about an estimate’ — On a conference call, McCain's aides defended the candidate's “not too important” line. — Advisor Randy Scheunemann said McCain was calling the question of whether he, John McCain, had an estimate “not too important,” not the question of when troops will come home.
Randyj / TIME.com:McCain Team Pushes Back Over “Today” Comment
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Jonathan Martin's Blogs, Commentary, The Carpetbagger Report, Swampland, The Jed Report and Political Punch
Washington Post:Iraqis Condemn American Demands
Discussion:
Matthew Yglesias, MoJoBlog, Attackerman, Los Angeles Times, Buck Naked Politics, Obsidian Wings, VetVoice, KIKO'S HOUSE, The Moderate Voice, QandO, Informed Comment, CommonDreams.org, Needlenose, The Washington Independent, Prairie Weather, Think Progress, The Impolitic, On Deadline, Washington Monthly and Below The Beltway
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:A Question Of Empire — That's the critical question …
Discussion:
Political Machine
Mark Leibovich / New York Times:
Those Loyal to the Clintons Take Note of Who Was Not — WASHINGTON — Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was gracious in her full-throated endorsement of Senator Barack Obama. But that does not mean all is forgiven by others in the Clinton universe. — For proof, look no further than Doug Band …
Discussion:
The Swamp, The New Republic, Political Punch, Achenblog, Power Line, I Am TRex, Wilshire & Washington, AMERICAblog and The Sundries Shack
Nick Timiraos / Wall Street Journal:
Some Buy a New Home to Bail on the Old — Fannie Plans Rules To Avoid Practice Described as Fraud — Next month, Michelle Augustine plans to walk away from her four-bedroom house in a Sacramento, Calif., subdivision and let the property fall into foreclosure.
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Matt / Think Progress:
McCain On Whether Cheney Might Serve In His Administration: ‘Hell, Yeah’ — As Vice President Dick Cheney makes the rounds on “the GOP's rubber chicken circuit” these days to raise funds for conservative candidates, he always implores his audiences “to make sure that we elect John McCain the 44th President of the United States.”
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Maureen Dowd / New York Times:
Mincing Up Michelle — Hillary and Bill are busy updating their enemies lists. And Obama is racking his brain trying to figure out where to stash his erstwhile rival. — If a President Obama put her on the Supreme Court, of course, we would have the infinite fun of hearing Bill rant about how Scalia …
Discussion:
michellemalkin.com, Big Brass Blog, Reason Magazine, No More Mister Nice Blog, Too Sense, WE Blog, TownHall Blog and MSNBC
RELATED:
Jeffrey M. Jones / Gallup:
Obama Gains Among Women After Clinton Exit — Now running as strongly vs. McCain among women as Clinton did — PRINCETON, NJ — Since Hillary Clinton decided to concede the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama last week, Obama has established a lead over Republican John McCain in general-election polling.
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, Political Radar, The Caucus, Hotline On Call, PoliGazette, American Street and The Political Carnival
Abe Greenwald / Commentary:
Why Is Bush Apologizing? — President Bush could not have picked a worse time to decide to soften his image. As Iran barrels towards full nuclear capability and as positive developments in the War on Terror shine a favorable light on the Bush Doctrine, we find the President at his most cuddly and contrite.
Discussion:
Atlas Shrugs, New York Times, Pajamas Media, Donklephant, Salon and Comments from Left Field
RELATED:
Camille Paglia / Salon:
Obama's best veep choice — Here's a hint: She's not Hillary! Plus: Talk radio's paranoid delusions and a Brazilian diva Madonna could aspire to. — Shuddering, lurching and stumbling, the 2008 general election has finally, mercifully begun. For a year and a half …
Rasmussen Reports:
Election 2008: Michigan Presidential Election — Michigan: Now It's Obama By Three — The latest Rasmussen Reports poll in Michigan shows Barack Obama attracting 45% of the vote while John McCain earns 42%. This is the fourth poll in Michigan since McCain wrapped up the Republican nomination …
On the Square:
Enhancement Biotechnology and Natural Law — New biotechnologies promise to revolutionize human existence—not only by delivering therapeutic treatments and cures but also by offering physical and mental enhancements: creating stronger bodies and more powerful minds for ourselves and for the children we carefully select.
Ben Pershing / Washington Post:
Kucinich Forces Vote On Bush's Impeachment — Having failed in efforts to impeach Vice President Cheney, Rep. Dennis J. Kucinich (D-Ohio) escalated his battle against the administration this week by introducing 35 articles of impeachment against President Bush, using a parliamentary maneuver that will probably force a vote today.
Discussion:
Capitol Briefing, Open Left, Raw Story, Democrats.com, the talking dog, DownWithTyranny! and Firedoglake
Kate Barrett / Political Radar:
Obama Admits Smoking Cigarettes in Last Few Months — ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: Senator Barack Obama told reporters in St. Louis today that he has fallen off the wagon and smoked cigarettes in the last few months. — Watch the VIDEO HERE. — The presumptive Democratic nominee …
John Cole / Balloon Juice:
High Comedy at the McCain Golf Store — Via the comments section in another post, when you buy your McCain '08 Golf gear, you are asked to post a helpful review: — Some helpful customers decided to take him up on the offer, and hilarity breaks out all over:
Discussion:
The Impolitic
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