More Fun in Obamaconspiracyville: In Which Larry Sinclair Gets Arrested  —  I blogged a few weeks back about a convicted criminal, Larry Sinclair, who'd been begging the media to cover his wild allegations about Barack Obama.  Today Sinclair trotted into the National Press Club to air …

Muslims barred from picture at Obama event  —  Two Muslim women at Barack Obama's rally in Detroit Monday were barred from sitting behind the podium by campaign volunteers seeking to prevent the women's headscarves from appearing in photographs or on television with the candidate.

Obama: NAFTA not so bad after all  —  The Democratic nominee, in an interview with Fortune, says he wants free trade “to work for all people.”  —  WASHINGTON (Fortune) — The general campaign is on, independent voters are up for grabs, and Barack Obama is toning down his populist rhetoric - at least when it comes to free trade.

Working Group  —  Obama announces his “National Security Working Group”  — Secretary of State Madeleine Albright  — Senator David Boren, former Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence  — Secretary of State Warren Christopher  — Greg Craig, former director …

Cindy McCain Presses Obama Patriotism Case  —  ABC News' Ed O'Keefe Reports: Laura Bush may be ready to give Michelle Obama the benefit of the doubt when it comes to her patriotism but Cindy McCain may not.  —  “I don't know why she said what she said,” Mrs. McCain explains in an interview …

“The View” ladies dive in to rescue Michelle Obama after she calls Barack “pathetic.”  UPDATE Obama spokesman Vietor said Michelle said “empathetic.”  —  UPDATE after this was posted, Obama spokesman Tommy Vietor called to say Michelle Obama said “empathetic,” not pathetic.

McCain's Offshore Drilling Position A Flip From Three Weeks Ago  —  It is hardly a secret that when it comes to offshore drilling, Sen. John McCain was against the idea before he was for it.  On Monday, the Arizona Republican told a crowd in Texas that he was abandoning his long-time support …

The Obama Smear Merchants Keep On Smearin'  —  Here comes the torrent of bulls**t.  —  Yesterday morning Floyd Brown and Co. sent out a press release and e-mail announcing the Barack Obama's brother had acknowledged he was raised Muslim — something that Obama himself has denied.

Don Young's Office: An Intern Survival Guide  —  Susan Davis reports on Congress.  —  Capitol Hill internships are not always easy, particularly when you work for a gruff Alaskan with particular tastes and an uneven temper.  Fortunately, interns for Rep. Don Young have an unofficial guide …

Boeing wins tanker protest, but drama is far from over  —  The saga of the Air Force refueling tanker contract is not over by a long shot, though Boeing won a huge victory Wednesday when the Government...  The saga of the Air Force refueling tanker contract is not over by a long shot …

Discuss: “We would have loved to knock his head off, too, but we had nothing to knock it off with.”  —  I can't get this story out of my head and heart.  —  How do you feel about the quote by the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department's spokesman at the very end of the piece?

Backstory on AP - Drudge Retort Issue  —  In reading a small slice of the coverage of the AP - Drudge Retort contretemps it struck me that a lot of the more breathless coverage in the blogosphere stems from the rather larger misperception that one day last week, out of the blue, Rogers Cadenhead got slapped with a lawsuit by AP.

Blackwater wants lawsuit decided under Islamic law  —  The private military company Blackwater has cultivated a patriotic reputation, with its staff of retired military and former police officers, and the requirement that most of its workers swear an oath to support and defend the U.S. Constitution.

Feith Chickens Out Of Congressional Hearing On Torture, Refuses To Appear With Wilkerson  —  Today, the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution and Civil Rights held a hearing on abusive interrogation to look at the role of administration lawyers in crafting policies allowing the torture of detainees.