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 …

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.

Obama Remarks on Detainees and Afghanistan  —  Good afternoon.  We just finished the first meeting of my new Senior Working Group on National Security.  We had a productive discussion about the challenges facing our nation, and I'm grateful that these distinguished men and women will be advising me in the months to come.

House Dems Call to “Nationalize” Oil Industry  —  Right after McCain and Bush call to lift the ban on drilling here, the Socialists send in their counterpoint and it is blatant!  They skip right over socialism into Communism.  No talk about where they'd get the trillions to buy out stockholders …

Michelle on The View  —  Okay, I watched it.  Or I tried.  It was hard to pay attention, frankly, because it was the same twaddle as always, which is why it never occurs to me to watch The View.  Kathryn has captured perfectly the essential banality of Michelle Obama's appearance …

House, Bush reach deal on war supplemental  —  The House will vote on an emergency supplemental spending bill Thursday after Republican and Democratic leaders struck a deal with the White House late Wednesday, aides said.  —  The deal did not include the Senate, but House leaders were to present …

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 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.

Specter of 2000 could haunt Obama  —  Until 2000, it hadn't happened in more than 100 years, but plugged-in observers from both parties see a distinct possibility of Barack Obama winning the popular vote but losing the Electoral College — and with it the presidency — to John McCain.

Deals With Iraq Are Set to Bring Oil Giants Back  —  BAGHDAD — Four Western oil companies are in the final stages of negotiations this month on contracts that will return them to Iraq, 36 years after losing their oil concession to nationalization as Saddam Hussein rose to power.

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.

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.

McCain's Drilling Flip-Flop Is a Good First Step  —  Warts and all, John McCain's flip-flop on offshore drilling is a very welcome development.  When circumstances change, political leaders should change their policies.  And $4 at the pump and $140 in the open market is certainly enough …

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 …