The Real FISA Vote Passes 80 to 15 With the Presidential Nominees Passing  —  They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.  - Benjamin Franklin  —  The FISA Cloture vote just passed.  The Senate will now consider the motion …

Supreme Court Rejects Death Penalty for Child Rape  —  WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled, 5 to 4, on Wednesday that sentencing someone to death for raping a child is unconstitutional, assuming that the victim is not killed.  —  “The death penalty is not a proportional punishment for the rape of a child …

Gallup Daily: Obama, McCain Tied at 45%  —  Obama had held at least a slim advantage for most of June  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update on the presidential election finds John McCain and Barack Obama exactly tied at 45% among registered voters nationwide.

Netroots feel jilted by Obama's FISA stand  —  When former Sen. John Edwards dropped out of the presidential race, the progressive Netroots took their affections to Barack Obama, defending him against attack from Hillary Rodham Clinton and others.  —  But with his support of a government surveillance bill …

KEITH GOES NUTS OVER KETCHUP  —  MSNBC blowhard Keith Olbermann couldn't even control his temper at a memorial reception for beloved Tim Russert.  —  Network sources told Page Six Olbermann was furious last week when MSNBC didn't get him a first-class ticket to Washington, DC …

BREAKING ELECTION NEWSGAYPATRIOT EXCLUSIVE:John McCain Meets with Log Cabin Republicans President  —  GayPatriot has exclusively learned that presumptive Republican Presidential nominee Senator John McCain held a personal meeting with the head of the national gay Republicans organization, the Log Cabin Republicans.

HALPERIN'S TAKE: What Smart Republican Strategists Think Should Be on John McCain's To-Do List  —  1. Prove to your staff you can drive a message for more than one consecutive day.  —  2. Tell Americans what the one, key difference is between you and Obama.

Hawaiian Official Quoted, Birth Certificate Challenged [UPDATE]  —  [Update at end]  —  Via the Israel Insider in a June 24 story: … The Insider also published this image of the State of Hawaii seal that is ALWAYS included on certifications of birth, as I also confirmed with the Hawaii Vital Records office:

Pelosi on ‘Hush Rush,’ and Filibustering FISA  —  The speaker of the House made it clear to me and more than forty of my colleagues yesterday that a bill by Rep. Mike Pence (R.-Ind.) to outlaw the “Fairness Doctrine” (which a liberal administration could use to silence Rush Limbaugh …

BlueDogs seek a hunting ground in upper chamber  —  Blue Dog Democrats, frustrated that their fight to end deficit spending has been stymied by the Senate, may endorse candidates running for the upper chamber.  —  Leaders of the group told The Hill on Wednesday that they are considering plans …

Parties Split on How to Expand Offshore Drilling  —  HOUSTON — The two political parties have settled on markedly different strategies for improving domestic oil supplies to help lower gasoline prices.  —  Republicans want to end the 27-year ban on offshore drilling along much of the nation's coastline …

Plouffe On McCain's Squandared Opportunity  —  The most interesting moment of David Plouffe's 90 minute briefing and press conference was a casual assertion that he didn't think McCain “used the period from March 3rd [until the end of the Democratic primaries] very effectively, and for that, we're grateful.”