Obama Got Discount on Home Loan  —  Shortly after joining the U.S. Senate and while enjoying a surge in income, Barack Obama bought a $1.65 million restored Georgian mansion in an upscale Chicago neighborhood.  To finance the purchase, he secured a $1.32 million loan from Northern Trust in Illinois.

China Inspired Interrogations at Guantánamo  —  WASHINGTON — The military trainers who came to Guantánamo Bay in December 2002 based an entire interrogation class on a chart showing the effects of “coercive management techniques” for possible use on prisoners, including …

McCain game plan worries insiders  —  Four months have passed since John McCain effectively captured the party nomination, and the insiders are getting restless.  Top GOP officials, frustrated by what they view as inconsistent messaging, sluggish fundraising and an organization that is too slow …

3 killed as Palestinian bulldozer driver goes on killing spree in Jerusalem  —  (Video) Bulldozer driven by Palestinian resident of east Jerusalem tramples over pedestrians, cars in central Jerusalem; driver shot dead by police officer; three women killed, dozens injured in attack.

Rush Limbaugh In Sunday NYT Cover Story, Big New Radio Deal  —  MEGASPLASH, MEGADEAL  —  Rush In NYT Cover Story, Stunning Contract Renewal  —  *** WITH EXCLUSIVE DETAILS ***  —  *** CONTRACT INCLUDES UNPRECEDENTED NINE-FIGURE SIGNING BONUS ***  —  *** ONCE AGAIN, YOU SAW IT FIRST AT THE RADIO EQUALIZER ***

Hispanic Voters Solidly Behind Obama  —  Few demographic differences evident among Hispanics  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Hispanic registered voters' support for Barack Obama for president remained consistent and strong in June, with Obama leading John McCain by 59% to 29% among this group.

McCain Backer's Firm Pleaded Guilty To Funding Terrorist Group In Colombia  —  The co-host of a recent top-dollar fundraiser for Sen. John McCain oversaw the payment of roughly $1.7 million to a Colombian paramilitary group that is today designated a terrorist organization by the United States.

As Gas Prices Pinch, Support for Energy Exploration Rises  —  More Favor Drilling in ANWR  —  Amid record gas prices, public support for greater energy exploration is spiking.  Compared with just a few months ago, many more Americans are giving higher priority to more energy exploration, rather than more conservation.

Deepening Cycle of Job Loss Seen Lasting Into '09  —  As automakers dropped their latest batch of awful sales numbers on the market on Tuesday, reinforcing the gloom spreading across the economy, the troubles confronting American workers seemed to intensify.

“Dig it!”:  A short video about Barack Obama's friends  —  Paul Budline, a Princeton-based writer and producer of documentaries, got to thinking this afternoon about Barack Obama's friendship with Chicago radicals Bill Ayers and Bernadine Dohrn.  Out came this crisp little video, “Dig it!”.

Believe Me, It's Torture  —  What more can be added to the debate over U.S. interrogation methods, and whether waterboarding is torture?  Try firsthand experience.  The author undergoes the controversial drowning technique, at the hands of men who once trained American soldiers to resist—not inflict—it.

Obama over fist bumping?  —  (CNN) — Is Obama ditching his signature fist bump?  —  According to Tuesday's press pool report, the Illinois senator refused to bump fists with a boy as he was touring the Eastside Community Ministry in Zanesville, Ohio.  —  As the boy outstretched his first …

The 10 Most Awesomely Bad Moments of the Bush Presidency  —  A shorter version of our long national nightmare.  —  Share and save this post:  —  Also in Election 2008  —  Ari Berman  —  10 Things You Should Know About McCain Advisor Charlie Black  —  Jon Ponder

We Interupt This Orgy Of Self-Congratulation...  Henry Farrel of Crooked Timber posts a late draft of a research paper on blog readership.  From his summary this passage has caught attention: … Jon Chait of TNR interpreted this as an opportunity to have a bit of fun: