The Times Interviews John McCain  —  Following are excerpts of a transcript of an interview conducted by The New York Times's Adam Nagourney and Michael Cooper with Senator John McCain in Hudson, Wisconsin, on July 11.  The answers are transcribed verbatim; some of the questions are paraphrased.

Bernie Mac makes off-color joke at Obama event  —  CHICAGO - Comedian Bernie Mac endured some heckling and a campaign rebuke during a surprise appearance Friday night at a fundraiser for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama.  —  Toward the end of a 10-minute standup routine …

Bush Homeland Security Aide Caught On Tape Offering High-Level Access For Donations To Bush Library  —  The Sunday Times reports Stephen Payne, a Bush pioneer and a political appointee to the Homeland Security Advisory Council, was caught on tape offering access to key members …

Obama Supporters on the Far Left Cry Foul  —  PORTLAND, Ore. — In the breathless weeks before the Oregon presidential primary in May, Martha Shade did what thousands of other people here did: she registered as a Democrat so she could vote for Senator Barack Obama.

Tony Snow, Former White House Press Secretary and FOX News Anchor, Dies at 53  —  Tony Snow, the former White House press secretary and conservative pundit who bedeviled the press corps and charmed millions as a FOX News television and radio host, has died after a long bout with cancer.  He was 53.

Phil Gramm Is Right  —  “In serious consideration for ambassador to Belarus.”  That's the role John McCain joked that former senator Phil Gramm might have in a McCain administration.  Gramm is McCain's most senior economic adviser, the one best qualified to lead the finance team of a McCain presidency.

Hummer, How We Need Thee  —  When General Motors announced that it would subject its Hummer division to what in the automotive business is known as a “review,” you could hear the tree huggers, the unreconstructed hippies, the postmodern Greens, Al Gore's organic peanut gallery …

The Ron Paul Revolution in full swing  —  Ron Paulians filled Constitution Avenue this morning to bring the “Second Revolutionary War” to Washington.  I'll admit that it was a pretty big crowd, the website had over 15,000 people pledged to come, but it looked like less than half that many showed up …

U.S. Considers Increasing Pace of Iraq Pullout  —  WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is considering the withdrawal of additional combat forces from Iraq beginning in September, according to administration and military officials, raising the prospect of a far more ambitious plan than expected only months ago.

The Imminent Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Debacle  —  Fannie Mae “is a government sponsored enterprise (GSE) of the United States federal government.  It is a shareholder-owned corporation authorized to make loans and loan guarantees.  It is not backed or funded by the U.S. government …

Dissident's Tale of Epic Escape From Iran's Vise  —  WASHINGTON — After three days on the run, Ahmad Batebi picked his way down a rocky slope to the stream that marked Iran's border with Iraq.  His Kurdish guides, who had led Mr. Batebi, an Iranian dissident, through minefields …

Voter registrations in Florida show ‘huge swing’ toward Democrats  —  GOP is way behind in Florida registrations  —  An escalating number of voters registering as Democrats is providing evidence that the 2008 election could produce a wave of support for Barack Obama …

McKinney is Green Party presidential nominee  —  (CNN) — The liberal environmentalist Green Party nominated former Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney as its presidential candidate Saturday.  —  McKinney, 53, held off three rivals to win the party's nomination during its convention in Chicago, Illinois.