Obama Campaign Criticizes New York Times Story On Poll  —  The Obama campaign is taking issue with The New York Times this morning over the paper's front-page piece today on the Times poll released last night, critiquing the story for omitting a great deal of the paper's own poll polling data …

May We Mock, Barack?  —  When I interviewed Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert for Rolling Stone a couple years ago, I wondered what Barack Obama would mean for them.  —  “It seems like a President Obama would be harder to make fun of than these guys,” I said.  —  “Are you kidding me?”  Stewart scoffed.

The Iron Timetable  —  BARACK OBAMA yesterday accused President Bush and Sen. John McCain of rigidity on Iraq: “They said we couldn't leave when violence was up, they say we can't leave when violence is down.”  Mr. Obama then confirmed his own foolish consistency.

So Popular and So Spineless  —  Much ink has been spilled lately decrying the decline in American popularity around the world under President Bush.  Polls tell us how China is now more popular in Asia than America and how few Europeans say they identify with the United States.

Congressional Approval Hits Record-Low 14%  —  Democrats less positive than Republicans about Congress  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Congress' job approval rating has dropped five percentage points over the past month, from 19% in June to 14% in July, making the current reading the lowest congressional …

On the Outside Now, Watching Fannie Falter  —  In the four years since he stepped down as Fannie Mae's chief executive under the shadow of a $6.3 billion accounting scandal, Franklin D. Raines has been quietly constructing a new life for himself.  He has shaved eight points off his golf handicap …

Elizabeth Dole Says “F**k You” To Americans Who Died From AIDS  —  This is unbelievable.  Sen. Elizabeth Dole (R-NC) wants to rename the the current AIDS relief bill after Jesse Helms. … Jesse Helms, the man who in 1987 described AIDS prevention literature as “so obscene, so revolting, I may throw up.”

Policy Shift Seen in U.S. Decision on Iran Talks  —  PARIS — The decision by the Bush administration to send a senior American official to participate in international talks with Iran this weekend reflects a double policy shift in the struggle to resolve the impasse over the country's nuclear program..

Gates Warns of Militarized Policy  —  Defense Secretary Stresses Civilian Aspects of U.S. Engagement  —  Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates warned yesterday against the risk of a “creeping militarization” of U.S. foreign policy, saying the State Department should lead U.S. engagement with other countries …

The New Reality in Iraq  —  All of the most important objectives of the surge have been accomplished in Iraq.  The sectarian civil war is ended; al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) has been dealt a devastating blow; and the Sadrist militia and other Iranian-backed militant groups have been disrupted.

Consumer Prices, Driven by Fuel, Surge 1.1% in June  —  A crucial measure of inflation rose at its fastest rate in 17 years, the government said on Wednesday, just a day after the chairman of the Federal Reserve warned that inflation poses a significant risk to the nation's economic outlook.

Planned Parenthood Action Fund: ‘Simple Question’  —  Planned Parenthood Action Fund is launching a televised campaign against Senator John McCain on cable in some swing states today.  —  The ad uses McCain's evident discomfort with a question about whether it's “unfair” …

Hillary Clinton launches fundraising for 2012 already!  —  Just six weeks after reluctantly surrendering to Barack Obama in the brutal 2008 Democratic primary race, Sen. Hillary Clinton has begun raising money for what she says is her 2012 New York Senate reelection campaign.

WATER, WATER, EVERYWHERE....Via Tyler Cowen, David Zetland writes in Forbes that California wouldn't have to ration water if prices responded to supply and demand instead of being fixed bureaucratically: … Details aside, maybe that's the right way to go.  After all, market pricing is usually …

CNN LARRY KING LIVE  —  Interview with Sen. Barack Obama; Mortgage Crisis Affects Thousands of Homeowners  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  LARRY KING, HOST: Tonight, Barack Obama sounds off right here on the magazine cover that created a firestorm.