DID HE REALLY JUST DO THAT?  —  This is the lead on a story just out over the Reuters wire ...  The Reuters piece hints at it.  But if Obama is going to be in Iraq this weekend, this is a major breach on McCain's part.  As a knowledgeable insider notes ...

Statement by the Press Secretary on Iraq  —  President Bush and Prime Minister Maliki spoke yesterday in their regularly scheduled secure video conference, about a range of matters including the improving security situation and the performance of Iraqi Security Forces across Iraq, from Basra, to Maysan, Baghdad and Sadr City, and Mosul.

McCain POW bud: Muslims ‘going to kill us’  —  One of John McCain's fellow POW's in Vietnam defended the war in Iraq, saying, “The Muslims have said either we kneel or they're going to kill us.”  —  In a phone call with reporters arranged by Republican Party of Florida, Colonel Bud Day added …

Obama's Greatest Admirer  —  Barack Obama wants to speak at the Brandenburg Gate.  He figures it would be a nice backdrop.  The supporting cast — a cheering audience and a few fainting frauleins — would be a picturesque way to bolster his foreign policy credentials.

Obama and the captains of American industry  —  Sen. Barack Obama has been meeting secretly with heavy industry CEOs in Washington to discuss issues that he would face as president.  —  On the campaign trail, Obama has been highly critical of corporate executives and promised them nothing but tougher regulation and higher taxes.

New Yorker Cover Cartoon NOT a Satire?  —  It is being reported today that Nicholas Kristof of the New York Times has in his possession a tape recording of an interview he once had with Barack Obama that may be very damaging to the latter's campaign for the presidency.

California opposes move to ban gay marriage: poll  —  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Californians are likely to uphold the right to gay marriage in the state by voting against a ballot measure that seeks to override a court ruling allowing same-sex unions, poll results showed on Friday.

McCain Campaign's Parting Gift To Obama Traveling Press Corps  —  It's a 17-page briefing book on Obama's Iraq and Afghanistan policy complete with Obama's one-event-only presidential seal.  Download it here.

Using Bombs to Stave Off War  —  ISRAEL will almost surely attack Iran's nuclear sites in the next four to seven months — and the leaders in Washington and even Tehran should hope that the attack will be successful enough to cause at least a significant delay in the Iranian production schedule …

Harold Ford Heckled Over Fox Comment At Netroots Nation  —  Former congressman Harold Ford was billed as a sheep amidst the wolves when he was booked for an appearance at the Netroots Nation conference here in Austin.  And while for the most part the DLC head and self-described ‘centrist’ Democrat received …

Listen Now  —  Angelica Hernandez (left) and her mother, Gloria Nunez, struggle to make ends meet on a very limited budget.  —  Nunez Family Economic Snapshot  —  Want to read more information on the Nunezes household budget and learn about budget cuts they've made?  Click here.

EXCLUSIVE: GOP CYBERSECURITY EXPERT SUGGESTS DIEBOLD TAMPERED WITH 2002 ELECTION IN GEORGIA  —  A leading cyber-security expert and former adviser to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) says he has fresh evidence regarding election fraud on Diebold electronic voting machines during the 2002 Georgia gubernatorial and senatorial elections.

Obama's ‘Judgment’  —  Barack Obama departs for Iraq as early as this weekend, with a media entourage as large as some of his rallies.  He'll no doubt learn a lot, in addition to getting a good photo op.  What we'll be waiting to hear is whether the would-be Commander in Chief absorbs enough …

Wes Clark Calls Out “The Right Wing Freak Machine”  —  Greetings from sweltering Austin, Texas, where you can sweat through a shirt a 10:30 p.m....or did somebody just spill a Lone Star on me?  —  It's all good because we're here for Netroots Nation — aka the third annual gathering …

The Coming Activist Age  —  We're entering an era of epic legislation.  There are at least five large problems that will compel the federal government to act in gigantic ways over the next few years.  —  First, there is the erosion of the social contract.