Top Items:
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
News in terror hot spots appears to aid Obama — Barack Obama's long-awaited and much-hyped trip overseas, in large part intended to overcome a perception that he's not up to the job of commander-in-chief, seems to have come at the perfect time as recent events in Afghanistan, Iraq and Iran have played into his message.
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Robert H. Reid / gulflive.com:
Analysis: Iraq playing US politics for best deal — AMMAN, Jordan (AP) — The Iraqi prime minister's seeming endorsement of Barack Obama's troop withdrawal plan is part of Baghdad's strategy to play U.S. politics for the best deal possible over America's military mission.
Hilzoy / The Daily Dish:
More On Maliki — I've been thinking about the Maliki statement and its implications.
More On Maliki — I've been thinking about the Maliki statement and its implications.
Discussion:
Jack & Jill Politics, Grasping Reality …, Newshoggers.com, Obsidian Wings, NewsBusters.org and Flopping Aces
Brian Murphy / Associated Press:
Obama expected to meet Iraq war commanders
Obama expected to meet Iraq war commanders
Discussion:
The New Republic
Tahman Bradley / Political Punch:
Barack Obama's Butterfly Effect — Today on CBS's Face the Nation, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in Afghanistan, told the paparazzi-pursued correspondent Lara Logan that “the objective of this trip was to have substantive discussions with people like President Karzai or Prime Minister Maliki …
David D. Kirkpatrick / New York Times:
The Long Run: After 2000, McCain Learned to Work Levers of Power — Once better known for criticizing the Senate than for influencing it, John McCain has evolved into perhaps the chamber's most influential member.
Ian Urbina / New York Times:
Influx of Voters Likely to Test New Machines — With millions of new voters heading to the polls this November and many states introducing new voting technologies, election officials and voting monitors say they fear the combination is likely to create long lines, stressed-out poll workers and late tallies on Election Day.
Lindsay Beyerstein / Majikthise:
McCain's senior foreign policy advisor tied to global petro-influence peddling — John McCain's senior foreign policy adviser is a close business associate of Stephen Payne, the lobbyist caught on tape offering access to top administration officials in exchange for donations to the Bush Library.
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Times of London:
President Bush lobbyist Stephen Payne in ‘bribes’ row quits — Cash for access at the White House is under scrutiny by Congress — An American government adviser and lobbyist, caught offering access to top White House figures in exchange for a $250,000 (£126,000) …
Eric Gorski / Associated Press:
Dobson shifts positions, may endorse McCain — Conservative Christian leader James Dobson has softened his stance against Republican presidential hopeful John McCain, saying he could reverse his position and endorse the Arizona senator despite serious misgivings.
San Francisco Chronicle:
Slaying suspect once found sanctuary in S.F. — The man charged with killing a father and two sons on a San Francisco street last month was one of the youths who benefited from the city's long-standing practice of shielding illegal immigrant juveniles who committed felonies from possible deportation, The Chronicle has learned.
Times of London:
Gordon Brown aide a victim of honeytrap operation by Chinese agents — A top aide to Gordon Brown has been a suspected victim of a “honeytrap” operation by Chinese intelligence agents. — The aide, a senior Downing Street adviser who was with the prime minister on a trip to China earlier this year …
Discussion:
Gates of Vienna
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Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
McCain and Obama Agree to Attend Megachurch Forum — It has taken a man of God, perhaps, to do what nobody else has been able to do since the general election season began: Get Barack Obama and John McCain together on the same stage before their party conventions later this summer.
Discussion:
TalkLeft
Pamela Geller / Atlas Shrugs:
ATLAS EXCLUSIVE: FINAL REPORT ON OBAMA BIRTH CERTIFICATE FORGERY CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN — Techdude delivers a final report that exceeds my wildest expectations. It is irrefutable, empirical evidence - Obama's birth certificate is a forgery. … My deepest thanks and appreciation …
Discussion:
Scared Monkeys, Israel Insider, The Strata-Sphere, Macsmind, pandagon.net, American Power, Gateway Pundit and A Newt One