Pentagon Confirms That It Told Obama He Couldn't Visit Army Base With Campaign Staff  —  I've just gotten clarification from the Pentagon on what really happened with regard to Barack Obama's canceled visit to an Army base in Germany, something the McCain campaign has been using to hit Obama since yesterday.

Security Guard Confirms Late-Night Encounter Between Former Sen. John Edwards, Tabloid Reporters In Beverly Hills Hotel  —  A hotel security guard told FOXNews.com he intervened this week between a man he identified as former Sen. John Edwards and tabloid reporters who chased …

McCain May Act Soon on VP Pick  —  Aides Predict Announcement Before Olympics  —  Anxious to counter the blanket media coverage that has followed Sen. Barack Obama on his overseas journey, Sen. John McCain is weighing whether to announce his running mate in the coming weeks before the spotlight shifts …

He ventured forth to bring light to the world  —  The anointed one's pilgrimage to the Holy Land is a miracle in action - and a blessing to all his faithful followers  —  And it came to pass, in the eighth year of the reign of the evil Bush the Younger (The Ignorant), when the whole land …

What Bush and Batman Have in Common  —  A cry for help goes out from a city beleaguered by violence and fear: A beam of light flashed into the night sky, the dark symbol of a bat projected onto the surface of the racing clouds . . .  Oh, wait a minute.  That's not a bat, actually.

Sarkozy: Obama's my ‘pal’  —  French President Nicolas Sarkozy is offering Obama a warm welcome on the day of their meeting, in an interview with the conservative daily Le Figaro.  —  “Obama?  He's my pal,” the president told Le Figaro.  “Unlike my diplomatic advisors, I never believed in Hillary Clinton's chances.

Senate Republicans hold the line on energy; Update: Reid falls apart  —  Senate Republicans kept their word today to defeat any energy bill that did not include an end to the Congressional moratorium on off-shore drilling.  By a 50-43 party-line vote, the bill that supposedly would curb …

For Targeted GOP Senate Candidates, St. Paul Is Not A Choice Destination  —  Nine of 12 targeted Republicans running in the most competitive Senate races this fall are either skipping the Republican convention in St. Paul, Minn., or have not decided whether to attend.

Thesis Follies  —  Steve Sailer darkly hints: … Meanwhile, Noam Scheiber writes about reporters' efforts to get their hands on a copy of Barack Obama's senior thesis, all copies of which have apparently gone missing from Columbia.  The thesis was about nuclear negotiating strategies …

McCain Blows Off WSJ Reporter (VIDEO)  —  John McCain's famously cozy relationship with the press is getting a bit testy.  Taking questions in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday the Arizona Republican blew off Wall Street Journal reporter Elizabeth Holmes, right after she stated her name and affiliation.

Israeli paper publishes Obama Western Wall prayer … JERUSALEM (AP) - A written prayer that Barack Obama left this week in the cracks of the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, asks God to guide him and guard his family, an Israeli newspaper reported Friday.

I worked out with Obama!  —  HE CURLED 32 KILO DUMBBELLS NEXT TO ME +++  BARACK IS TOP FIT +++  HE DIDN'T SWEAT AT ALL  —  As thousands waited at the Sieges Saule monument in Berlin to hear Obama's sensational speech, a BILD reporter met Barack all alone - in the gym!

Gallup Daily: Obama by 6, Is There a Europe Effect?  —  Obama moves back to significant lead over McCain  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama has expanded his lead over John McCain in the Tuesday through Thursday Gallup Poll Daily tracking rolling average, and now has a 47% to 41% advantage over his Republican challenger.

Playing Innocent Abroad  —  Radical optimism is America's contribution to the world.  The early settlers thought America's founding would bring God's kingdom to earth.  John Adams thought America would emancipate “the slavish part of mankind all over the earth.”

Maliki Votes for Obama  —  In a stunning upset, Barack Obama this week won the Iraq primary.  When Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki not once but several times expressed support for a U.S. troop withdrawal on a timetable that accorded roughly with Obama's 16-month proposal, he did more than legitimize the plan.

Obama Abroad: We Get the Picture  —  The Candidate Looked Good This Week.  Did the Press?  —  After saying little in public during a weekend in Iraq and Afghanistan, Barack Obama met with traveling reporters near Jordan's Temple of Hercules, a gladiator standing his ground against the media hordes.

Critic Or Cheerleader: The Definitive McCain Iraq Timeline  —  Here it is: We've created a comprehensive time-line of John McCain's statements on Iraq, from the inception of the conflict to the present.  —  Our time-line casts some doubt on a key McCain campaign claim …