Top Items:
Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
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.
RELATED:
Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
DOD spokesman says Obama camp was reminded of political rules — Chief Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell confirmed to Politico that Department of Defense officials cautioned Barack Obama's campaign that his planned visit to wounded American troops in Germany could not be political in nature …
Jonathan Martin / Jonathan Martin's Blogs:
Obama camp says Pentagon nixed troop visit
Obama camp says Pentagon nixed troop visit
Discussion:
The Anonymous Liberal
Fox News:
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 …
RELATED:
National Enquirer:
JOHN EDWARDS AFFAIR: CRIMINAL COMPLAINT FILED! — UPDATE: John Edwards' secret meeting with his mistress at the Beverly Hilton hotel has now become part of a criminal complaint. — NATIONAL ENQUIRER reporters Alan Butterfield and Alexander Hitchen filed a criminal complaint …
Washington Post:
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 …
Discussion:
The Fix, The New Republic, Newsweek Blogs, TalkLeft, TPM Election Central, The Swamp, Emptywheel, MSNBC, RealClearPolitics, TIME.com, PoliBlog (TM) and Real Clear Politics
RELATED:
Ken Khachigian / Wall Street Journal:
Who'll Be McCain's Veep? Who Cares? — John McCain's vice presidential running mate selection should be put in perspective. In a presidential campaign, there are only a handful of occasions when a running mate has news value: the day of the announcement and the few days following …
Gerard Baker / Times of London:
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 …
Discussion:
The Nation, Boston Globe, www.redstate.com, Althouse, Swampland, Right Wing News and Dr. Melissa Clouthier
Andrew Klavan / Wall Street Journal:
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.
Discussion:
The New Republic, Matthew Yglesias, Firedoglake, RIGHTWINGSPARKLE, Blog P.I., The LA Times President …, Sadly, No!, World-O-Crap, www.redstate.com, rubber hose, protein wisdom, Political Machine, First Draft, Fact-esque, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Eschaton, Wonkette, Gawker, democracyarsenal.org and Cogitamus
Associated Press:
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.
RELATED:
Ben Smith / The Politico:
Israeli paper publishes Obama's wall note
Israeli paper publishes Obama's wall note
Discussion:
MEANINGFUL DISTRACTION
Ben Smith / The Politico:
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.
Discussion:
Newsweek Blogs, Pajamas Media, AMERICAblog News, Political Machine, The New Republic, TIME.com and Booman Tribune
RELATED:
Lance Armstrong / Washington Wire:
Obama Brings His Charm Offensive to Paris
Obama Brings His Charm Offensive to Paris
Discussion:
Real Clear Politics
Matthew Yglesias:
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 …
RELATED:
Peter Nicholas / Los Angeles Times:
Obama's path to presidency is far from clear — The Democrat is winning fans on his trip abroad, but is struggling to gain real ground against McCain at home. Some key Clinton backers remain alienated. — WASHINGTON — Even as his turn on the global stage hit an emotional peak Thursday …
RELATED:
Elisabeth Bumiller / New York Times:
Hey, Obama: There's Bratwurst in Ohio, Too (but No Cheering Masses)
Hey, Obama: There's Bratwurst in Ohio, Too (but No Cheering Masses)
David Brooks / New York Times:
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.”
Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:
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.
Discussion:
MoJoBlog, The Huffington Post, Gawker, MEANINGFUL DISTRACTION, D-Day and NewsBusters.org
Erin McPike / National Journal Online:
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.
Gallup:
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.
Brad Friedman / The BRAD BLOG:
Rove Threatened GOP IT Guru If He Does Not ‘Take the Fall’ for Election Fraud in Ohio, Says Attorney — [NOTE: Arnebeck will join Peter B. Collins and me, on-air, live tonight at 5pm PT (8pm ET) to discuss this story and the related matters. Details and listening link here...]
Ed Morrissey / Hot Air:
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 …
RELATED:
Charles Krauthammer / Washington Post:
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.
Discussion:
Wonk Room, Swampland, The New Republic, NY Daily News, Matthew Yglesias, Abu Aardvark and ATTACKERMAN