MCCAIN HITS HARD  —  Before a military audience in Denver today, John McCain launched his strongest attack yet against Barack Obama.  The attack was devastating because it is true.  Here are some excerpts; McCain began by recalling the beginning of the surge: … That recitation of Obama's conduct is entirely factual.

Obama veep team floats Republican name  —  Barack Obama's vice presidential search team has floated the name of a member of President Bush's first-term Cabinet, Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman, as Obama's running mate.  —  The search committee, now led by Caroline Kennedy and Eric Holder …

4,000 U.S. Combat Deaths, and Just a Handful of Images  —  BAGHDAD — The case of a freelance photographer in Iraq who was barred from covering the Marines after he posted photos on the Internet of several of them dead has underscored what some journalists say is a growing effort …

GRATION AND THE LANDSTUHL CONTROVERSY  —  From NBC's Jim Miklaszewski  —  In his official capacity as a sitting US senator, Obama has every right to stay in touch with America's men and women in uniform.  According to Pentagon officials, the problem was that Obama's request to visit Landstuhl included …

Throughline  —  I'm working on the unfinished Obama/Goldberg post below, but in the meantime, please enjoy this emerging classic of the mass-forwarded email genre.  —  This isn't one of those snarky jokes we're so often accused of making.  It's real, and it's likely coming soon to an inbox near you …

Reed on the vice presidency: I want to stay in Senate  —  WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, the object of heightened speculation this week after his tour of Afghanistan and Iraq at the side of Barack Obama, today played down the suggestion that the Democratic presidential candidate would consider him as a running mate.

In the Balance  —  DEPENDING ON WHO WINS THE PRESIDENCY, THE SUPREME COURT COULD TURN SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT OR SEE ITS FIRST CRUSADING LIBERAL JUSTICE IN MANY YEARS.  —  Sat.  —  Among the starkest contrasts between John McCain and Barack Obama is the dramatic difference in their promised approaches …

Democratic Congressional Candidate Alan Grayson on Iraq Reckoning: “We'll Put People in Prison”  —  One of the most exciting candidates I've met this cycle is Alan Grayson, a high profile trial lawyer who has been suing defense contractors for fraud, and is now running for Florida's eighth district in central Florida.

McCain Embraces 16-Month Withdrawal: 'I Think It's A Pretty Good Timetable'  —  Following Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's declaration of support for a 16-month withdrawal timeline from Iraq, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been struggling to respond.  He spent most of this week railing against any …

The K Street Project, Part Blue  —  As most of Washington met last week to fret over the economy, Harry Reid was attending a less-noticed summit.  The Senate majority leader had summoned the titans of more than a dozen industry trade groups to a Capitol Hill meeting, where he delivered a crisp message …

55% Rate Obama's Berlin Speech Good or Excellent; 46% Think Europe Should Be More Like U.S.  —  Over half of Americans (55%) rate Barack Obama's historic speech in Berlin yesterday good or excellent, and the Democratic presidential candidate is experiencing a modest bounce over John McCain nationally …

End Of An Error  —  The inimitable Shelby Steele had a great op-ed in the WSJ this week.  In a sort of political eulogy for Jesse Jackson, Steele goes beyond the “Jesse is jealous” argument and delves into the profound generational gap between Jackson and Obama:

Schock treatment: Bush welcome  —  ( Reporting in from the president's trip to Peoria, brought to you by Clout Street:)  —  Illinois state Rep. Aaron Schock of Peoria isn't one of those Republicans who shy away from appearing with President Bush.  —  When Air Force One landed …