As a Professor, Obama Enthralled Students and Puzzled Faculty  —  CHICAGO — The young law professor stood apart in too many ways to count.  At a school where economic analysis was all the rage, he taught rights, race and gender.  Other junior faculty dreamed of tenured positions; he turned them down.

Alaska's Sen. Ted Stevens indicted by federal grand jury  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Ted Stevens, the longest-serving Republican in the U.S. Senate and one of the chamber's most powerful members, was indicted Tuesday in Washington, a result of a year-long investigation into corruption in Alaska politics.

Earthquake rocks Los Angeles  —  LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — A magnitude-5.8 earthquake has struck just east of Los Angeles, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.  —  The quake's epicenter was about 2 miles southwest of Chino Hills and about 5 miles southeast of Diamond Bar, the USGS said.

One of Fournier's job options: McCain  —  Before Ron Fournier returned to The Associated Press in March 2007, the veteran political reporter had another professional suitor: John McCain's presidential campaign.  —  In October 2006, the McCain team approached Fournier about joining the fledgling operation …

Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine cancels appearance at Baltimore fundraiser  —  By Politicker Staff  —  Category: President Tags: Tim Kaine Top Story: Breaking  —  Due to a “scheduling problem,” PolitickerMD.com has learned that Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine will not attend tomorrow night's Unity '08 Fundraiser …

More to the story: about my post on Obama canceling visit to troops in Germany  —  An item I posted July 25 about Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) canceling a visit to a U.S. military base in Germany has now become grist for the Republicans to attack Obama.  —  Some points:

Obama notes ‘tragic’ US past  —  American history's “sad” aspects require action, the senator tells cheering journalists  —  CHICAGO » Sen. Barack Obama, speaking to a gathering of minority journalists yesterday, stopped short of endorsing an official U.S. apology to American Indians …

McClellan Backs Down To O'Reilly: ‘I Messed Up,’ 'You're The Big Kahuna At Fox News'  —  Interviewed on MSNBC last week, former White House press secretary Scott McClellan said Fox News pundits and commentators “were useful to the White House,” stating that they were given “talking points” to repeat on air:

John Kerry for Party President  —  Looking to get re-elected, former Massachusetts Senator John Kerry was snap-happy Saturday night on Nantucket.  Electoral college girls gone wild!  —  The married 64-year-old had his photo taken with Bud Light drinking constituents who, we are told, are college sophomores and juniors.

Aide to U.S. Senator Jim Webb found dead from apparent gunshot wound  —  Authorities in Botetourt County this morning discovered the body of a well-known Democratic operative and U.S. Senate aide along U.S. 220, dead from an apparent gunshot wound.  —  The body of Frederick W. Hutchins Jr. …

When Extremists Attack  —  I have now been called antisemitic and intellectually unstable and a whole bunch of other silly things by the folks over at the Commentary blog.  They want Time Magazine to fire or silence me.  This is happening because I said something that is palpably true …

Obama Vindicated  —  Yesterday, I posted an item about an accusation from Israeli newspaper Ma'ariv that the Obama campaign had leaked a copy of his Western Wall note to the foreign press (rather than Ma'ariv having bought it from some yeshiva kid who stole it out of the wall).

Knoxville Tragedy Redeemed By Heroism  —  I don't tend to write about killing sprees, serial killers, snipers and whatnot.  Perhaps I'm a bit cold hearted, but I always figure that other than being spectacular, the emphasis on them misses the point - even as the Knoxville killings were happening …

Bush Meets 5 Dissidents From China Before Games  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush held private talks with five prominent Chinese dissidents on Tuesday, and urged China's foreign minister to relax restrictions on human rights, as part of an intensifying White House effort to put pressure …

10 Things to Scratch From Your Worry List  —  For most of the year, it is the duty of the press to scour the known universe looking for ways to ruin your day.  The more fear, guilt or angst a news story induces, the better.  But with August upon us, perhaps you're in the mood for a break …

McCain Goes Negative, Worrying Some in G.O.P.  —  SPARKS, Nev. — In recent days Senator John McCain has charged that Senator Barack Obama “would rather lose a war in order to win a political campaign,” tarred him as “Dr. No” on energy policy and run advertisements calling him responsible for high gas prices.

MEDIA BASH BARACK (NOT A TYPO)  —  Study Finds Obama Faring Worse On TV News Than McCain  —  Barack Obama is getting more negative coverage than John McCain on TV network evening news shows, reversing Obama's lead in good press during the primaries, according to a new study by Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA).

Things I learned today about democracy  —  (updated below - Update II - Update III)  —  Here's what I learned today about democracy and ideology as a result of my debate with Ed Kilgore and having read the comments to the piece I wrote about targeting Blue Dogs:

Now, Phil Spector endorses Obama at his murder trial hearing  —  Gee, thanks, Phil.  —  They keep coming, these dubious endorsements.  But, hey, any publicity in a political campaign — except crooked friends, ind ictments, spousal abuse, etc.  —  Today The Times' eagle-eyed Harriet …

A Few Thoughts  —  I'm just back from a week's vacation.  A few thoughts by way of catching up:  —The best thing about Obama's Europe trip was the images, and that's because Obama is a politician of physical genius.  He looks great, moves with grace, and holds himself with a natural authority.