Barack Hitler Obama  —  It's remarkable what those fiendish GOP operatives can squeeze into thirty seconds: Not only does McCain's “celeb” ad have “Barack Obama will rape yo daughters overtones,” says Rick Perlstein (who's apparently under the impression that most Americans think of Paris Hilton …

Paris Hilton's family fuming at McCain campaign  —  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it seems that the new McCain ad criticizing Obama for being a celebrity has ruffled some unintended feathers.  I, for one, quite liked the ad, but I hear whispers from the inner campaign staff …

McCain says ‘race card’ charges are fair  —  (CNN) — John McCain told CNN Thursday it is fair for his campaign manager to claim Barack Obama is playing ‘the race card.’  —  “I'm sorry to say that it is.  It's legitimate,” McCain told CNN's John King.  “And there's no place in this campaign for that.

OBAMA REMOVES HIS MASK  —  It's not even quite August yet and he's still ahead in the polls, but Barack Obama has played the race card, claiming that he expects Republicans to inject race into the campaign.  In Missouri, he told a crowd: … The Obama campaign denied that the comment about …

Unbelievable: NYT recycles nutroots charge that McCain's Britney ad is racist  —  From Josh Marshall's lips to the editorial board's ear.  New rule: If you're conservative, juxtaposing images of Barack Obama and white women regardless of context is racist per se.

White House Aides Can Be Subpoenaed  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush's top advisers cannot ignore subpoenas issued by Congress, a federal judge ruled on Thursday in a case that involves the firings of several United States attorneys but has much wider constitutional implications for all three branches of government.

Hope Dashed (Again)  —  A few months ago, I wrote that John McCain was an honorable man and he would run an honorable campaign.  I was wrong.  I used to think, as David Ignatius does, that McCain's true voice was humble and moderate, but now I'm beginning to think his Senate colleagues may be right about his temperament.