Top Items:
Robert Novak / Chicago Sun Times:
Sun-Times political columnist Robert Novak retires — FROM SUN-TIMES STAFF REPORTS — Robert Novak has announced his immediate retirement following the diagnosis of a brain tumor, a prognosis the Sun-Times' political columnist describes as “dire.” — “The details are being worked …
Discussion:
The Caucus, The Raw Story, Outside The Beltway, TIME.com, Wilshire & Washington, Gawker and Hot Air
Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:
GOP won't let go of its new tire-gauge toy — Atrios asked this morning, “Does anyone understand why Obama suggesting that people keep their tires properly inflated is some sort of hilarious gaffe?” — I've been trying to figure out the same thing for days.
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Randyj / TIME.com:
Both Sides Inflate Tire Pressure Battle — The Obama team defends the Democrat's call for drivers to properly inflate their tires in order to conserve gas. — Campaign e-mails reporters a favorable story from NASCAR.com and notes that the Department of Energy makes the same recommendation.
Discussion:
Washington Wire, CNN, The Huffington Post, The Moderate Voice, D-Day, PERRspectives Blog, Gateway Pundit and TPM Election Central
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
McCain likely to let Obama choose VP first
McCain likely to let Obama choose VP first
Discussion:
Hot Air, TPM Election Central, American Spectator, www.redstate.com, Donklephant and Real Clear Politics
Frank James / The Swamp:
House GOP's oil-drilling protest resumes — Scores of Republican House members will return to the Hill today, despite Congress being on recess, to engage in legislative guerrilla tactics meant to turn the screws on Speaker Nancy Pelosi who has so far refused to allow a vote on domestic oil drilling …
Discussion:
The Crypt's Blogs, Weekly Standard Blog, The Anonymous Liberal, Wake up America, Gateway Pundit, baldilocks and TBogg
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Susan Page / USA Today:
Pelosi firm: No vote on offshore drilling — WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday ruled out a vote on new offshore oil drilling even as Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama said he might be open to a compromise that included it. — The scramble over expanded drilling …
Joe Sudbay / AMERICAblog News:
Rasmussen has Obama and McCain in a tie. This is troubling. — (NOTE FROM JOHN: I've added my thoughts to the end of joe's post.) — The trend of the tracking polls hasn't been good of late. Rasmussen, which is a quite reputable poll, has Obama and McCain tied today — and with leaners …
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Gallup:
Gallup Daily: Obama 46%, McCain 43% — PRINCETON, NJ — Registered voters show a slight preference for Barack Obama (46%) over John McCain (43%) if the presidential election were held today, according to the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking results. — The three percentage point advantage …
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Rerouting McCain's Bus — Frustrations Lead Campaign To Limit Reporters' Access — KANSAS CITY While the traveling press corps was shipped off to a barbecue restaurant here, John McCain charmed his way through an interview with a local TV reporter. Surae Chinn of KCTV posed such less …
Wall Street Journal:
What Is a ‘Windfall’ Profit? — The “windfall profits” tax is back, with Barack Obama stumping again to apply it to a handful of big oil companies. Which raises a few questions: What is a “windfall” profit anyway? How does it differ from your everyday, run of the mill profit?
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Ezra Klein / American Prospect:
THE PLIGHT OF POLITICO — AND EVERYONE ELSE. — The success of Politico actually seems like an incredibly discouraging sign for the media. Here you have this forward-thinking, primarily virtual venture to create a political news organization that marries old-school reporting values …
Discussion:
Washington Monthly
Ben Smith / The Politico:
New book: Obama a lefty, not a reformer — The first serious negative biography of Senator Barack Obama casts the Democratic nominee as a fake reformer and a real liberal. — “The Case Against Barack Obama,” by National Review's David Freddoso, blasts Obama for failing to take on the Chicago machine …
Vikas Bajaj / New York Times:
Housing Lenders Fear Bigger Wave of Loan Defaults — The first wave of Americans to default on their home mortgages appears to be cresting, but a second, far larger one is quickly building. — Homeowners with good credit are falling behind on their payments in growing numbers …
Jesse McKinley / New York Times:
Firebombings at Homes of 2 California Researchers — SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — The police and federal authorities are investigating firebombings at the homes of two researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz. — The attacks, which the university described as “antiscience violence …
Discussion:
At-Largely
Wall Street Journal:
Companies Tap Pension Plans To Fund Executive Benefits — Little-Known Move Uses Tax Break Meant For Rank and File — At a time when scores of companies are freezing pensions for their workers, some are quietly converting their pension plans into resources to finance their executives' retirement benefits and pay.
James Rainey / Los Angeles Times:
Obama's crime? Acting too presidential — So the pundits' verdict is in: Obama is too confident. It all would be funny if many people didn't seem to be inhaling this multimedia stink bomb as if it were fragrant truth. — America, meet Barack The Arrogant.