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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

VP pick may chafe Hillary supporters  —  Many of the foremost activists in the women's movement ardently believe that Hillary Rodham Clinton should be Barack Obama's running mate — and primary wounds that are just beginning to heal may be torn back open should the Democratic nominee select someone else, as it seems very likely he will.

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?

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 …

In and Out of Action  —  UNCONVENTIONAL  —  Vice President Dick Cheney will not make an appearance at the Republican convention in Minneapolis-St. Paul next month, according to sources in his office.  Cheney has not sought a speaking slot at the convention, nor has his staff sought a role for him at the convention.

Obama Leads, Pessimism Reigns Among Key Group  —  Democratic Sen. Barack Obama holds a 2 to 1 edge over Republican Sen. John McCain among the nation's low-wage workers, but many are unconvinced that either presidential candidate would be better than the other at fixing the ailing economy …

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.

Is Obama Underachieving?  —  In an article in today's Los Angeles Times, I examine the widespread notion that Barack Obama has been ‘underachieving’, especially relative to the performance of a Generic Democrat.  —  My conclusion is that this characterization is a bit misleading.

McCain likely to let Obama choose VP first  —  John McCain's extended circle is divided on whether he should announce his running mate in the immediate days ahead—but the Republican is more likely to wait for Barack Obama to announce his choice first, according to advisers.

What's in a Name?  —  As Beijing gears up to host this year's Olympic Games, we asked Perry Link, professor of East Asian Studies at Princeton University, to give us his perspective on how China is responding to the challenge.  He will be guest-blogging for us over the next few weeks:

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 …

Knights Templar To Sue Pope  —  I just spotted a report that isn't politics, just interesting to me as I've a long-standing interest in the various Templar conspiracy theories.  They're such fun.  —  A self-proclaimed successor group to the famous Knights Templar are to sue the Pope …