BRZEZINSKI: RUSSIA'S INVASION OF GEORGIA IS REMINISCENT OF STALIN'S ATTACK ON FINLAND  —  On Sunday I talked with Zbigniew Brzezinski, the elder statesman who was national security  —  advisor to President Jimmy Carter, about the Russian invasion of Georgia.  He long tangled with Soviet power.

Clinton told to portray Obama as foreign  —  Mark Penn, the top campaign strategist for Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign, advised her to portray Barack Obama as having a “limited” connection “to basic American values and culture,” according to a forthcoming article in The Atlantic.

Feingold remains a McCain admirer  —  He favors Obama's views but likes GOP candidate  —  Washington - If Republican John McCain needs someone to vouch for his independence, he could easily do worse than Senate colleague Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, a liberal Democrat from a key battleground state.

87°  —  The rise and fall of John Edwards  —  When veteran Democratic strategist Bob Shrum first met John Edwards in 1997, he saw in the accomplished trial lawyer a raw political talent.  —  “I called my partners and said.  ‘I think I just met a future president of the United States,’” Shrum recalls.

But He Gave Up Golf  —  US President George W. Bush plays beach volleyball with US beach volleyball player Misty May Treanor during a visit to the US team at Beijing's Chaoyang Park Beach on August 9, 2008.  By Thomas Coex/AFP/Getty Images.  An even classier pic can be seen here.

Voters in Valley fleeing the GOP  —  Republican Party rapidly losing its advantage in registration after reaching its peak in 2004.  —  The Republican Party, which overtook Valley Democrats in voter registration totals eight years ago, is losing ground for the first time in at least a decade.

Iraq demands “very clear” U.S. troop timeline  —  BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The United States must provide a “very clear timeline” to withdraw its troops from Iraq as part of an agreement allowing them to stay beyond this year, Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said on Sunday.

Michelle Obama: Headliner opening night  —  Michelle Obama, wife of the Democratic candidate for president, will take the leading role at the podium on the opening night of the Democratic National Convention.  —  by Mark Silva  —  Michelle Obama, wife of the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee …

Chelsea bumps Bubba to introduce Hil  —  WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton wants to be introduced by her daughter Chelsea at the Democratic National Convention, and party insiders say Barack Obama has signed off on the idea, the Daily News has learned.  —  Some Clinton and Obama partisans …