Troops Deployed Abroad Give 6:1 to Obama  —  During World War II, soldiers crouching in foxholes penned letters assuring their sweethearts that they'd be home soon.  Now, between firefights in the Iraqi desert, some infantrymen have been sending a different kind of mail stateside …

The Obama Tax Plan  —  Even as Barack Obama proposes fiscally responsible tax reform to strengthen our economy and restore the balance that has been lost in recent years, we hear the familiar protests and distortions from the guardians of the broken status quo.

Payback?  Obama snubs Rangel  —  The Obama campaign is denying House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel a speaking role at this month's Democratic National Convention — a move those close to the powerhouse Harlem congressman view as a spiteful snub.

Despite “all my apologies” for bigoted comments, Corsi reportedly scheduled to appear on “pro-White” radio show  —  In an appearance on the August 13 edition of CNN's Larry King Live, after Media Matters for America Senior Fellow Paul Waldman noted that Jerome Corsi, author of The Obama Nation …

Obama camp said to be leaning towards Biden for vice president.  —  I'm just passing on the latest I'm hearing—that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is moving up on the list of potential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).  While Obama's heart may go towards Virginia …

Phil Gramm Attends McCain Campaign Briefing  —  Laura Meckler reports from Aspen, Colo., on the presidential race.  —  Ousted John McCain campaign co-chairman Phil Gramm is back with the campaign's top advisers this weekend, as the campaign gathers top supporters for a series of briefings in scenic Aspen, Colo.

Up the Ante Diplomacy: US and Poland go for Euro-Anti-Missile  —  This via AP: … Nice AP lede, great comment by PM Tusk.  The Russian invasion of Georgia made “crossing the Rubicon” very politically palatable.  Made is easy for the US to provide Patriots.  —  The VOA report says:

GIVE THIS WOMAN A PURPLE HEART  —  Later on I intend to comment on today's events in Georgia and the region, but for now, check out this video of a Georgian television reporter named Tamara Urushadze.  She was reporting from Gori when she was shot, apparently by a sniper.

Jackson Browne Sues GOP And McCain Campaign  —  Singer, songwriter, liberal activist and now John McCain scourge Jackson Browne filed a lawsuit today against the presumptive GOP nominee and the Republican Party for failing to obtain a license to use one of his songs in a television commercial.

Scandal of the Ages: Documents Reveal Underage Chinese Gymnast  —  What began as whispers among the media and gymnastics insiders weeks ago about the ages of three of China's female Olympic gymnasts — Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin and He Kexin — has grown into ear-shattering, head-hurting shouts.

I See Four Key Battleground States  —  Presidential campaigns ultimately come down to who can win 270 Electoral College votes.  With most states favoring one candidate or the other, this year's contest could come down to a few battleground states.  —  Based on visits this past week …

We Are All Georgians  —  For anyone who thought that stark international aggression was a thing of the past, the last week must have come as a startling wake-up call.  After clashes in the Georgian region of South Ossetia, Russia invaded its neighbor, launching attacks that threaten its very existence.

In Extremely Rare Occurence Court Moves to Rehear Case of Canadian Rendition Victim Maher Arar  —  Court Acted Sua Sponte, Deciding to Revisit June Decision Against Arar Before Being Asked  —  The Second Circuit Court of Appeals issued an extremely rare order that the case …

Musharraf Is Expected to Resign in Next Few Days  —  ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Faced with desertions by his political supporters and the neutrality of the Pakistani military, President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan, an important ally of the United States, is expected to resign in the next few days rather …