McCain: Georgia conflict is the ‘first serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.’  —  Speaking at the Aspen Institute in Colorado yesterday, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said that recent Russian aggression in Georgia is the “first...serious crisis internationally since the end of the Cold War.”

Jenna Bush Wedding Pastor Rips McCain  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto report: The pastor who officiated Jenna Bush's wedding ripped into Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Friday for jokingly volunteering his wife last week for a beauty pageant that often features contestants topless.

After Russia's invasion of Georgia, what now for the West?  —  At least for now, the smoke seems to be clearing from the Georgian battlefield.  But the extent of the wreckage reaches far beyond that small country.  —  Russia's invasion across an internationally recognised border …

The Obama Smears  —  There has been a lot of attention given in the last few days to Jerome Corsi's new book, The Obama Nation, which will debut at #1 on the New York Times best-seller list.  It seems pretty clear, I think, that conservatives should not hitch their hopes to it.

McCain Meets With T. Boone Pickens, Dodges Question About Anti-Obama Book  —  From CBS News' Ryan Corsaro:  —  (ASPEN, COLO.) - T. Boone Pickens was waiting for John McCain in a small conference room at the Aspen Meadows Resort, where the two, according to Pickens, were going to be “talking about the Pickens plan.”

Body proves Bigfoot no myth, hunters say  —  (CNN) — A policeman and a former corrections officer say that on Friday they will unveil evidence of what they claim is their biggest find ever: the body of Bigfoot.  —  Matthew Whitton and Rick Dyer, a pair of Bigfoot-hunting hobbyists from north Georgia …

The End of Placeness  —  The end of placeness is one of the features of the campaign.  I do not like it.  —  Pretend you are not a political sophisticate and regular watcher of the presidential race as it unfolds on all media platforms.  Pretend, that is, that you are normal.  —  OK, quick, close your eyes.

Barack Obama blinks in Hillary face-off  —  Russia rolls over Georgia, Hillary Clinton does the same to Barack Obama.  Now we know who's boss.  —  Obama blinked and stands guilty of appeasing Clinton by agreeing to a roll call vote for her nomination.  That he might not have had much choice …

Gallup Daily: McCain, Obama Tied at 44%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — If the election were held today, registered voters would be equally likely to vote for John McCain (44%) or Barack Obama (44%), according to the latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update.  —  The Aug. 12-14 polling shows a slight dip …

Two Large Solar Plants Planned in California  —  Companies will build two solar power plants in California that together will put out more than 12 times as much electricity as the largest such plant today, the latest indication that solar energy is starting to achieve significant scale.

Iraq May Be Stable, But the War Was a Mistake  —  Sometime in May 2003, shortly after U.S. forces had taken Baghdad and President Bush landed on an aircraft carrier under the banner “Mission Accomplished,” an old friend remarked that he thought the war was going pretty well so far.

FIRST THOUGHTS: LOSING MY RELIGION?  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro  —  *** Losing my religion?  On Saturday night, McCain and Obama appear at their first forum together when they speak at Rick Warren's Saddleback Church in California.

Ungrateful Illegals  —  Here in New York City, as is well known, our officials never prosecute illegal aliens.  Nor do they prosecute — or even discourage — people running veritable businesses selling stuff on the sidewalks.  Much of that stuff, of course, is counterfeit designer items from China …

Exclusive: Death Threats Against Obama and ‘Traitorous Liberals’ Posted On Rightwing O'Reilly Contributor's Website  —  On Wednesday night, Fox “News'” Bill O'Reilly continued his dishonest and deceptive attacks on websites, such as Huffington Post and Daily Kos, which he misleadingly describes as …