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.”

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 …

Rick Warren Plans to Bring up Obama, McCain's Personal Life  —  It's going to get a little personal Saturday night at Saddleback Church in California.  John McCain and Barack Obama will spend an hour each talking to Pastor Rick Warren at his Compassion Forum.

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.

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 …

Evidence in Georgia Belies Russia's Claims of ‘Genocide’  —  By ANDREW OSBORN in Tskhinvali, Georgia, and JEANNE WHALEN in Moscow  —  Russia's assertions that it was provoked into war by “genocide” in South Ossetia and that it is observing a cease-fire in Georgia came under new challenge Thursday …

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.”

Prosecutors lay out new information against Stevens  —  New information filed late Thursday by federal prosecutors says Sen. Ted Stevens made more than $100,000 in profit off a Florida real estate deal after a friend secretly loaned him $31,000 interest-free to buy a condominium.

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 …

Dick Cheney gets carded at polling place  —  Vice President Dick Cheney got carded.  Not for drinking but for voting.  —  It happened at the Teton County clerk's office Thursday in Wyoming, when the vice president, accompanied by his wife and a Secret Service detail, dropped in unexpectedly …

Another flub?  Bush vowed Navy aid to Georgia too soon  —  WASHINGTON — President Bush Wednesday promised that U.S. naval forces would deliver humanitarian aid to war-torn Georgia before his administration had received approval from Turkey, which controls naval access to the Black Sea …

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.

Is 5'7" John McCain Dressing For Defeat?  (PICTURES)  —  There has not been a President in The White House who has stood shorter than 5'8" since President McKinley took office in 1897.  At 5'7" John McCain is up against more than just 6'3" Barrack Obama, he's up against an American population …

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 …

North Texas school district will let teachers carry guns  —  Comments Recommend  —  HARROLD, Texas — A tiny Texas school district may be the first in the nation to allow teachers and staff to pack guns for protection when classes begin later this month, a newspaper reported.