Top Items:
Chuck Todd / MSNBC:
MCCAIN'S BACK IN THE SADDLEBACK — From NBC's Chuck Todd — Normally, on a night like tonight, we here at First Read would have been liveblogging every moment of Rick Warren's presidential forum. But with the Olympics and the fact this is THE Saturday Michael Phelps will be making history, we kept our liveblogging in check.
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Mark Hemingway / The Corner:
McCain As Good As Obama Was Bad — I don't want to get to overheated about what occurred tonight, but I do think McCain had a clear and decisive victory over Obama. It all comes down to something that Phil Bredesen, the Democratic governor of Tennessee recently said about Obama …
Carpetbagger / The Carpetbagger Report:
The candidates define ‘rich’ — At last night's forum at Saddleback Church, the Rev. Rick Warren asked a nearly identical set of questions to Barack Obama and John McCain, but one of the more memorable inquiries was just two words: “Define rich.” — Obama started with a joke at Warren's expense …
Discussion:
American Power
Ed Stoddard / Tales from the Trail:
Obama says pointed abortion query “above his pay grade” — DALLAS - U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama side-stepped a pointed query about abortion on Saturday by “mega-pastor” Rick Warren during a televised forum. — Asked at what point a baby gets “human rights,” Obama …
Discussion:
Pajamas Media, Althouse, GetReligion, QandO, Fox News, Commentary, Macsmind, Ross Douthat and Gateway Pundit
CBN.com:
EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Barack Obama — Attention Brody File readers. — I was just granted an exclusive one on one interview with Barack Obama here at the Saddleback Civil Forum. CBN News was the only media outlet to go behind the scenes and conduct an interview.
Discussion:
Ben Smith's Blogs, The Caucus, Hot Air, www.redstate.com, TownHall Blog, TIME.com and Macsmind
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CBN.com:
Obama Gets Heated on Born Alive Infant Protection Act — It seems like Barack Obama's heated answer about The Born Alive Infant Protection Act is making some headlines out there. The Brody File has decided to break out this clip of video by itself rather than having you sit through the whole 5 minute interview.
Noam Scheiber / The New Republic:
The Rick Warren Forum — I just saw CBN's David Brody proclaim McCain the winner of tonight's joint appearance at Saddleback Church, saying (essentially) that McCain hit it out of the park. I didn't think McCain did as well as Brody did—a lot of his answers sounded pretty stilted and canned, like obviously recycled stump shtick.
Joe Lauria / The Huffington Post:
Did McCain Help Bait Russia into Georgia? — Now that the dust is settling the big question about the dust-up in Georgia remains: Why was Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili so stupid to start this war? — There are a couple of theories. One is Saakashvili was under the mistaken impression …
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New York Times:
In Ukraine, Fear of Being a Resurgent Russia's Next Target — KIEV, Ukraine — For 17 years now, several former satellites and republics of the Soviet Union have cherished their democracies, all made possible by the simple premise that the days of Russian dominance were over.
Discussion:
ParaPundit
John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Bill Kristol's weekly moment of shame “...if countries don't have confidence in our ability to help them, it's going to be a much more dangerous world.” — By: John Amato @ 10:00 AM - PDT — (video and post sent in by PublEuS via email)
Mark Silva / The Swamp:
Condi Rice: Russian reputation in ‘tatters’ — by Mark Silva and updated. — For Condoleezza Rice, the secretary of state and an expert on international relations with the Russians, it's a remarkable statement - the one she made today - that, as a result of the conflict with Georgia, Russia's reputation is “in tatters.”
Discussion:
The Crypt's Blogs
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Ian Talley / Wall Street Journal:
Pelosi Softens Offshore Drilling Stance — WASHINGTON — In one of the clearest signs yet that the Democratic leadership is softening its stance towards expanded domestic oil production, the U.S. House Speaker outlined an energy bill Saturday that includes new offshore exploration.
Discussion:
Power Line
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Josh White / Washington Post:
Kaine's Push for Obama Rolls Into Loudoun — U.S. Is ‘Ready for Excellence,’ Governor Says, Adding That State Will Play Key Role in November — Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine spoke with groups of ardent Barack Obama supporters yesterday in Washington's outer suburbs …
Bob Ewegen / Denver Post:
McCain suggests raiding Colorado's water — Memo to: John McCain. — From: Five million thirst-crazed Coloradans. — Yes, fellow citizens of the state whose official motto is “Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting,” John McCain has thunk the unthinkable — and proposed renegotiating the 1922 Colorado River Compact.
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Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
What Does Michael Phelps Do For An Encore? — What will Michael Phelps do after winning eight gold medals in Beijing? He plans on going to London - in 2012. And why not? He won six gold medals at age nineteen, another eight at age twenty-three, and there is no reason …
Discussion:
Hot Air
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Washington Post:
Justice Dept. Moves Toward Charges Against Contractors in Iraq Shooting — Federal prosecutors have sent target letters to six Blackwater Worldwide security guards involved in a September shooting that left 17 Iraqi civilians dead, indicating a high likelihood the Justice Department will seek …
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Emma Schwartz / ABCNEWS:Lawsuit Filed Against Gonzales & DOJ Officials
Discussion:
Brilliant at Breakfast
Matt / Think Progress:
Will: Lieberman's Office Says He Was ‘Wrong’ To Vote Against Alito In '06 — Earlier this week, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) said he wouldn't rule someone out as a potential vice presidential running mate just because they are pro-choice. On ABC's This Week today, former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson called …
Associated Press:
Forces align against Republicans in Senate races — WASHINGTON (AP) — Even the top Republican in charge of the party's Senate campaigns concedes that the GOP will lose seats this year — the only question is how many. — With President Bush's ratings at rock-bottom, fewer Republicans signing up to vote …
Discussion:
TIME.com
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