Top Items:
Michael Goldfarb / John McCain 2008:
Smears the Left Can Fight For — In the least credible and most vicious corner of the internet, liberal bloggers at the Daily Kos are accusing John McCain of plagiarizing from Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. The story Solzhenitsyn told was of a prisoner who drew a cross in the dirt in a Soviet Gulag.
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Byron York / The Corner:
Fellow POW: I Remember McCain Telling the “Cross in the Dirt” Story — You've probably seen that there are some out there in the blogosphere questioning the authenticity of John McCain's “cross in the dirt” story, which McCain told Saturday night at the Saddleback Summit.
Byron York / The Corner:
Mark Salter: McCain Told Me the “Cross in the Dirt” Story — I just got off the phone with Mark Salter, John McCain's closest aide whom some in the blogosphere are suggesting made up, or embellished, or did something to create the “cross in the dirt” story. Salter told me that he absolutely did not do that.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
The Cross In The Dirt, Ctd — Many readers have noted that versions of this story - attributed to Solzhenitsyn by Chuck Colson - have been a staple of evangelical sermons for a very long time. They aren't always attributed to Solzhenitsyn, but this sermon, preached by Father Luke Veronis, is a classic of the genre.
Discussion:
The Impolitic
John Cole / Balloon Juice:
Increasingly Bizarre- Michael Goldfarb's +7 Rapier of Jackassery — I really don't care to spend the next few weeks arguing whether or not McCain is lying about his Christ/Cross/guard moment and will let others chase after things that can not be proven one way or another …
Discussion:
First Draft
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:The Dirt In The Cross Story, Ctd
Discussion:
The Jed Report, Reason Magazine, Sister Toldjah, The Washington Independent and Wonkette
Drudge Report:
PAPER: OBAMA READY TO ANNOUNCE HIS VP — The NYT newsroom was buzzing late Monday afternoon after Obama-beat reporter Jeff Zeleny learned how the Dem hopeful has now finalized his choice for a running-mate. — Obama has set an elaborate roll-out to announce his decision that will begin …
Discussion:
TIME.com, The Next Right, TRAIL BLAZERS, Top of the Ticket, FOX Embeds, The Other McCain and TPM Election Central
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New York Times:
Obama Appears Ready to Announce His Running Mate — WASHINGTON — Senator Barack Obama has all but finalized his choice for a running mate and set an elaborate roll-out plan for his decision, beginning with an early morning alert to supporters, perhaps as soon as Wednesday …
Mike Allen / The Politico:
Exclusive: McCain to name VP on Aug. 29 — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) plans to celebrate his 72nd birthday on Aug. 29 by naming his running mate at a huge rally in the battleground state of Ohio, Republican sources said. — That's a week from this Friday, and the day after Sen. Barack Obama …
Dan Gilgoff / God-o-Meter:
Rick Warren to God-o-Meter: Obama, Dems Can't Just Talk Faith — In an interview with God-o-Meter on the day after his Saddleback Civil Forum with John McCain and Barack Obama, Rev. Rick Warren sounded pretty dubious about Barack Obama's and the Democrats' chances of making inroads among evangelicals.
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Sally Quinn / Washington Post:
Worlds Apart — When I was little, I had a recurrent dream that there was a terrible earthquake. My father, his body a horse with wings, swooped down from the sky, kneeled so I could jump on his back and flew away just as the earth cracked open beneath me. It was my most comforting dream.
Discussion:
Fox News, New York Times, Political Punch, Don Surber, The Mahablog, Towleroad.com, neo-neocon, TalkLeft, The Corner, Jezebel, Swampland and NewsBusters.org
Alexander Mooney / CNN:
Obama VP buzz squarely on Biden — (CNN) - When Joe Biden returns to Capitol Hill Monday from his two-day trip to embattled Georgia, vice presidential speculation will rest squarely on him. — The longtime Delaware senator and former presidential candidate has long been considered …
Discussion:
The Crypt's Blogs, No More Mister Nice Blog, Boston Globe, michellemalkin.com, Left in the West, TPMCafe, Open Left and Wonkette
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John Drescher / Raleigh News & Observer:
Edwards went for big time — Forgive me if I'm straining to believe John Edwards' version of events. My last conversation with him wasn't a good one. — In some ways, that talk reflected the difficult relationship we've had with him since he became a national political figure.
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Catholic League:
DEMOCRATS MUST NIX OFFENSIVE BLOGGERS — Over 120 blogs have been credentialed as members of the media for the Democratic National Convention; those who have received credentials are allowed to cover the Convention at the Pepsi Center. While most of them offer legitimate commentary, some do not.
Tom Maguire / JustOneMinute:
The Chicago Annenberg Challenge - The Fog Thickens — Barack Obama and unrepentant Weatherman Bill Ayers worked together on public school reform in Chicago for several years through the Chicago Annenberg Challenge, co-founded by Bill Ayers and originally chaired by Barack Obama.
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New York Post:
EXPERIENCE COUNTS — MAC'S PREZ-LIKE PERFORMANCE — PASTOR Rick War ren conducted a fascinating politi cal experiment at his Saddleback megachurch Saturday night. He hosted Barack Obama and John McCain for a forum where, in separate one-hour sessions, each was asked the same questions …
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Sarah Baxter / Times of London:Hillary Clinton's rich friend Lady de Rothschild ambushes Barack Obama
Discussion:
Top of the Ticket, Liberal Values, Booman Tribune, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Group News Blog and TalkLeft
Aaron Gould Sheinen / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Protesters mark McCain's visit to Atlanta for fund-raiser — More than 50 protesters marched in front of the Marriott Marquis on Monday, shouting “Bush, McCain, same thing!” — But John McCain, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, was safely inside for a high-dollar campaign fund-raiser.
Discussion:
NY Daily News Blogs
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Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
McCain Outspending Obama By Hundreds Of Thousands In Many Core Battleground States — The McCain campaign has outspent the Obama camp by hundreds of thousands of dollars, and in some cases by as much as a million dollars or more, in virtually all of the nearly dozen battleground states …
Ben / Think Progress:
Gingrich Claims Tire Inflation Lines Big Oil's Pockets — Last night on Fox News, host Sean Hannity and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) returned (as they often do) to Sen. Barack Obama's (D-IL) recent suggestion that Americans inflate their tires properly in order to save energy costs.
Sam Stein / The Huffington Post:
Bloomberg Set To Be On Presidential Ballot In Virginia — The state of Virginia is, for the first time in many decades, a toss up in the presidential election. And with its 13 electoral votes and polls showing a tight race, the commonwealth should host a fierce competition between Barack Obama and John McCain.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, Comedy Central, Liberal Values, Political Machine, Sister Toldjah and Spin Cycle
Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
McCain: Obama Wants To Lose In Iraq Because Of His “Ambition” — John McCain is ratcheting up his attacks on Obama over Iraq in a speech this morning, declaring flatly that Obama wants the U.S. to fail in Iraq because of “ambition.” — In the speech, which is going on now …
Discussion:
AMERICAblog News
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