Top Items:
The Politico:
McCain unsure how many houses he owns — Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said in an interview Wednesday that he was uncertain how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own. — “I think - I'll have my staff get to you,” McCain told us in Las Cruces, N.M. “It's condominiums where - I'll have them get to you.”
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, The New Republic, Think Progress, Marc Ambinder, Matthew Yglesias, TPM Election Central, Associated Press, Comments from Left Field, Washington Post, The Huffington Post, The Moderate Voice, The Carpetbagger Report, Washington Monthly, Wall Street Journal, TownHall Blog, Newsweek Blogs, Outside The Beltway, Old Man McCain, Jonathan Martin's Blogs, Jack & Jill Politics, Gawker, Alas, a blog, The Washington Independent, Hotline On Call, Political Punch, The Jed Report, Undiplomatic, ProgressiveAccountability.org, Pajamas Media, Wake up America, The Reaction, Top of the Ticket, Los Angeles Times, Political Radar, Gothamist, MoJoBlog, The RBC, Clayton Cramer's BLOG, Flopping Aces, AFL-CIO NOW BLOG, Hullabaloo, The G Spot, MyDD, Ben Smith's Blogs, Democratic Strategist, Stop The ACLU, Guardian, No More Mister Nice Blog, Brave New Films blog, Political Machine and Wonkette
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Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:
McCain Spokesman's Retort: Obama Lives in “a Frickin' Mansion” — SEDONA, Ariz. — A spokesman for Sen. John McCain vowed to retaliate against today's story about how many houses the GOP candidate owns with a renewed focus on Sen. Barack Obama's ties to a Chicago developer and charges that Obama is an elitist.
Marc Ambinder:
McCain Prepares Rezko Ad; Wright “Now Fair Game”; GOP 527 Attacks — Sen. John McCain's campaign is finishing a hard-hitting television ad highlighting Barack Obama 's ties to shady Chicago land dealer Tony Rezko, the one-time Obama patron who was convicted earlier this summer of fraud.
Discussion:
The New Republic, The Anonymous Liberal, pandagon.net, Commentary, The Political Carnival and TIME.com
Eric Kleefeld / TPM Election Central:
McCain Camp Responds On Houses Gaffe: He Was A POW! — The McCain campaign is road-testing a new argument in responding to Obama's criticism of his number-of-houses gaffe, an approach the McCain camp has never tried before: The houses gaffe doesn't matter because ... he was a POW!
Hope Ditto / Political Radar:
Kaine on McCain's House Gaffe: “He Couldn't Count High Enough” — ABC News' Teddy Davis and Hope Ditto report: Obama V.P. prospect and Virginia Gov. Tim Kaine mocked Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., on Thursday for not knowing exactly how many houses he owns. — “I understand that Sen. McCain …
Kenneth P. Vogel / The Politico:
McCain family owns 8 properties — John McCain's family owns at least eight properties — not the seven Democrats are alleging or the four McCain's staff identified — according to a Politico analysis of property and tax records, as well as interviews. — The presumptive Republican nominee …
Discussion:
Eschaton
CNN:
Obama takes swipe at McCain over houses — (CNN) - Barack Obama's campaign continued to hit John McCain on his failure to answer a question on the number of homes he owns with a new ad Thursday, as the presumptive Democratic nominee hammered the same point on the campaign trail in Virginia and the McCain camp battled back.
Krooney / TIME.com:
Republicans Push Back on “Houses” — McCain's campaign, and others, hit back hard against Obama's attack. —Campaign statement: — “Does a guy who... bought his own million-dollar mansion with the help of a convicted felon really want to get into a debate about houses?” —Spokesman Rogers:
Marc Ambinder:
McCain Is To Houses What GWBH Was To Grocery Store Scanners? — Says an Obama aide: — “It's his Bush grocery scanner moment - but far worse.” — Maybe. But President Bush's dalliance with a pricing scanner was caught on videotape, and McCain's comments weren't, although Politico plans to post the audio later today.
Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
McCain Campaign Response: Obama Worries About Arugula, Vacations In Hawaii
McCain Campaign Response: Obama Worries About Arugula, Vacations In Hawaii
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
Two Become One — I was wondering yesterday how it is that you manage …
Two Become One — I was wondering yesterday how it is that you manage …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
On Politics:
Obama says he's chosen his VP — won't reveal who it is yet — Barack Obama told USA TODAY this afternoon that “yes,” he has made up his mind about whom his running mate will be — but he would not reveal the name or just when he will tell the nation about his choice. — USA TODAY's Kathy Kiely writes that:
Discussion:
Washington Wire, Political Radar, FOX Embeds, The Moderate Voice, Fox News, Hot Air and Booman Tribune
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Ben Smith / The Politico:
New group plans Ayers attack on Obama — A new conservative group has produced a television ad attacking Barack Obama for his relationship with former Weather Underground bomber Bill Ayers. — “How much do your really know about Barack Obama? What does he really believe?” asks the ad …
Discussion:
Jonathan Martin's Blogs
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Mark Nickolas / The Huffington Post:
The Anatomy of a Deception: How The McCains Changed Their Baby Adoption Story Just Before 2008 Campaign Began — As was pointed out yesterday by the Christian Science Monitor, the McCain campaign was called out for lying about the purported urging of Cindy McCain by Mother Teresa herself …
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Martin Samuel / Times of London:
International Olympic Committee launches probe into He Kexin's age — Tim Reid in Washington, Jeremy Griffin and Jane Macartney in Beijing — The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into mounting allegations that Chinese authorities covered up the true age …
RELATED:
Jane Macartney / Times of London:
Hacker uncovers ‘proof’ that Chinese gymnast is underage
Hacker uncovers ‘proof’ that Chinese gymnast is underage
Discussion:
Stryde Hax
John J. Kruzel / DefenseLINK:
Missile Defense Agreement Unrelated to Russia, Rice Says — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and her Polish counterpart agreed to place 10 missile defense interceptors in Poland to defend against threats from Iran and North Korea, not to weaken Russia, the secretary said.
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David Freddoso / New York Post:
BARACK'S FAVORS FOR CORRUPT CRONY — Barack Obama has ad mitted it was “boneheaded” to get involved in a land deal with Tony Rezko, his friend and fund-raiser. But the media's focus on that deal has distracted from the bigger question: Why would Obama become involved in any deal with a man like Rezko …
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Joe Klein / Time:
Where's Obama's Passion? — A few days before Barack Obama was to announce his choice for Vice President, he was asked at a North Carolina town meeting what qualities he wanted in a running mate. He wandered through a derisive, if desultory, critique of Dick Cheney, then switched gears.
Discussion:
TownHall Blog
RELATED:
Paul Begala / CNN:
Begala: Rooting for a Bill Clinton-Pickens ticket — Editor's note: Paul Begala, a Democratic strategist and CNN political contributor, was a political consultant for Bill Clinton's presidential campaign in 1992 and was counselor to Clinton in the White House. Begala is the author of several best-sellers.
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James Pethokoukis / US News:
The ‘New York Times’ Votes Big for Obama Economics — As economist Arthur Laffer told me a while back, Obamanomics “should be a fascinating economic experiment.” To see just how fascinating, you should check out the big (nearly 8,000 words) New York Times Magazine story on Obama's economic agenda …
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Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
The decay of serious journalism and Rachel Maddow's new show — (updated below) — As our political culture, economic security, standing in the world and our media institutions have all degraded beyond recognition after eight years of right-wing rule (much of it cheered on by The New Republic) …
Jed Lewison / The Jed Report:
CNN Talks With McCain About His Extramarital Affairs — My jaw literally dropped when I saw this. I'm still shocked CNN went there. — YouTube link
Discussion:
End Politics As Usual
Alexander Mooney / CNN:
Cross Nunn's name off the list? — (CNN) — It appears Sam Nunn, the former Georgia senator and a leading Democratic expert on foreign policy issues, can safely be crossed off the list of Barack Obama's potential running mates. — Nunn spokeswoman Kathy Gwin confirms to CNN the former senator …