A Star Is Born?  —  Thursday night, after Barack Obama's well-orchestrated, well-conceived and well-delivered acceptance speech in Denver, Republicans were demoralized.  Twenty-four hours later, they were energized — even exuberant.  It's amazing what a bold vice-presidential pick who gives …

Sarah Palin Baby Story Ender  —  Here it is:  —  OK, there is a visibly-pregnant Sarah Palin talking with a CBS 11 ( Juneau) reporter at the end of the Alaska legislative session.  She clearly appears to be pregnant.  —  Unless someone has counter evidence, we can drop this crap now.

Hurricane Gustav begins to pound Louisiana  —  (CNN) — Hurricane Gustav began to lash the southern Louisiana coastline early Monday as it moved closer to an expected midday landfall, according to the National Hurricane Center in Miami, Florida.  —  The U.S. Geological Survey says Gustav …

Biden quoted as saying that Israel will have to reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran  —  Democratic vice-presidential candidate Joe Biden was quoted Monday as telling senior Israeli officials behind closed doors that the Jewish state will have to reconcile itself to a nuclear Iran.

A Clintonite in Denver  —  For many of us who were part of the Clinton campaign, Sen. Barack Obama's appeal was something we understood only in the abstract — data in polls, faces at a televised rally.  —  Most of us never heard him speak in person.  At work 14 hours a day in the war room …

THE HURRICANE UPSETS THE GOP CONVENTION BUT MAY BE GOOD FOR THE GOP.  —  Gustav is now the third name on John McCain's ticket.  Depending on how McCain responds, he may actually benefit from its presence—and those in the hurricane's path could also benefit from the politicization of the response.

Police raids enrage activists, alarm others  —  St. Paul police officers attempted to enter a house on Iglehart Ave.  Saturday.  Sara Coffey of the National Lawyers Guild was stopped outside the house, handcuffed and detained.  She helped police negotiate with those inside.

REV. STRIKES AGAIN  —  WRIGHT'S CRUDE MICHELLE OBAMA CRACK  —  TOLEDO, Ohio - The Rev. Jeremiah Wright, Barack Obama's fiery ex-pastor, re-emerged yesterday with a crude reference about race and sex in the White House.  —  “This ordinary boy [Obama] just might be the first president …

LAURA BUSH AND CINDY MCCAIN ADDED TO MONDAY RNCC AGENDA  —  In a conference call with reporters just now, RNC officials announced some additions to today's abbreviated convention schedule.  —  First Lady Laura Bush will introduce a video of the various Gulf Coast state governors (all Republicans …

CAN'T WE ESCAPE THIS TIRESOME DEMAGOGUERY ABOUT CANDIDATES' INCOME AND PROPERTY?  —  Sen. John McCain's now-notorious answer to the question of how many houses he and his wife, Cindy, own was first repeated to me as if he had been deliberately joking.  And I must say that I thought his reported response …