Members of ‘Fringe’ Alaskan Independence Party Say Palin Was a Member in 90s  —  The campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., likes to herald the independence of its new running mate, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.  —  Officials of the Alaskan Independence Party say that Palin was once so independent …

Scenes from St. Paul — Democracy Now's Amy Goodman arrested  —  Following up on this weekend's extreme raids on various homes, at least 250 people were arrested here today in St. Paul, Minnesota.  Beginning last night, St. Paul was the most militarized I have ever seen an American city be …

What the Palin Pick Says  —  John McCain is not a normal conservative.  He has instincts, but few abstract convictions about the proper size of government.  He's a traditionalist, but is not energized by the social conservative agenda.  As Rush Limbaugh understands, but the Democrats apparently do not …

BUS ATTACK IN ST. PAUL!!... Anarchists Attack RNC Busses!  (Video) ...Update: Cub Scouts Attacked!  —  WELCOME TO MINNESOTA!  —  Anarchists in St. Paul attacked RNC busses today in route to the Excel Center.  —  The anarchists and Leftists knew when the busses would be heading to the convention and were waiting for them.

Poll: Obama gets post-convention ‘bounce’  —  ST. PAUL — The Democratic National Convention significantly boosted Americans' views of Barack Obama as a strong leader who “shares your values” and can manage the economy and Iraq, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll taken Saturday and Sunday finds.

Why McCain Still Has a Chance To Win  —  With Barack Obama already established as a skillful rhetorician, people keep asking me, a former White House speechwriter, about John McCain.  Can he say anything — anything at all — that might place him in the company of Ronald Reagan, the president for whom I used to work?

Obama on Gustav  —  As a journalist who has covered Obama for 19 months now, I have heard him deliver more speeches than I can count.  I know when he's tired he goes long - like 90 minutes long - rambling through oft-repeated points and stories.  I've seen him address crowds of 80,000 and rooms of less than 100.

THAT'S ORIGINAL  —  I just saw McCain spokesman Tucker Bounds on CNN with a new line on Gov. Palin's foreign policy experience: McCain and Palin have more combined military command experience than Obama and Biden put together.  —  (ed.note: We're actually getting a flood of emails …

McCain Hires GOP Operative Who Helped Smear Him in South Carolina in 2000  —  Former officials of Sen. John McCain's 2000 campaign expressed shock and disbelief Monday to learn than the GOP presidential nominee had hired South Carolina political consultant Tucker Eskew.