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Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
McCain Strategist Blasts Media — Top Aide Says News Organizations Are ‘on a Mission to Destroy’ Palin — Sen. John McCain's top campaign strategist accused the news media Tuesday of being “on a mission to destroy” Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin by displaying “a level of viciousness and scurrilousness” …
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The Huffington Post, Think Progress, NewsBusters.org, American Street, Media Blog, TVNewser, Sweetness & Light and Commentary
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ABCNEWS:
Another Controversy for Sarah Palin — Former Police Chief Says He Was Fired for Challenging Palin's Campaign Contributors — Gov. Sarah Palin is already facing ethical questions over her firing of the Alaska public safety commissioner, and now she faces questions over the firing of a longtime local police chief.
Mike Allen / The Politico:
McCain: Palin more qualified than Obama — Mounting a ferocious defense of his embattled running mate, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he is buying a TV ad arguing that Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has more experience than the Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).
William Yardley / New York Times:
Palin's Start in Alaska: Not Politics as Usual — WASILLA, Alaska — The world arrived here more than a century ago with the gold rush and later the railroad. Yet one aspect of American life did not come to town until 1996, the year Sarah Palin ran for mayor and Wasilla got its first local lesson in wedge politics.
Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Aides Say Team Interviewed Palin Late in the Process — Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin was not subjected to a lengthy in-person background interview with the head of Sen. John McCain's vice presidential vetting team until last Wednesday in Arizona, the day before McCain asked her to be his running mate …
Washington Post:
Before Speech, Running Mate Gets Some Coaching — Since Sunday night, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin has been holed up in her suite in the Hilton Minneapolis while a parade of Sen. John McCain's top advisers have briefed her on the nuances of his policy positions, national politics and, above all …
Discussion:
Los Angeles Times, The Caucus, TRAIL BLAZERS, Argghhh!, Newsweek Blogs, Donklephant, TIME.com, PoliticalBase.com Blog, Time and MSNBC
Jack Shafer / Slate:
MCCAIN CREATES A DISASTER STORY FOR THE NEWS-STARVED PRESS. — The news abhors a vacuum. Politicians, public-relations disinformers, media consultants, and other spin artists may think it's wise to suppress the elemental force that is the news. But when the news breaches the container it's been stuffed into, mayhem results.
Discussion:
The Anonymous Liberal
Wall Street Journal:
GOP Tightens Image Control As Palin Prepares for Debut — ST. PAUL, Minn. — The McCain campaign scrambled to take control of the public debate over vice-presidential pick Sarah Palin, canceling her public appearances and teaming her with high-powered Republican operatives as she prepared …
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
The War Against the Press — I've talked to many political professionals over the years who were mad at the media, or me in particular. — But I've never quite had a conversation like the one Tuesday night with Steve Schmidt. — He was absolutely furious as he unloaded on the journalistic community …
Wall Street Journal:
The Beltway Boys — Even as the Obama camp ponders how best to handle John McCain's veep pick of Sarah Palin, the high priests and priestesses of the media have marked her as an apostate. The Beltway class is in full-throated rebellion against a nondomesticated conservative who might pose …
Rachel D'Oro / Associated Press:
Bristol Palin's boyfriend heads to convention
Bristol Palin's boyfriend heads to convention
Discussion:
The Australian, New York Times, Newshoggers.com, No More Mister Nice Blog, Associated Press, TBogg and TalkLeft
Andrew Sullivan / The Daily Dish:
Well, I Did Something Right — Thanks to Stephen Hayes:
Well, I Did Something Right — Thanks to Stephen Hayes:
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Sonny Bunch
The New / The Caucus:
Alaska Party Official Says Palin Was Not a Member
Alaska Party Official Says Palin Was Not a Member
Discussion:
News Hounds, Commentary, DBKP, Democratic Strategist, Wizbang, The GOPNation Blog and AlterNet.org
Patterico's Pontifications:
Why the Press Claims, Falsely, that Sarah Palin Wasn't Vetted …
Why the Press Claims, Falsely, that Sarah Palin Wasn't Vetted …
Discussion:
Legalities
Howard Kurtz / Washington Post:
Obama Met With Fox News Executives — At a secret meeting with Barack Obama three months ago, Fox News Chairman Roger Ailes says, he tried to clear the air with the Democratic senator by saying that his organization was determined to be fair but would not be “in the tank” for Obama's campaign.
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Jeff Zeleny / The Caucus:
Obama to Appear on Fox on Thursday Night — CHICAGO — Before Senator John McCain delivers his acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention on Thursday, Senator Barack Obama will make a marquee appearance of his own. — Call it counter-intuitive. He will appear on “The O'Reilly Factor” on Fox News Channel.
Myglesias / Matthew Yglesias:
The Angry Left — I don't have the credentials necessary to go to the actual convention, but according to folks I've talked to it's been low energy in the Xcel Energy Center and a not-exactly-packed house. Indeed, President George W. Bush didn't even bother to show up in person to deliver …
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Michelle Cottle / The New Republic:
Palin's Handling of Other People's Pregnant Teens — Obviously, from the perspective of a progressive, there is much to dislike about Sarah Palin's politics. But this tidbit in today's WaPo strikes me as particularly offensive: … I'm sorry, but a politician who opposes abortion …
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Ben Smith / The Politico:
Jewish voters may be wary of Palin — ST. PAUL, Minn. — Barack Obama has struggled for 18 months to lock down the support of a traditionally Democratic group, Jewish voters. — In the past week, John McCain may have helped Obama with his Jewish problem by choosing Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin as his running mate.
Spengler / Asia Times:
How Obama lost the election — DENVER - Senator Barack Obama's acceptance speech last week seemed vastly different from the stands of this city's Invesco Stadium than it did to the 40 million who saw it on television. Melancholy hung like thick smog over the reserved seats where I sat with Democratic Party staffers.
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Clayton Cramer's BLOG
AndrewHalcro.com:
The real politics of the Bridge to Nowhere.... With all the debate surrounding the Bridge to Nowhere earmark, I offer you a campaign photo from 2006 when the Bridge to Nowhere was considered the Bridge to Somewhere by one candidate seeking votes from the people of Ketchikan.
Steven Lee Myers / New York Times:
U.S. to Unveil $1 Billion Aid Package to Repair Georgia — BAKU, Azerbaijan — The Bush administration plans to announce a $1 billion package of aid to help rebuild Georgia after its rout by Russian forces last month, administration officials said on Wednesday, as Vice President Dick Cheney arrived …