Nominee's ally moves to curb probe of Palin  —  Key Alaska allies of John McCain are trying to derail a politically charged investigation into Gov. Sarah Palin's firing of her public safety commissioner in order to prevent a so-called “October surprise” that would produce embarrassing information …

Palin Rumors  —  Cripes, this has gotten ridiculous.  Folks, look, let's just run through a list here.  (Updated.)  — No, the Downs baby (Trig) isn't Bristol's kid, and no, the kid wasn't born with Downs because (a) Palin flew on an airplane (b) went home to have the baby after an amniotic leak …

Joe Biden On Fire  —  This is awesome — Joe Biden just tears John McCain and Sarah Palin apart for completely ignoring every single major economic issue facing America and for offering nothing but sarcastic personal attacks.  —  YouTube link

U.S. Rescue Seen at Hand for 2 Mortgage Giants  —  WASHINGTON — Senior officials from the Bush administration and the Federal Reserve on Friday informed top executives of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the mortgage finance giants, that the government was preparing to seize the two companies …

The Trail  —  One of the most compelling anecdotes in Sarah Palin's repertoire is that she auctioned off the Alaska governor's jet on eBay after taking office — a swift move made by a reformer hoping to clean up the excesses of her predecessor.  —  In fact, the jet did not sell on eBay.

Obama Campaign National Finance Committee Member Criticizes Palin's Parenting  —  On the Laura Ingraham Radio show, Friday, attorney Howard Gutman — an original member of the national finance committee for Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill. — very directly criticized the parenting of Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.

McCain, Obama tied in TV audiences  —  NEW YORK (AP) - As a television draw, John McCain was every bit the equal of Barack Obama.  —  The GOP presidential candidate attracted roughly the same number of viewers to his convention acceptance speech Thursday as Obama did before the Democrats last week, according to Nielsen Media Research.

McCain Winning Coveted “Stock Photos” Demographic?  —  This was sent in by a reader: apparently, the Republicans couldn't find very many African American supporters to show on the Big Screen Of Triumph, when introducing McCain (see 6:45, 7:02)... so they simply put up stock photos of black people.

Obama At Bon Jovi Event: 'We Won't Be Bullied'  —  Presidential Nominee Vows To Fight Back Against Character Attacks Better Than John Kerry Did In '04  —  MIDDLETOWN, N.J. (AP) ― Unlike his Republican opponent, Democrat Barack Obama is still raising money for his presidential campaign …

Obama: ‘Not about the issues’ comment means making stuff up  —  DURYEA, Pennsylvania (CNN) - Barack Obama continued to hammer the McCain campaign on Friday for manager Rick Davis's comments that the election would be more about the candidates' personas, not the issues.

Democrats post big gains in voter registration  —  CLAIRTON, Pa. (AP) — Five days a week, Linda Graham trolls tattered neighborhoods of this once thriving steel city outside Pittsburgh for unregistered voters she can sign up as Democrats — one of thousands of unknown volunteers whose work outside …

The Castle's Sailor in Iraq  —  In the midst of two weeks of all politics all the time, you may have forgotten there are still two active campaigns on-going in the Long War.  Now that the conventions are over, it's time for another update from LCDR Joe Honan - who is a sailor …