NOT TRAINING WHEELS WE CAN BELIEVE IN  —  There's a lot of complaining that the McCain campaign won't allow anyone to interview Sarah Palin.  And for the major news outlets that would be in line for such an interview there's a logic to keeping up the drumbeat.

Zogby Poll: Republicans Hold Small Post-Convention Edge  —  But the race is tight, as both campaigns consolidate support  —  UTICA, New York - Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin left St. Paul, Minnesota, with a smallish bounce overall and some energy in key demographic groups …

Obama considered joining military, regrets abortion answer  —  Barack Obama says his answer about abortion at the Saddleback Church forum was “probably” too flip.  —  During separate televised interviews last month, Pastor Rick Warren asked the two presidential candidates when a baby gets human rights.

FALSE EQUIVALENCY.... I tend to like the fact-checking work the Washington Post's Michael Dobbs has done over the course of the campaign, but this morning, he published an item about “some of the more questionable claims” that didn't quite work.  For example, there's this quote from Joe Biden:

When Barack's berserkers lost the plot  —  My colleagues in the American liberal press had little to fear at the start of the week.  Their charismatic candidate was ahead in virtually every poll.  George W Bush was so unpopular that conservatives were scrambling around for reasons not to invite …

‘Uppity,’ the explanation  —  According to his spokesman, U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, a Southerner born and bred, had no idea on earth that the word “uppity” had racial connotations when he used it to describe Barack and Michelle Obama.  —  No idea at all.  Could have knocked him over with a feather when someone told him.

McCain's history of hot temper raises concerns  —  WASHINGTON — John McCain made a quick stop at the Capitol one day last spring to sit in on Senate negotiations on the big immigration bill, and John Cornyn was not pleased.  —  Cornyn, a mild-mannered Texas Republican …

Hmm, Hillary Clinton ducks chance to attack new GOP star Sarah Palin  —  A very interesting thing didn't happen Saturday.  —  Appearing at a labor rally and stumping for congressional candidates in New York, Sen. Hillary Clinton uttered her most popular line from the recent Democratic National Convention in Denver: “No Way.

Palin's Family Has Always Held a Place in Her Politics  —  WASILLA, Alaska — One Friday in June, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin joined the chief of the state prison system on a tour of the Point MacKenzie Correctional Farm, a 90-minute drive north of Anchorage.  It was a routine visit but for the presence of the governor's infant son, Trig.

Anatomy of a Smear  —  Weekly Standard Dean Barnett asking a very important question.  —  One that needs to be answered: Now. … “The author” here is, yes, RAWMUSLGLUTES himself.  WS isn't saying so because they're so repulsed by this vile thing they avoid even naming him anymore.

AC360 Exclusive: The trooper who worried Sarah Palin  —  The Alaska state trooper at the center of a probe into whether Gov. Sarah Palin abused her power says he has “made mistakes, and I've learned from those mistakes.”  But in an exclusive interview with us, Mike Wooten, Palin's former brother-in-law …

Palin floats like a butterfly, stings like a bee  —  The Democrats are in trouble.  Sarah Palin has totally changed the dynamics of this campaign.  —  Period.  —  Palin's speech to the GOP National Convention on Wednesday has set it up so that the Republicans are now on offense and Democrats are on defense.

Democrats regaining wimp factor  —  One of the most notable polling results at the time of the 2006 elections was that Democrats had closed the national-security gap versus Republicans who held a long and significant advantage in that area.  That was short-lived.  —  Unfortunately for Democrats, the gap has reopened.

Where Eagles Dare  —  When I was briefed on the top-secret mission before it was launched, I thought : “Good grief.  I might have to report on the failure of one of the largest and most important missions of the entire war.”  —  After seven years, the war in Afghanistan has morphed …