Republican Talking Points  —  Here are the official Republican talking points, being circulated to surrogates speaking on behalf of the party here:  —  Surrogate Message Points:  —  2012 Republican National Convention - A Better Future  —  Top Line Message Points:

Chris Matthews Calls Out GOP: You Are Playing The ‘Race Card’  —  Political observers have noted for a while that Mitt Romney's claim that President Obama gutted the work requirement in the 1996 welfare reform law is false.  But few in the mainstream media have have gone so far as to accuse Republicans of playing the ‘race card.’

Mitt Romney outlines his governing plan to POLITICO  —  POWELL, Ohio — Mitt Romney conceded President Barack Obama has succeeded in making him a less likable person, but he offered a defiant retort to those hoping he will open up this week: “I am who I am.”

We all know the world revolves around The Greatest President in the History of Everything.  So it makes sense that all the other celestial bodies were placed in the sky to shine down upon him.  —  This is not a Photoshop.  This was actually posted on Obama's official Tumblr page:

Elizabeth Warren Aide Knocks Around Republican Cameraman  —  An aide to Massachusetts Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat, appears to have knocked the video camera of a Republican tracker after an event this weekend in Martha's Vineyard.  Watch the video below:

What the *#@% Is Wrong With Republicans?!  —  It's not just Akin.  By pushing some of the most invasive state policies in modern history, the men of the GOP are driving their party off a cliff.  —  Blame it on the “idea cloud”—that cumulus cartoon bubble that dumps the same idea on diverse populations at once.

Crist to speak at Democratic National Convention  —  Florida's former Republican Gov. Charlie Crist will be a speaker at the Democratic National Convention.  —  An official with President Barack Obama's campaign said Sunday that Crist will speak at next week's convention in Charlotte, N.C., but the day hasn't been worked out.

Rove unloads on Todd Akin on eve of GOP convention  —  Tampa, Florida (CNN) - Republican strategist Karl Rove ramped up his criticism of Missouri candidate Todd Akin on Monday, calling his recent remarks about rape and abortion “morally incomprehensible” and insisting that he drop out of the race.

Trial Judge Orders Prop 8 Case Closed  —  Judge James Ware issues an order under which same-sex couples should be allowed to marry immediately in California.  Supporters of the initiative could ask the Supreme Court to stop weddings.  —  The trial court judge in California who has taken …

Yes, the Rich Are Different  —  As Republicans gather for their national convention in Tampa to nominate a presidential candidate known, in part, as a wealthy businessman, a new nationwide Pew Research Center survey finds that many Americans believe the rich are different than other people.

Obama gives one-on-one to Glamour  —  Yet another push in President Barack Obama's soft-media strategy, unearthed this morning by WWD's Erik Maza:

Republicans Worry About Keeping Factions Reined In  —  TAMPA, Fla. — Mitt Romney arrives here this week to accept his nomination from the increasingly disparate coalition of factions known as the Republican Party, confronting the challenge of unifying them behind him and — should he win …

RNC swag bag has Romney book with unaltered health care section … TAMPA — All credentialed media checking into the Republican National Convention are being given a swag bag featuring brochures and items from various sponsors such as sunglasses and a pocket fan.