FBI probe: Lieberman campaign to blame for crashing own Web site  —  A federal investigation has concluded that U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman's 2006 re-election campaign was to blame for the crash of its Web site the day before Connecticut's heated Aug. 8 Democratic primary.

Clinton leadership a study in missteps  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton wants voters to decide the nomination based on who can coolly and competently run the country.  She had better hope they don't study her recent campaign too closely for the answer.  —  Clinton has overseen two major staff shake-ups in two months.

Petraeus Overplays His Hand  —  That statement by U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker pretty much sums up what he and Gen. David Petraeus presented to Congress yesterday.  Iraq is hard, but we are making headway; victory is possible, if we only persevere.  —  Except that in making this pitch, Petraeus and Crocker overplayed their hand.

Obama Prepares Argument to Discard Public-Financing Principle  —  Despite his previous pledge to enter into the public financing system should he be the Democratic presidential nominee,* Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., has recently been reluctant to re-commit to entering the system.

Chris Matthews, Seriously.  (O.K., Not That Seriously.)  —  Whenever Chris Matthews says something he likes, which happens a lot, he repeats it often and at volumes suggesting a speaker who feels insufficiently listened to at times.  “Tim Russert finally reeled the big marlin into the boat tonight …

Wall of silence broken at state's Muslim public school  —  Recently, I wrote about Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA), a K-8 charter school in Inver Grove Heights.  Charter schools are public schools and by law must not endorse or promote religion.  —  Evidence suggests, however …

Obama's Minister Problem  —  I have tried to get over my unease surrounding Barack Obama's response to the sermons and writings of his pastor, Rev. Jeremiah Wright of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago.  But the unanswered questions remain.  —  I am a strong supporter …

Richard Warman suing conservative bloggers — including me  —  Richard “The Boy Named Sue” Warman has finally filed his statement of claim.  —  Canada's busiest litigant, serial “human rights” complainant and — the guy Mark Steyn has called “Canada's most sensitive man” …

Michelle Obama visits Harrisburg  —  HARRISBURG —This was Michelle Obama's “mom time” in her husband's campaign for president.  —  She'd come Tuesday to meet with 50 working women who filled a room at a Harrisburg preschool, anxious to talk to Barack Obama's wife.  —  But they'd have to wait.

Blitzer: Iraqis playing U.S. taxpayers for ‘suckers’?  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Just before and immediately after the U.S. launched its invasion of Iraq, Bush administration officials optimistically predicted that Iraqi oil exports would soon finance the reconstruction of the country.  That didn't happen.

Two Cheers for Newsroom Buyouts  —  THE GOOD NEWS ABOUT THE BAD NEWS COMING OUT OF NEWSROOMS.  —  Advertising revenue at newspapers has fallen off a cliff and may tumble all the way to the bottom of the Marianas Trench if the promised recession arrives.  Average circulation is down, too …

Craig offers support to Vitter  —  Embattled Louisiana Sen. David Vitter (R) is getting support from fellow Republicans who say he should not resign over a public sex scandal — including from someone who can speak from experience.  —  Sen. Larry Craig of Idaho was among several GOP senators …

Report: Jimmy Carter to Meet With Hamas Leader in Syria  —  NEW YORK CITY — Former President Jimmy Carter is reportedly preparing an unprecedented meeting with the leader of Hamas, an organization that the U.S. government considers one of the leading terrorist threats in the world.

The Great McCain Story You've Probably Forgotten  —  WHAT AN OLD ANECDOTE ABOUT MO UDALL IN THE HOSPITAL REVEALS ABOUT MCCAIN'S CHARACTER. … By 7:30 we were on the road, and McCain was reminiscing about his early political career.  When he was elected to the House in 1982, he said, he was “a freshman right-wing Nazi.”

Hillary's slick willies  —  Does Hillary surround herself with girly men?  Obama and the experience question.  Plus: Lincoln, Madonna's new face and a Bush with real authority.  —  I would like to get your feedback on the subject of those who end up in Hillary's orbit.