Anatomy of a Smear  —  Blogger Charlie Martin has helpfully compiled all of the smears that the left has hurled at Sarah Palin. 54 and counting!  —  Given that we're more than halfway to the century mark in Palin smears, I think it's time to take another brief look at the left's method of smear dissemination.

‘Thrown Away Flags’ Story False, Dem Convention Official Says  —  Days before the anniversary of September 11, on the same morning that John McCain and Barack Obama released a joint statement pledging to avoid politics in light of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks …

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 …

Guy who requested $740 million in earmarks on Palin: You can't really be for change if you're pro-earmark  —  Indeed.  To truly represent change, you have to request earmarks for your wife's employer.  —  I was hoping against hope that he'd come after her on this point.  And now, my dream's come true.

Gallup Daily: Obama's Edge Shrinks to 2 Points  —  Election Preferences Nearly Tied Again, 47%-45%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Barack Obama's advantage over John McCain has been shrinking since the start of the Republican National Convention, and is now down to just two percentage points — 47% to 45% — too close to call.

PERSPECTIVES ON THE PALIN PICK  —  Charles Krauthammer continues to find John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin “deeply problematic.”  He writes: … McCain's one hope, according to Krauthammer, is that Palin “pulls an Obama” - i.e. overcomes the thinness of her biography through “star power.”

Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”  —  “So Sambo beat the bitch!”  —  This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama's win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days …

The mighty, scary press corps  —  (updated below)  —  Criticizing the McCain campaign for refusing to allow reporters to question Sarah Palin, Time's Jay Carney writes: … If only that were true.  But if there's one indisputable lesson from the last eight years, it's …

Daily Show: 2008 McCain = 2000 Bush: A case of amnesia.  —  Jon finds some eerie similarities between John McCain's convention speech and the one given by George W. Bush eight years ago.  —  Download |  Play Download |  Play  —  John Amato: McCain wants us to forget that if he wins the election …

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 …

Palin church promotes converting gays  —  VP candidate hasn't expressed views on ‘pray away the gay’ movement  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

Inhofe says patriotism question will sink Obama  —  ST. PAUL, Minn. — U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe predicted voters' uncertainty over whether Barack Obama really loves his country will help Republicans win the White House again in November.  —  A spokeswoman for the Democratic nominee …

Mortgage Giant Overstated the Size of Its Capital Base  —  Advisers poring over the books of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac concluded that Freddie's accounting methods had overstated its cushion, officials said.