Harold Ickes Confirms That Wright Is Key Topic In Discussions With Super-Delegates  —  In an interview with me this morning, senior Hillary adviser Harold Ickes confirmed that Reverend Jeremiah Wright is a key topic in discussions with uncommitted super-delegates over whether Obama is electable in a general election.

Clinton compares herself to ‘Rocky’  —  PHILADELPHIA - Perhaps the analogy was inevitable: Hillary Rodham Clinton as Rocky Balboa, the scrappy underdog boxer from Philadelphia memorably depicted in the 1976 Oscar-winning film.  Even if Rocky did lose his first big fight.

Hillary fired for lies, unethical behavior from Congressional job: former boss  —  Dan Calabrese's new column on Hillary Clinton's past may bring the curtain down on her political future.  Calabrese interviewed Jerry Zeifman, the man who served as chief counsel to the House Judiciary Committee during …

The Real Bush Intelligence Failure  —  On Sunday, CIA director Michael Hayden warned on “Meet the Press” that a reconstituting al Qaeda was preparing operatives in Afghanistan who would draw no attention while passing through U.S. airport checkpoints.  —  Exactly how vulnerable are we right now to a significant terrorist attack?

Student calls McCain out for political motivations of school appearance.  —  Today Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) stopped at his alma mater, Episcopal High School in Virginia, to lecture on the importance of teaching and the honor code.  McCain's toughest question came from student Katelyn Halldorson …

The March 2003 Yoo Memo Emerges! (not an April Fool's Joke): The Torture Memo to Top All Torture Memos  —  Subhead: The Big Kahuna: The Torture Memo that Makes the August 2002 Memo Look Like Objective and Thoughtful Legal Analysis  —  On Friday, March 13, 2003, Jay Bybee left his office …

Elizabeth Edwards Responds: Why Are People Like Me Left Out Of Your Health Care Proposal, Sen. McCain?  —  Our guest blogger is Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Presidential candidate John Edwards.  —  I freely admit that I am confused about the role of overnight funding in repurchase markets in the collapse of Bear Stearns.

Flying penguins found by BBC programme  —  The BBC will today screen remarkable footage of penguins flying as part of its new natural history series, Miracles of Evolution.  —  Camera crews discovered a colony of Adélie penguins while filming on King George Island, some 750 miles south of the Falkland Islands.

Obama-Webb 2008  —  I've mentioned in passing several times, both here and on OTB Radio, that Jim Webb would be the Democrats' smartest choice for Vice President, particularly if (as seems exceedingly likely) Barack Obama is their nominee.  Alex Massie makes the case in detail.  Some excerpts:

Exclusive Poll: Clinton's Lead Shrinks In Pa.  —  Clinton Leads By 12 Points, Survey Finds  —  If the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania were held Tuesday, April 1, Hillary Clinton would defeat Barack Obama by 12 percentage points, according to a recent SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively …

Pentagon balked on gay partner travel  —  Prior to the Easter recess, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was forced to intervene with Defense Secretary Robert Gates in order to get Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin's domestic partner on a military flight for a congressional fact-finding trip to Europe.

Gallup Daily: Obama 49%, Clinton 45%  —  McCain has slight edge over both Democrats  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking update shows a closer Democratic nomination race than has been the case in recent days, with 49% of Democratic voters nationwide saying they are most likely …

CNN catches McCain making contradictory statements about Sadr.  —  In an interview with CNN earlier today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) claimed that he has long understood the influence of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr: … But in a report on The Situation Room today …

Dems seek Texas seat held by elder Bush  —  Democrats have been increasingly bullish about their ability to win over suburban, ancestrally Republican House districts that have been trending in their party's direction over the past decade.  —  But their party's latest target shows just how confident Democrats have become.

Clinton backer: Obama will win  —  (CNN) — A key Hillary Clinton supporter appeared to be a bit off message during a recent interview with a Canadian radio station.  —  “If I had to make a prediction right now, I'd say Barack Obama is going to be the next president,” Missouri Rep. Emanuel Cleaver …

Does Obama Understand Defeat?  —  On Oct. 14, 1993, John McCain took to the floor of the United States Senate to offer what, in light of his past history and his later positions, was an unusual amendment.  —  Earlier that month, 19 American soldiers had been ambushed and killed in Mogadishu …