White women cold toward Obama  —  Barack Obama's favorability ratings among white women have declined significantly in recent months, particularly among Democrats and independents, presenting an immediate obstacle for the likely Democratic nominee as he moves to shore up his party's base.

Memo to Scott McClellan: Here's what happened  —  Until now, we've resisted the temptation to post on former White House press secretary Scott McClellan's new book, which accuses the Bush White House of launching a propaganda campaign to sell the war in Iraq.  —  Why?  It's not news.

Ickes At The Alamo: Clinton's Delegate Counter Warns Of Defections At DNC Meeting  —  stumble digg reddit del.ico.us news trust buzz up  —  The major dispute over the Florida and Michigan delegations to the Democratic convention in Denver has now boiled down to Hillary Clinton's demand …

The right-wing Politico cesspool  —  Politico reporter Mike Allen, formerly of The Washington Post and Time, appeared yesterday on the show of right-wing radio host Mike Gallagher.  The two of them guffawed together at how absurd are Scott McCellan's claims that the media was “deferential” …

U.S. Cites Big Gains Against Al-Qaeda  —  Group Is Facing Setbacks Globally, CIA Chief Says  —  Less than a year after his agency warned of new threats from a resurgent al-Qaeda, CIA Director Michael V. Hayden now portrays the terrorist movement as essentially defeated in Iraq and Saudi Arabia …

Harvey Korman, 81; versatile Emmy-winning comedian  —  The late Harvey Korman, second from right, in a 1968 skit on “The Carol Burnett Show,” in which some shapely legs — and then their owners — are revealed to the audience.  From left, Betty Grable, Martha Raye, Jackie Gregory, Lyle Waggoner, Korman and Burnett.

THE POLITICS OF MASCULINITY.  —  I've been sort of struggling with whether to write this post, but after Daniel Larison and Matt Stoller both toed around the point while offering their takes on Webb, I guess it's worth doing.  Let me start by saying that this isn't really about James Webb.

Video: Rupert Murdoch on Politics, Obama and McCain  —  Here are some more video highlights from the D6 interview of Rupert Murdoch, Chairman and CEO, News Corporation, conducted by conference co-hosts Walt Mossberg and Kara Swisher.

Anger Simmers, As Some Democratic Bloggers Are Shut Out From the National Convention Floor  —  After the Democratic National Committee announced last November that it was expanding its blogger-credentialing program to include those covering state and local politics, more than 400 applications poured in.

The Reality Situation  —  You are now engaged in a campaign debate over whether to talk with Iran.  As I'm sure you both know, this is a political exercise that will have little relevance should you actually take office.  —  In the White House, you will find yourself spending more time on Iran than any other foreign policy issue.

China's Cyber-Militia  —  CHINESE HACKERS POSE A CLEAR AND PRESENT DANGER TO U.S. GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE-SECTOR COMPUTER NETWORKS AND MAY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR TWO MAJOR U.S. POWER BLACKOUTS.  —  Sat.  —  Computer hackers in China, including those working on behalf of the Chinese government and military …

Thank You, and Goodbye  —  My name is Andrew Exum, and for the past year and a half, I have had the great pleasure of editing this blog under the ridiculous pseudonym “Abu Muqawama.”  —  I started this blog as a joke - hence the tongue-in-cheek name - and have been shocked to discover …

Doughnuts: The Third Rail of American Politics?  —  Social security is no longer the undisputed third rail of American politics.  Israel, race and religion and the draft all earned the title in May, leaving readers bewildered and journalists struggling to keep their dark metaphors straight.