A Man of Seasonal Principles  —  You'll notice Barack Obama is now wearing a flag pin.  Again.  During the primary campaign, he refused to, explaining that he'd worn one after Sept. 11 but then stopped because it “became a substitute for, I think, true patriotism.”

Response from Barack on FISA and Discussion with Policy Staff  —  Barack is on the road today, but he wrote a response that he asked be posted on the blog.  You'll find it below.  —  In addition, for the next 30 minutes or so, three members of our policy staff will be in the comments on this post to respond to any questions you have.

Obama: Mental distress can't justify late abortion  —  WASHINGTON - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama says “mental distress” should not qualify as a justification for late-term abortions, a key distinction not embraced by many supporters of abortion rights.

Muslims in Britain should be able to live under Sharia, says top judge  —  Muslims in Britain should be able to live according to Sharia, the country's most senior judge has said.  —  Lord Phillips of Worth Matravers, the Lord Chief Justice, strongly backed Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury …

How did you spend Independence Day?  —  BAGHDAD - How are you spending your 4th of July holiday?  While most Americans probably slept, 1,215 Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines raised their right hands and committed to a combined 5,500 years of additional service during the largest reenlistment ceremony …

New and Not Improved  —  Senator Barack Obama stirred his legions of supporters, and raised our hopes, promising to change the old order of things.  He spoke with passion about breaking out of the partisan mold of bickering and catering to special pleaders, promised to end President Bush's abuses …

The Economy?  Words Fail Me.  —  Think you're worried about the economy?  Phillip Swagel is a wreck.  —  The assistant Treasury secretary for economic policy, Swagel came out for his monthly economic briefing yesterday, 90 minutes after the Labor Department reported that the country …

Rove's Third Term  —  Al Gore never claimed that he invented the Internet.  Howard Dean didn't scream.  Hillary Clinton didn't say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated.  And Wesley Clark didn't impugn John McCain's military service.

Barack Obama's policy switches are giving the Left whiplash  —  The Democratic nominee's policy pivots are causing anguish among liberals.  He is no fool  —  Change, it turns out, wasn't all that it was cracked up to be.  Having campaigned for the past year as the agent of transformation …

Florida Gov. Crist says he's getting married  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Florida's most powerful bachelor is getting hitched.  —  Gov. Charlie Crist, single for nearly three decades, on Thursday morning became engaged to his girlfriend of nine months, Carole Rome.  —  “She's special in every way.

Celebrity Passport Records Popular  —  State Dept. Audit Finds Snooping Was Frequent  —  Government workers repeatedly snooped without authorization inside the electronic passport records of entertainers, athletes and other high-profile Americans, a State Department audit has found.

Putting The Country First  —  Two of our greatest statesmen, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, took their last breaths on July 4, 1826, exactly 50 years after they presented America with our Declaration of Independence.  They had been fellow revolutionaries, the closest of comrades, who went on to become bitter political rivals.