WEBB DOESN'T WANT TO BE VP  —  From NBC's Mark Murray  —  Virginia Sen. Jim Webb just issued a statement from his Senate office saying that — “[u]nder no circumstances” — does he want to be considered as Obama's veep.  “Last week I communicated to Sen. Obama and his presidential campaign …

Contact: Michael Huttner 303-931-4547 cell  —  DENVER, Colo.-On orders from Senator John McCain's security detail, Denver police escorted a 61-year-old woman away who was waiting in line to attend a so-called town hall meeting with McCain that was billed as open to the public.

WE'LL GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT  —  I think we may have come to that moment, that quick turn of events, that encapsulates the fact that there is apparently no limit to the howlers and nonsense that John McCain can throw out and still not generate collective guffaws or even scrutiny from the national political press.

Obama: I need to earn troops' trust  —  Candidate lays out defense policies, touts his judgment over McCain's, holds civilians accountable for missteps in Iraq  —  COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama knows that to win the vote of current and former military members …

The Case of Jesse Helms  —  The liberal blogosphere wants to know: Why have conservatives lined up to say kind things about the late Jesse Helms?  Partially because nobody wants to speak ill of the dead, but largely because Helms was an sometimes-effective, always-steadfast champion …

When Fox News Is the Story  —  Like most working journalists, whenever I type seven letters — Fox News — a series of alarms begins to whoop in my head: Danger. … Once the public relations apparatus at Fox News is engaged, there will be the calls to my editors, keening (and sometimes threatening) …

FARC YOU, HOSTAGES SAY  —  The three American hostages who were freed in Colombia last week had a party/press conference today in Texas.  They were happy to be home, but also had harsh words for their captors, who held them prisoner in the jungle for more than five years.  Marc Gonsalves spoke:

Washington Post Names Marcus Brauchli Executive Editor  —  Marcus Brauchli has been named executive editor of The Washington Post, returning him to the top ranks of American journalism less than three months after Rupert Murdoch forced him out as the Wall Street Journal's top editor.

Toddlers who dislike spicy food ‘racist’  —  Toddlers who turn their noses up at spicy food from overseas could be branded racists by a Government-sponsored agency.  —  The National Children's Bureau, which receives £12 million a year, mainly from Government funded organisations …

Will Israel Attack Iran?  —  As the most pro-Israel administration in Washington since Harry Truman enters its last six months in office, Israel faces a strategic choice.  Will it use the possible indulgence of the Bush Administration to attack Iran's nuclear facilities …

Medic in famous photo dies after PTSD struggle  —  During the first week of the war in Iraq, a Military Times photographer captured the arresting image of Army Spc. Joseph Patrick Dwyer as he raced through a battle zone clutching a tiny Iraqi boy named Ali.  —  The photo was hailed as a portrait …

CREW FILES BAR COMPLAINTS AGAINST FORMER JUSTICE DEPT. OFFICIALS ELSTON AND McDONALD  —  7 Jul 2008 // Washington, DC - Today, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) filed bar complaints against former Department of Justice officials Michael J. Elston and Esther Slater McDonald.

Obama foreign trip details emerge  —  While the Barack Obama campaign is keeping the dates of its international trip a tightly guarded secret, details are beginning to leak out of foreign capitals.  —  The Obama campaign announced late last month that the candidate would travel to Israel …

Matthews: “Can Obama now win over the regular folks, white folks, against John McCain?”  —  On the July 7 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, host Chris Matthews teased an upcoming segment by saying: “They're the working-class white voters Hillary Clinton won and Barack didn't.

Internal Politics Heat Up at McCain Campaign  —  WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain's campaigns have long been defined by internal squabbling and power plays, zigzagging lines of command and a penchant by the candidate for consulting with former advisers without alerting current ones, always a recipe for disquiet.

Christian Group Launches “Abortion President” Campaign against Barack Obama  —  Oh my.  The fight against Barack Obama on abortion has officially begun.  The Christian Defense Coalition, who are known to shock folks from time to time, have come up with a new campaign called: “Barack Obama: The Abortion President”.