‘Scare tactic’ — Obama slams Muslim portrayal  —  The Obama campaign is condemning as “tasteless and offensive” a New Yorker magazine cover that depicts Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) in a turban, fist-bumping his gun-slinging wife.  —  An American flag burns in their fireplace.  —  The New Yorker says it's satire.

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MCCAIN AND BUSH IS, UH, UM, AH, ERR...  I don't know when Barack Obama's economic team put John McCain, John McCain's economic advisers, and John McCain's surrogates on their payroll, but it sure was a good investment.  Between McCain admitting that he knows little …

Rescue Sought for Fannie and Freddie  —  WASHINGTON — Alarmed about the sharply eroding confidence in the nation's two largest mortgage finance companies, the Bush administration will ask Congress to approve a rescue package that would give the government the authority to buy billions …

Nine US soldiers killed in Afghanistan as Taliban attacks base  —  Taliban insurgents killed nine US troops when they attempted to overrun an American base as bloody fighting broke out in several parts of Afghanistan today.  —  Nato reported that the small American Combat Outpost in Dara …

CNN exclusive: Obama on foreign policy  —  Editor's note: Fareed Zakaria is a pre-eminent foreign affairs analyst and hosts “Fareed Zakaria: GPS” on CNN at 1 p.m. ET Sunday.  —  (CNN) — Sen. Barack Obama discussed his vision for the world in a wide-ranging foreign policy discussion with CNN's Fareed Zakaria.

Who listens to blogging heads?  —  They're a small group, but they love their politics — and only their politics.  —  Daily Kos.  Little Green Footballs.  Talking Points Memo.  Instapundit.  Firedoglake.  Captain's Quarters.  These are among the thousands of political blogs that are increasingly a factor in U.S. politics.

Shocker: More than 1 in 10 Army Recruits Now Given “Moral Waivers”  —  It has been rumored by some time that the U.S. Army has had to lower its standards to get enough recruits for its expanded war-fighting needs in Iraq and Afghanistan.  Now firm evidence has emerged, and it is not pretty.

Arnold may consider Obama energy post  —  California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said in an interview aired Sunday that he would be open to the idea of serving as energy czar in a Barack Obama administration.  —  Regardless of whether he takes that particular job, Schwarzenegger, a Republican …

A Man Who Loved People, the Gritty Nature of Life and All of the Human Comedy  —  NPR Senior Correspondent/FOX News Political Contributor  —  Tony Snow and I traveled parallel paths through Washington.  We are a year apart in age -Tony is a year younger at 53 -and both loved politics and debate.