Troops Deployed Abroad Give 6:1 to Obama  —  During World War II, soldiers crouching in foxholes penned letters assuring their sweethearts that they'd be home soon.  Now, between firefights in the Iraqi desert, some infantrymen have been sending a different kind of mail stateside …

Despite “all my apologies” for bigoted comments, Corsi reportedly scheduled to appear on “pro-White” radio show  —  In an appearance on the August 13 edition of CNN's Larry King Live, after Media Matters for America Senior Fellow Paul Waldman noted that Jerome Corsi, author of The Obama Nation …

The Obama Tax Plan  —  Even as Barack Obama proposes fiscally responsible tax reform to strengthen our economy and restore the balance that has been lost in recent years, we hear the familiar protests and distortions from the guardians of the broken status quo.

Payback?  Obama snubs Rangel  —  The Obama campaign is denying House Ways and Means Chairman Charles B. Rangel a speaking role at this month's Democratic National Convention — a move those close to the powerhouse Harlem congressman view as a spiteful snub.

Obama camp said to be leaning towards Biden for vice president.  —  I'm just passing on the latest I'm hearing—that Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) is moving up on the list of potential running mates for presumptive Democratic nominee Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.).  While Obama's heart may go towards Virginia …

GIVE THIS WOMAN A PURPLE HEART  —  Later on I intend to comment on today's events in Georgia and the region, but for now, check out this video of a Georgian television reporter named Tamara Urushadze.  She was reporting from Gori when she was shot, apparently by a sniper.

Phil Gramm Attends McCain Campaign Briefing  —  Laura Meckler reports from Aspen, Colo., on the presidential race.  —  Ousted John McCain campaign co-chairman Phil Gramm is back with the campaign's top advisers this weekend, as the campaign gathers top supporters for a series of briefings in scenic Aspen, Colo.

Up the Ante Diplomacy: US and Poland go for Euro-Anti-Missile  —  This via AP: … Nice AP lede, great comment by PM Tusk.  The Russian invasion of Georgia made “crossing the Rubicon” very politically palatable.  Made is easy for the US to provide Patriots.  —  The VOA report says:

Jackson Browne Sues GOP And McCain Campaign  —  Singer, songwriter, liberal activist and now John McCain scourge Jackson Browne filed a lawsuit today against the presumptive GOP nominee and the Republican Party for failing to obtain a license to use one of his songs in a television commercial.

Scandal of the Ages: Documents Reveal Underage Chinese Gymnast  —  What began as whispers among the media and gymnastics insiders weeks ago about the ages of three of China's female Olympic gymnasts — Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin and He Kexin — has grown into ear-shattering, head-hurting shouts.

Rep. Sali: There ‘Could Be Up To Forty Barrels Of Oil In A Single Tree’  —  Rep. Bill Sali (R-ID), who is participating in the GOP's ongoing “Drill Now” energy stunt, has a unique idea about how to bring down gas prices: extracting oil from trees.  In a meeting in his Capitol Hill office …

47% Favor Government Mandated Political Balance on Radio, TV  —  Nearly half of Americans (47%) believe the government should require all radio and television stations to offer equal amounts of conservative and liberal political commentary, but they draw the line at imposing that same requirement on the Internet.

Anatomy of a smear  —  Anyone looking for a good reason why the mainstream media took so long to get onboard with the tabloid-sourced news about John Edwards' affair need only look to a story that ran this week about Barack Obama and actor George Clooney.  —  According to the story …

Russians Say Separatist Enclaves Will Not Revert to Georgia  —  Russian officials said Thursday that the Georgian government will not regain control over two breakaway provinces that are at the center of a week-long military conflict, as the Kremlin issued an uncompromising response to U.S …