‘Thrown Away Flags’ Story False, Dem Convention Official Says  —  Days before the anniversary of September 11, on the same morning that John McCain and Barack Obama released a joint statement pledging to avoid politics in light of the anniversary of the terrorist attacks …

McCain-Palin becoming Palin-McCain?  —  Republican vice president pick from Alaska generates excitement, crowds  —  Sen. John McCain, his wife, Cindy, right, andAlaska Gov. Sarah Palin take the stage at a campaign rally in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Saturday.  —  A look ahead for Gov. Palin

Zogby Poll: Republicans Hold Small Post-Convention Edge  —  But the race is tight, as both campaigns consolidate support  —  UTICA, New York - Republicans John McCain and Sarah Palin left St. Paul, Minnesota, with a smallish bounce overall and some energy in key demographic groups …

Anatomy of a Smear  —  Blogger Charlie Martin has helpfully compiled all of the smears that the left has hurled at Sarah Palin. 54 and counting!  —  Given that we're more than halfway to the century mark in Palin smears, I think it's time to take another brief look at the left's method of smear dissemination.

Guy who requested $740 million in earmarks on Palin: You can't really be for change if you're pro-earmark  —  Indeed.  To truly represent change, you have to request earmarks for your wife's employer.  —  I was hoping against hope that he'd come after her on this point.  And now, my dream's come true.

Alaskans Speak (In A Frightened Whisper): Palin Is “Racist, Sexist, Vindictive, And Mean”  —  “So Sambo beat the bitch!”  —  This is how Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin described Barack Obama's win over Hillary Clinton to political colleagues in a restaurant a few days …

The mighty, scary press corps  —  (updated below)  —  Criticizing the McCain campaign for refusing to allow reporters to question Sarah Palin, Time's Jay Carney writes: … If only that were true.  But if there's one indisputable lesson from the last eight years, it's …

Daily Show: 2008 McCain = 2000 Bush: A case of amnesia.  —  Jon finds some eerie similarities between John McCain's convention speech and the one given by George W. Bush eight years ago.  —  Download |  Play Download |  Play  —  John Amato: McCain wants us to forget that if he wins the election …

When Barack's berserkers lost the plot  —  My colleagues in the American liberal press had little to fear at the start of the week.  Their charismatic candidate was ahead in virtually every poll.  George W Bush was so unpopular that conservatives were scrambling around for reasons not to invite …

Palin church promotes converting gays  —  VP candidate hasn't expressed views on ‘pray away the gay’ movement  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska - Gov. Sarah Palin's church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

Loan Giant Overstated the Size of Its Capital Base  —  The government's planned takeover of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, expected to be announced as early as this weekend, came together hurriedly after advisers poring over the companies' books for the Treasury Department concluded …

An Adviser Puts His Stamp on McCain Campaign  —  ST. PAUL — It was what aides to Senator John McCain describe as probably the worst night of his campaign.  As Senator Barack Obama claimed the Democratic nomination before a cheering sea of faces on national television, Mr. McCain countered …

PERSPECTIVES ON THE PALIN PICK  —  Charles Krauthammer continues to find John McCain's choice of Sarah Palin “deeply problematic.”  He writes: … McCain's one hope, according to Krauthammer, is that Palin “pulls an Obama” - i.e. overcomes the thinness of her biography through “star power.”