Oh John...

You know, for a guy who just yesterday seemed to show some backbone on this issue, he surely disappoints today. I can't wait until the primary is over and the MSM will have the attention to focus on this sort of hypocrisy.

Updated: McCain calls Hagee views nonsense, takes jab at Obama

spin-central

Wow.

Debate Wierdness

The more I think about it, the more I'm bothered by the debate. On the one hand Obama needs to be ready to respond to ridiculous questions. On the other hand, it's really disturbing to see the lengths to which ABC seemed to go in questioning him.

The lapel pin question, one of the more inane, is a good case in point: Josh Marshall has a good overview of this. What strikes me is how either dishonest or lazy ABC's reporting is here. If they believe it's such a big issue because of a quote from Ms. McCabe, then I would think ABC would have been able to find another citizen questioner. Instead, they have the same person who made the original quote without even validating that others are as bothered.

Bitter redux

I agree with Josh's assesment of this clip of Obama 4 years ago discussing the same underlying point as his recent bitter remark, but with better word choice. This is exactly what I thought he meant -- In times of fear and uncertainty, people go to their comfort zones. Clinton is smart to hammer him on this, as it's all she's got, and it was poor word choice. That being said, if this is the "big disaster" she's been waiting for, then I feel much better.

100 years

I think Obama should be careful with the warmonger and 100 years talk. That being said, it's nice to see a thoughful discussion, summarized here by Andrew Sullivan, of why even in McCain's formulation of "like Japan and Germany" it's a problem.

Also, we probably should mention that our troubles in Okinawa suggest Japan may not even want us for 100 years!

Super Delegate Charts

via DemConWatch

Obama on Patriotism via Andrew Sullivan

via Andrew Sullivan:

I love this country not because it's perfect, but because we've always
been able to move it closer to perfection. Because through revolution
and slavery; war and depression; great battles for civil rights and
women's rights and worker's rights, generations of Americans have shown
their love of country by struggling and sacrificing and risking their
lives to bring us that much closer to our founding promise. And as long
as I live, I will never forget that I am only standing here because
they did... That is the country I love. That is the promise of America. (Obama)

Indeed

Rasmussen Daily Tracking Poll

On the Media

Linkins' post includes stats from Glenn Greenwald that put things in real perspective, and belie the argument that Obama gets a free pass from the MSM.

One might argue that the poor MSM coverage of the Yoo torture memo merely reflects a recognition that we're all so sick and cynical about the depravities of the Bush administration that this sort of revelation is just no longer topical. Look on the bright side, at least the media's focus on "Obama and bowling" was slightly edged out by the always topical search term "Clinton and Lewinsky"

I'm just waiting for someone to interview Monica Lewinsky to see if she's endorsing Clinton or Obama!

Fully Vetted?

I'm not sure if this is true or not, but either way it certainly belies Hillary's claim that she's been fully vetted:

..Certainly, he could not have known in 1974 that diary entries about a young lawyer named Hillary Rodham would be of interest to anyone 34 years later.

But they show that the pattern of lies, deceit, fabrications and unethical behavior was established long ago – long before the Bosnia lie, and indeed, even before cattle futures, Travelgate and Whitewater – for the woman who is still asking us to make her president of the United States.

Hitch on Tuzla-gate

"Hillary Clinton's Bosnian misadventure should disqualify her from the presidency, but the airport landing is the least of it."

The real harm Hillary Clinton inflicted on Bosnia. - By Christopher Hitchens - Slate Magazine