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- Scott rounds up the relevant links pertinent to McCain's apparent ignorance of the basic chronology of the surge's effects. I think Ilan Goldenberg said it best: "As far as I'm concerned [this] disqualifies him from being President ... I have no choice but to conclude that John McCain has simply no idea what is actually happened and happening in Iraq." Even more disturbing, however, is the fact that CBS News deliberately edited the remarks out of the official interview. They have absolutely no business covering up McCain's obvious ignorance on a matter he has repeatedly claimed to be an expert on.
- With all the talk of Barack Obama's hubris/narcissism/etc., it's worth noting that McCain apparently suffers from the same affliction.
- Dave Weigel has been assiduously following the "Obama is foreign-born" conspiracy theory over in right-wing fantasyland, and doesn't disappoint with today's nugget.
- Patrick Ruffini, writing at the Next Right, takes Barack Obama to task for issuing fliers in German that advertise a speech he's giving...in Germany. Matt Yglesias' comments are worth reading on this matter, but I have to wonder what young conservative bloggers like Ruffini are trying to accomplish. The Next Right is supposed to be a first crack at organizing a formidable conservative Netroots, and while they do an admirable job of big picture strategy and analyzing politics at the district level, the best rallying cry they can come up with is to pander to the xenophobic? Seems to me that's the sort of sentiment you'd want to move away from in order to rebuild your shattered political coalition.
- John Sides at the Monkey Cage gives us a quick tour of an academic paper that concludes the so-called Wilder Effect -- when voters tell pollsters they'll vote for the black candidate, but don't at the polls -- has declined to irrelevance and that Obama is typically exceeding polling.
- Ron Paul's alternative convention in St. Paul appears to have the makings of a large distraction from the Republican National Convention, the NY Times Caucus reports.
- Gallup reports that Obama has increased his lead over McCain in purple states since clinching the nomination, and has extended his lead in blue states while closing the gap in red states. Meanwhile, Rasmussen has Obama up over McCain by 2 points in Florida, 49-47 (leaners included), and has him up 50-47 (with leaners) in Colorado. Public Policy Polling [PDF] has Obama up by two points in Virginia, 46-44. In New Hampshire, a Granite State Poll [PDF] has Democratic challenger Jeanne Shaheen beating incumbent Republican Senator John Sununu by 4 points, 46-42.
- George W. Bush will be a speaker at the Republican National Convention on September 1, Marc Ambinder confirms.
- And finally, The American Conservative asks, "Is California Keyes country?" And yes, that would be Alan Keyes.
--Mori Dinauer
