* He means not what he says! I have to come to the defense of my favorite talk show host John McLaughlin who was under fire earlier this week for referring to Obama as an Oreo. Insensitive, maybe, but if he knew how emotionally charged that word can be, I’m sure he wouldn’t use it. I think he was merely trying to break through to his 75+ audience. This coming from a girl called a Twinkie all her life.

* Reporter creepily details Obama’s daily work-out routine with Reggie Love; nerdy D.C.-librarian types stand by and watch. Wussy compared to Condoleezza Rice.

(Los Angeles Times)

(continued)

Oh, how I wish I was asked to predict the upcoming gaffes two weeks ago. I would have absolutely called someone from the McCain camp making the semantic argument that we aren’t technically in a recession and that Americans are a bunch of crybabies. But alas, five more predictions:

1. I think it’s a foregone conclusion that someone is going to refer to Obama as “boy.” In fact, I’m shocked it hasn’t happened yet. Predicting “who” is difficult, other than to say it’ll be some old white guy Republican surrogate of McCain. When it happens, they will apologize for their “poor choice of words”, assure the country that they meant nothing by it other than that “I was trying to convey the point that Senator Obama is very young and in experienced, like a child. I deeply regret my poor choice of words.”

2. “Senator Osama”. ‘Nuff said. It’s been done before. It will be done again. But this time by McCain and in one of the debates.

3. We haven’t heard the last about McCain’s war record. It’ll be a very dangerous line to walk, but the far left was actually happy for General Clark for first making the comment, and then angry that he apologized. I’m not going to link them, but there’s a world of conspiracies about McCain’s war record out there if you want to Google it. I predict whoever makes the comments (which will backfire), will not officially be part of Obama’s campaign, and that it will likely take place around the Republican Convention when the Republicans are heavily playing up McCain’s hero status. All the fawning will send some left winger over the edge, and they’ll make a baseless accusation akin to “McCain’s negligence killed 160 people in the USS Forrestal incident.”

(continued)

-Photos: Young John McCain

-Photos: John McCain at work and play

— Emily

Last month we started documenting the rash of art, crafts and fashions so far inspired by Barack Obama: Here's a sampling from that post:

[PHOTOS OF THE REST]

We spotted this latest mural example on Grand Street in Williamsburg just off Havemeyer Street. And it also happens to be near a really good new Italian restaurant - Fiore. So if you go check it out, stay for dinner. It's all in this vicinity:

View Larger Map

-- Lauren Johnston

By David

I hate to seem insensitive, but somehow I fail to see what all the uproar is over this week's New Yorker cover. I mean, if you can't laugh at the vicious stereotypes put forth by backwards paranoiacs, what can you laugh at?

This strike me as example No. 54,546,853 that the 24/7 nature of the news cycle is desperate for anything to feed the beast. Also, in an election season that has become the Year of Umbrage, I fail to see what either candidate thinks they hope to gain from being offended all the time.

Periodically, I will try to post a quick round up of the quirky, odd, outlandish and tangential political buzz floating around the “Internets.” Think of it as TMZ for C-SPAN.

Here’s for starters:

* Is McCain in fact eligible to be president? A law professor refutes McCain’s status as a “natural born citizen.” This may bode well for future President Schwarzenegger ...

* If this is supposed to be satire, I look forward to the next cover of McCain as the Cryptkeeper and Cindy as a big “you know what" ...

By LaShawnda

Sen. John McCain was visibly stumped by a reporters question regarding a comment made by his campaign co-chair, Carly Fiorina. Earlier this week, Ms. Fiorina stated:

“There are many health insurance plans that will cover Viagra but won’t cover birth-control medication. These women would like a choice.”

A reporter mentioned to Sen. McCain on his Straight Talk Express that he voted against legislation requiring insurance coverage of birth control and Fiorina’s comment suggested it wasn’t fair that Viagra is covered and birth control is not as one of the arguments against birth control being covered is the personal nature of its use.

The reporter then asked, “Is that still your position?”

“I don’t recall the vote right now, but I’ll look at my voting record and get back to you.”

(continued)

By Jeff

Not only is Barack Obama Your New Bicycle, but his is apparently also the new every-other-political-figure-in-the-history-of-the-planet, ever.

Surprisingly missing from this list are:

Karl Marx:
Bill Kristol — New York Times (April 14, 2008)

The Messiah
Real Clear Politics (Feb. 22, 2008)

Adolf Hitler
Tom Sullivan — FOX (Feb. 13, 2008)

William Jennings Bryan (seriously?)
John McCain (June 6, 2008)

Abe Lincoln
Tom Rutten — Los Angeles Times (March 19, 2008)

By Jeff

File this under: “Government is filled with hypocritical thieves.”

Charlie Rangel is rich. He’s been a Congressman, representing New York’s 15th district for over 25 years. Even though he’s rich, he’s always been a champion for the poor and downtrodden. Grrrr, how he hates when big evil businessmen take advantage of the system and loopholes to enrich themselves in instances where the poor couldn’t possibly also see the same benefits.

So then why does he, the same Charlie Rangel who has been making over $100,000 a year since 1991, makes over $165,000 now, and is worth close to $1 million, occupy a rent controlled apartment, thus taking capacity that could otherwise be occupied by one of his poorer constituents? Better yet, why does he need FOUR OF THEM.

(continued)

By Emily

I'm giddy to report that the chemistry and friendship between Sens. Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seemed quite genuine this morning at Manhattan fundraising breakfast for Obama.

Looking upbeat and well-rested, Clinton addressed her heartbroken supporters and urged them to throw their weight behind Obama. Obama, in turn, humbly acknowledged that he "desperately" need Clinton's help to win the election.

I was feeling the love. Pick up tomorrow's amNewYork for more.

By Emily

Barack, Michelle and their two young daughters will all be featured on "Access Hollywood" in segments airing this week about their family life.

Already inundated with attention and overwhelmed with criticism at allowing Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7, into the spotlight, Obama said today he regretted the decision.

"We wouldn't do it again, and we won't be doing it again," Obama told NBC's "Today."

The interviews seem harmless, in my opinion, especially Sasha mimics her father's speeches with a "blah, blah, blah."

In a show of Democratic harmony, Barack Obama and former rival Hillary Clinton will be in New York City tomorrow for fundraising events. They have Caroline Kennedy, vice president vetting extraordinaire, in tow.

Clinton will join Obama at a New York Women for Obama Finance Breakfast at Hilton Towers.

— Emily

Speaking of vice presidents, there can be honest debate about how much the choice of a veep actually makes in the mind of voters.

The truism that no one votes for the vice presidential candidate is, well, true; but on the other hand the selection does reveal something about a future president’s ability to evaluate people.

In Obama’s case, this moment will take on even greater importance as there has been some question about his wisdom in choosing associates (see Wright, Rev. and Johnson, Jim).

Choosing a good vice president can do two things for a top of the ticket holder: It can reinforce your message, and it can provide new energy around a campaign, if only for a few days. The choice then should be somebody who is enough like the nominee in ideology and temperament that the dominant message of the campaign is made manifest (think Clinton’s selection of Gore); and someone enough off the radar screen that the candidate gets a few days of “Why didn’t we think of that — what a brilliant idea!!” coverage from the media.

And one last thing: probably best not to choose somebody you just vanquished in the primary. One need only look at the Kerry/Edwards debacle to realize that defeated running mates — their protestations to the contrary — still really believe it should be them.

For Obama, this means none of the usual names can be considered. So, no Sam Nunn, no Kathleen Sebelius, no Bill Richardson, Joe Biden or Hillary Clinton.

All vanquished, or the excitement around them drained out a long time ago.

Obama’s background is still exotic to Main Street, and questions about his experience will linger. The best thing he can do is choose an old, boring Washington hand, but one still vaguely post-partisan and “change”-oriented.

My list of the top contenders, then, in no particular order:

(continued)

Well, I'm just grateful that no one on this blog was ever so foolish as to suggest that Jim Webb should have been V.P.

Because they would seem really foolish right now.

But seriously, despite all the speculation about Webb's Shermanesque stand yesterday, my guess is that what happened was that the Webb folks started to get the sense that they weren't going to get the nod, and wanted to put the kibbosh on it before the Webb-for-Vice President movement got any more traction or inspired any more foolish blog posts.

And in the sobering light of July, Webb does make less sense. Yes, he would have been able to connect with downscale whites, but he has less Senate service than Obama, so doesn't help with the experience question, and his long-ago description of the Naval Academy as "a horny woman's dream" wouldn't have endeared Obama to the scorned Hillaristas.

By Emily

Virgina Sen. Jim Webb, the bright-eyed junior politician who would have brought military experience to Barack Obama's ballot, won't get the chance to woo moderates this fall. Webb has taken himself out of the running for the vice presidency.

Said the Vietnam War veteran in a statement:

"At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November. He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him."

Very sweet. Very kind. Democratic unity. Then:

"Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President."

Sebelius. Bayh. What do you say?