• Anthony Russo, the man who leaked the Vietnam-era Pentagon Papers, passed away this week at age 71.
• The Fresno Bee examines the significant drop in Republican voter registration:

  The GOP's decline is most obvious in Fresno County, where the losses have turned into an avalanche, even as the party gears up its efforts to keep the White House in GOP hands by electing Arizona Sen. John McCain as president.
  The most recent voter registration numbers show the Democrats are closing the gap and are now fewer than 9,000 voters behind the Republicans.

  At the peak in 2004, GOP registrations were ahead by more than 23,500 voters.

  "We are concerned," said Fred Vanderhoof, chairman of the Fresno County Republican Party. "We're looking back, and we see they're gaining on us."

• Think Progress notes that Ron Suskind's new book alleges the U.S. intelligence agencies were tapping Benazir Bhutto's phone for months before her murder.
• More reasons to eat your broccoli.
• Good news! The Iraqi oil is flowing again.  Bad news......$1.2 billion of it is flowing to China.

Politics aside, the opening ceremonies for the Olympics in Beijing Friday night were nothing short of spectacular. Beautiful, creative, synchronized, and perfectly produced - combined with a state-of-the-art stadium - the ceremony in Beijing was one for the ages. The show was truly a sight to behold and has definitely raised the bar for the rest of the world. In case you missed it live, NBC has the video.

U.S. athletes got off on the right foot as American fencers Mariel Zagunis, Sada Jacobson, and Becca Ward took the gold, silver, and bronze. The overnight medal count from SI shows the U.S. with eight medals - tied with China for the lead. However, China leads the gold category with six gold medals thus far.

Michael Phelps broke his own world record in the 400m medley to win gold and is focused on breaking Mark Spitz's record of seven gold medals.  

Dara Torres, 41-year old phenom/inspiration, anchored the women's freestyle relay team to a second place finish, earning her tenth Olympic medal.  Wow. Just, wow.

Team USA, the men's basketball team, routed China 101-70 in front of a home crowd.  However, SI reports that the American players are so popular in China, it negated the home court advantage because the Chinese were cheering equally as loud for the American superstars.

The U.S. women's soccer team escaped Japan yesterday, 1-0.  The men's team was within reach of a semi-finals bid, but allowed a Netherlands goal in the final seconds of the match. Instead of sailing on to the quarterfinals, they'll have to claw back out of this group with a tie or victory against Nigeria.

Politics not aside, there is still trouble in China, including a continued censorship of Internet access. Sports writers, like the KC Star's Joe Posnaski have been surprised to discover they can't even view their own blogs (Joe's reports are usually entertaining). He's been emailing his wife reports so that she can get them posted.

A small Pro-Tibet group of American protesters were detained after displaying a Tibetan flag for less than a minute in Beijing.

Protests continue outside of China as well.

Elsewhere Friday, protests against China's human rights record were held in a number of countries, including India, Nepal, Turkey, England, France, Belgium, Germany and Thailand.

Most demonstrators focused on China's treatment of Tibetans. Others focused on China's restrictions on freedom of religion and expression, as well as its treatment of minorities.

In the Turkish capital, Ankara, a man set himself on fire outside the Chinese Embassy during a protest by ethnic Uighurs against China's human rights record.

In Nepal, police detained more than 1,000 Tibetan exiles gathered outside the Chinese Embassy to protest China's crackdown on anti-government protesters in Tibet.

Perhaps the saddest news from the opening weekend of the Olympics is a report that a Chinese man attacked the in-laws of the U.S. Olypic men's volleyball coach at a tourist site.

The victims were Todd and Barbara Bachman, parents of former Olympian Elisabeth Bachman, who is married to men's volleyball coach Hugh McCutcheon. Bachman's father was killed.

The assailant also stabbed and injured a Chinese female tour guide with the Americans. He then committed suicide by throwing himself off a 130-foot-high balcony of the ancient landmark the Americans were visiting, the 13th century Drum Tower, the official Xinhua News Agency reported.

On Sunday morning, the men's volleyball team took the court, without their coach, and played an emotional game, defeating Venezuela 3-2.

A review of the latest polls from SurveyUSA shows promising news in the midwest. First up, on the Missouri side - Kay Barnes - well-liked, former Kansas City Mayor and Democratic candidate for MO-06. SurveyUSA says:

Democrat Challenger Barnes Creeps-Up on Incumbent Republican Graves in MO6: In an election for United States House of Representatives from Missouri's 6th Congressional District today, 08/01/08, incumbent Republican Sam Graves edges Democrat Kay Barnes 48% to 44%, according to this SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KCTV-TV Kansas City. Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released 10 weeks ago, Graves is flat, Barnes is up. Among men, Graves had led by 19, now leads by 23. Among women, the two had been tied; today, Barnes leads by 17 points -- a 40-point gender gap.

Great news! Barnes is pulling even and within striking distance of victory. Looks like Missourians are waking up to the fact that Sam Graves does not represent their best interests. All they need to do is wander down to the gas station or the grocery and look at the prices to see that Sam Graves and the Republican policies are a disaster. They feel it every day and with a strong push, Sam Graves is going to be feeling it in November when he gets his walking papers from Missouri voters. Stop by Kay's website to see how you can help show Graves the door.

Next up is Jay Nixon, Missouri's long time Attorney General. He was set to take on incumbent Matt Blunt, but Matt Blunt mysteriously announced he would not seek a second term - proclaiming he had accomplished all he set out to do. (Some people say that there is much more to this story) Instead, he'll face the winner of the Republican primary -  either Sarah Steelman or Kenny Hulshof. SurveyUSA says:

MO Statehouse Still Leans To Democrat Takeaway, 3 Months to Vote ... But, Momentum with GOP: In an election for Missouri Governor today, 08/01/08, 95 days to the vote, Democrat Jay Nixon defeats either of his likely Republican opponents, according to this SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KCTV-TV in Kansas City and KSDK-TV in St. Louis. Today, Nixon, Missouri's Attorney General, defeats Republican Congressman Kenny Hulshof 48% to 42%; Nixon defeats Republican State Treasurer Sarah Steelman 50% to 41%. But, Compared to an identical SurveyUSA poll released ten weeks ago, Nixon has lost ground. Then, Nixon led Hulshof by 24 points and led Steelman by 25 points. Today, Nixon leads Hulshof by 6 points and Steelman by 9. Against either Republican, Nixon carries at least half of women and voters age 50+. Men and younger voters split their vote if Hulshof is the Republican nominee, and narrowly prefer Nixon in a race against Steelman. Against Hulshof, 15% of Republicans cross over to vote for Nixon; against Steelman, 20% of Republicans cross over. Should Missouri voters be required to produce a photo-ID when they vote? 64% of likely voters say "yes." Those who say "yes" favor each of the Republican candidates by 8 points; those who say "no" favor Nixon by 2 ½:1.

A mixed bag for Jay Nixon. The good news is the poll shows him beating both potential challengers. The bad news is they are gaining ground. If you are in Missouri, see Jay's website to find out how you can lend a hand.

And last, but certainly not least.......Phill Kline.  Intolerant, wingnut, asshat extraordinaire in Johnson County, Kansas. The same Phill Kline that had been harassing women's clinics in Kansas and was defeated in the 2006 election for Kansas Attorney General. After his crushing defeat, the Kansas GOP stubbornly appointed him to the recently vacated Johnson County District Attorney position.  At the time, he promised that he would not seek re-election. Being the honorable man that he is, he recently filed for......re-election. He now faces Steve Howe in a Republican primary. Incidentally, Steve Howe and the rest of the experienced attorneys in the DA's office were unceremoniously fired, without cause, on Phill Kline's first day in office. So, how do the Republican voters in NE Kansas (suburban Kansas City) feel about Phill Kline?  SurveyUSA says:

Johnson County KS GOP Primary: Challenger Howe Has Lead Over Incumbent DA Kline: In a Republican primary for Johnson County District Attorney today, 07/31/08, five days until votes are counted, former Assistant District Attorney Steve Howe unseats incumbent DA Phill Kline, 52% to 44%, according to this latest SurveyUSA poll conducted exclusively for KCTV-TV in Kansas City MO. Among women, Howe leads by 13 points; among men, Howe leads by 4. Among voters age 18 to 49, Kline leads by 5; among voters age 50+, Howe leads by 19. Among voters who identify themselves as pro-life, Kline, known for investigating abortion clinics and filing criminal charges against one operated by Planned Parenthood in Overland Park, leads 2:1. Among those identifying as pro-choice, Howe leads 5:1. Among the 18% of voters who have already voted in the contest, Howe leads by 4 points; among those considered likely to vote on or before election day, Howe leads by 9. In a low-turnout Primary, small last-minute swings can materially influence the outcome. The contest is close enough, and Kline's profile high enough, that the final five days of campaigning may make a difference.

Ouch. Incumbent Kline is losing 44% to Howe's 52%. On the way to breakfast Sunday morning, I passed a hand made yard sign that read "Please God --- Anybody but Kline."  Amen, neighbor....Amen.  It seems like Johnson County voters don't much care for Kline's particular brand of wingnuttery. But, the race isn't over and Kline could make a comeback based on name recognition alone. If you are in Johnson County, Kansas or anywhere near Johnson County, Kansas --- get out to defeat Phill Kline. He simply must go....regardless of whether that leaves Democrats a stronger opponent in the long run. His terms as both Attorney General and Johnson County District attorney have been nothing short of an embarrassment for the state of Kansas. And there is no doubt that the women of Kansas - even Republican women - will rest a little easier knowing that Phill Kline won't be poking around in their medical records anymore. It is time for Johnson County voters - of all political stripes - to reject the extremist politics of Phill Kline and deliver the final blow to his political career.

Update: The "Please God - Anybody but Kline" sign wasn't the only eye-popping sign that I wandered by in Kansas yesterday:

• Fire broke out last night at the Westboro Baptist Church, home of notorious hate-monger, Fred Phelps and his sick family. Officials have not said what started the fire, but some people say it is clearly a sign that God hates Fred Phelps and his family.
• Defense contractor KBR has banned employees from using personal cell phones in Iraq for "security reasons."  KBR officials declined to elaborate.
• Expanding on "free speech zones" in the U.S., China announced that protesters (foreign and domestic) will be required to apply at least five days in advance for a permit to protest in one of three parks in Beijing.

  Chinese citizens must turn in a written application to police while foreigners must submit an application to the border entry-exit administration.

  Police will inform applicants whether they received approval at the latest two days before the protest, he said. If they don’t hear from the police, that can be taken as approval, Liu said.

  As a Chinese citizen, all you need to do to protest is simply give them all of your personal information ahead of time, so they know where to find you and your family when the Olympic crowds leave. Sounds totally reasonable.

• Tensions between Thailand and Cambodia continue to escalate over who controls the ancient temples that line the border. Cambodian officials claim that Thai troops have crossed the border to take control of a second temple in recent weeks.
• Think Progress reminds us that eight years ago today, Bush delivered his acceptance speech at the RNC convention:

  John Perr notes this pledge from Bush:

  So when I put my hand on the Bible, I will swear to not only uphold the laws of our land, I will swear to uphold the honor and dignity of the office to which I have been elected, so help me God.

  In the speech, Bush also said, “A generation shaped by Vietnam must remember the lessons of Vietnam: When America uses force in the world, the cause must be just, the goal must be clear, and the victory must be overwhelming.” (The picture on the right is of Bush shaking hands with McCain at the conclusion of the 2000 RNC Convention.)

• G-Dub, Jeb, and H.W., called into Limbaugh's program to congratulate the womanizing, drug addicted Rush Limbaugh for 20 years of divisive, hateful radio.  The best part? Somebody forget to tell George H.W. Bush that they were live on the air and he started asking about their good ol' buddy, Roger Ailes.  From Think Progress:

  Later in their conversation, former President Bush — apparently not realizing he was on the air — asked about "our man [Roger] Ailes," the president of Fox News:

  H. W. BUSH: Do you see our man Ailes at all?

  LIMBAUGH: Oh, yeah. I saw Roger at Tony Snow’s funeral...And a couple of times earlier this summer.

  H. W. BUSH: Are we on the radio, are we? [...] I didn’t know that. I’ll clean up my act here. I’m glad they told me.

  Audio available at the Think Progress link. Right wing birds of a feather, flock together.

• Reports from Beijing indicate that China is already censoring internet access for western media at the Olympic Press Center.
• A federal appeals court has stopped the Texas AG from reinstating a ban on sex toys.
• As of yesterday, US Airways stopped serving free drinks on all domestic flights. A warm can of soda will now cost you $2 and warm beer $7 (formally $5).
• Delta has announced they are doubling the fee for a second checked bag, from $25 to $50. The whole experience of flying continues to get worse by the minute. At least Congress is moving to permanently ban the use of cell phones in-flight due to some safety concerns, but mainly because it would be unbelievably annoying.

• Please, pundits, keep on showing that footage from Berlin and talking about how Der Sausage Haus was a better event.  It's just killing Obama -- who posted his best numbers yet in today's Gallup Tracking Poll, with a 49-40 lead. - devilstower
• The BBC reports on Obama's successful trip to London.

  Conservative leader David Cameron is widely reported to have been impressed by his meeting with Barack Obama.

  The Sunday Express says Mr Cameron cheerfully confessed that he would have no hope if pitted against him.

  The Sunday Times says Mr Cameron gave Mr Obama a selection of CDs by the Smiths, Radiohead and Gorillaz.

  The Mail on Sunday tells its readers the choice of music could have been designed to underline the generation gap with Gordon Brown.

  Ouch.  Even the way-cooler-than-McCain conservatives in England recognize they would have little chance beating Obama.

• According to the NY Post, Barack Obama made a direct appeal to Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad on behalf of Colleen Bargouthi, a Chicago mother whose four daughters are being held against their will by their father in the Palestinian territories.
• Los Angeles is going BYOB in 2010. Bring your own bag....or pay a fee.

  The City Council voted Tuesday to ban plastic shopping bags from stores, beginning July 1, 2010. Shoppers can either bring their own bags or pay 25 cents for a paper or biodegradable bag.

  The council's unanimous vote also puts pressure on the state, which is considering an Assembly bill that would impose bag recycling requirements on stores. City officials said their ban would not be implemented if the state passes the bill and requires at least a 25-cent charge per bag.

• According to the Wall Street Journal, the rich keep getting richer.

  In a new sign of increasing inequality in the U.S., the richest 1% of Americans in 2006 garnered the highest share of the nation's adjusted gross income for two decades, and possibly the highest since 1929, according to Internal Revenue Service data.

  Meanwhile, the average tax rate of the wealthiest 1% fell to its lowest level in at least 18 years. The group's share of the tax burden has risen, though not as quickly as its share of income.

• The Health Blogosphere: What It Means for Policy Debates and Journalism

  The Health Blogosphere: What It Means for Policy Debates and Journalism
  7/29/2008

  Kaiser Family Foundation - Washington, D.C. - Barbara Jordan Conference
  Center

  **This LIVE webcast will begin at 1 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 29, 2008.

  The Kaiser Family Foundation is sponsoring a discussion about the growing influence of blogs on health news and policy debates. Only in the past few years has the blogosphere become mainstream. In the health policy arena, we now see policymakers, journalists, researchers and interest groups utilizing this new media tool to deliver information to their audiences. The briefing will highlight how the traditional health policy world has embraced blogging and will feature a keynote address by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt, the first cabinet officer to author an official blog, followed by a moderated discussion with a variety of health policy bloggers and a media analyst.

  -DemFromCT

• Economist and former vice chair of the Federal Reserve Alan Blinder has an intriguing idea in today's NYT:

  Cash for Clunkers is a generic name for a variety of programs under which the government buys up some of the oldest, most polluting vehicles and scraps them. If done successfully, it holds the promise of performing a remarkable public policy trifecta — stimulating the economy, improving the environment and reducing income inequality all at the same time. Here’s how.

  DHinMI

Click below for live streaming video of the Markos luncheon with Harold Ford, Jr.

http://www.ustream.tv/...

Tomorrow night in Austin, Texas, Daily Kos is bringing the party back to the Democratic Party. If you are in Austin for the Netroots Nation convention, meet us in the lobby at 8:30 - with your NN credential - and join the big orange parade to Maggie Mae's on Austin's infamous Sixth Street.  Space is limited, so don't be late!

http://i296.photobucket.com/...

• While individual states are deciding whether to recognize same-sex marriages, the U.S. Census Bureau has already decided. They will not recognize gay marriages in the 2010 census, regardless of state laws.

  The U.S. Census Bureau, reacting to the federal Defense of Marriage Act and other mandates, plans to edit the 2010 census responses of same-sex couples who marry legally in California, Massachusetts or any other state. They will be reported as "unmarried partners," rather than married spouses, in census tabulations - a policy that will likely draw the ire of gay rights groups.

  The problem goes beyond recognizing couples.....whole families will be dismissed.  More from the Mike Swift at the San Jose Mercury News:

  "I just think it's bad form for the census to change a legal response to an incorrect response," said Gary Gates of the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of California-Los Angeles law school that studies gay-related public policy issues. "That goes against everything the census stands for."
  Gates, a prominent demographer who was consulted by Census Bureau officials about counting legally married same-sex couples, said one result is that the census will undercount marriages in states with gay marriage. And because the bureau defines a "family" as two or more people related by birth, adoption or marriage, it also will remove many same-sex married couples from being counted as families.

• According to The Tribune's Swamp Politics, Arnold Schwarzenegger had some harsh words for Bush administration's abysmal record on global warming.

  ""This administration did not believe in global warming," Schwarzenegger told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos in an interview that will air Sunday on ABC's This Week.

  "They just didn't believe in it or they didn't believe that they should do anything about it, since China is not doing anything about it and since India is not willing to do the same thing, so why should we do the same thing?" Schwarzenegger maintains - and that's not the American way, says this son of Austria who found his fortune in his adopted homeland.

  "We don't wait for other countries to do the same thing,'' Schwarzenegger tells Stephanopoulos (there's a couple of mouthsful for you). "That's what makes America number one... And I think we have a good opportunity to do the same thing, also, with fighting global warming.''

  Schwarzenegger's comments follow the Environmental Protection Agency's decision not to take further action against global warming during the remainder of Bush's presidency.

  "To be honest with you, if they would have done something this year, I would have thought it was bogus anyway," the governor says. "You don't change global warming and you don't really have an effect by doing something six months before you leave office....

  "This administration did not believe that [carbon dioxide] and greenhouse gases is a pollutant,'' he says. "They fought this in court and then finally the Supreme Court had to tell them, 'Yes, it is a pollutant.''

• Pioneering heart surgeon, Dr. Michael DeBakey, passed away at the age of 99.  He was an early innovator of artificial hearts and pumps.

  Dr DeBakey's patient list included a number of world leaders and international celebrities.

  "Dr DeBakey's reputation brought many people into this institution, and he treated them all: heads of state, entertainers, businessmen and presidents, as well as people with no titles and no means," said Ron Girotto, president of the Methodist Hospital System.

  "He has improved the human condition and touched the lives of generations to come."

• The honey bee crisis continues as scientists struggle to pinpoint the cause of the bee colony collapses around the world. The collapse of bee colonies is a factor in the skyrocketing price of food:

  In 2006, beekeepers began reporting losing 30 percent to 90 percent of their hives. This phenomenon has become known as Colony Collapse Disorder. Scientists do not know how many bees have died; beekeepers have lost 36 percent of their managed colonies this year. It was 31 percent for 2007, said Edward B. Knipling, administrator of the Agriculture Department's Agricultural Research Service.

  "If there are no bees, there is no way for our nation's farmers to continue to grow the high quality, nutritious foods our country relies on," said Democratic Rep. Dennis Cardoza of California, chairman of the horticulture and organic agriculture panel. "This is a crisis we cannot afford to ignore."

  Food prices have gone up 83 percent in three years, according to the World Bank.

• Tony Snow, former Fox News host and White House spokesperson, succumbed to colon cancer and passed away at the age of 53.

Daily Kos is throwing a "grand ol' party" during Netroots Nation for our dedicated readers.  If you are attending the Netroots Nation convention, you are cordially invited to the Daily Kos party on Friday, July 18th.  

(Click on image to see full size.)

How can you get in the party?  Simply meet us in the lobby of the Austin Hilton at 8:30pm on Friday, July 18th (with your Netroots Nation credential) and join the big orange parade over to Maggie Mae's on Sixth Street. Space will be limited, so don't be late!

• The Colorado Springs Gazette examines the waning influence of Evangelicals and why they are no longer a unified voting bloc.
• Congress and the state of Louisiana are still at odds over who is going to pay to rebuild the levees. Meanwhile, in the time it took to read this note, tens or hundreds of thousands of US tax dollars are pouring into a failed war in Iraq.
• Going back to campaigning on division and hate, the Arizona legislature managed to put a gay marriage amendment on the ballot in November. It would seem that denying every American equal rights is the only platform they have left.
• The U.S. Justice Department has reached a $5.8 million dollar settlement with Steven Hatfill, the bioweapons expert once identified as a "person of interest" in the anthrax investigation. Hatfield had been suing the DOJ for leaking his name to reporters.
• Think your wallets are taking a hit from the increased gas prices? If you live in the northeast, just wait until you get your winter heating bills this fall and winter. You could be in for serious sticker shock.
• In case you missed it, we are about to smash our previous goal of 1,000 donations and since we know this group likes a challenge, we've upped the goal to 1,250.  There is no such thing as a small donation.....every bit helps.  

  

Update: That big green needle is slowing rising.  Who's going to be the lucky donor to hit 1,000? Sure there isn't a balloon shower or big parade, but you'll have the smug sense of satisfaction, knowing that you were possibly number 1,000.

Update #2:  1,000 is already in the rearview mirror -- a round of applause for you all!  Can we top 1,100 by the end of the day? Si se puede!  Yes we can!

• The U.S. government has officially removed Nelson Mandela from the terrorist watch list.

  "Today the United States moved closer at last to removing the great shame of dishonouring this great leader by including him on our government's terror watch list," said Senator John Kerry.

  The bill now heads to the White House, where it is expected to be signed by President George W. Bush in time for the anti-apartheid leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner's 90th birthday on July 18.

• Billionaire T. Boone Pickens has backed away from a $1 million dollar offer he made to anybody who could disprove allegations made by the "Swiftboat Veterans for Truth" against John Kerry.  

  A group of Swift boat veterans sympathetic to Mr. Kerry sent Mr. Pickens a letter last week taking him up on the challenge. In 12 pages, plus a 42-page attachment of military records and other documents, they identified not just one but ten lies in the group’s campaign against Mr. Kerry. They offered to meet with him to provide Mr. Kerry’s journals and videotapes from Vietnam and a copy of his full military record certified by the Navy – a key demand of Mr. Pickens and veterans who believe Mr. Kerry lied about his service to win his military decorations.

  Mr. Pickens replied with a one-page letter, thanking the veterans for their research and their service, but politely saying there had been a misunderstanding. "Key aspects of my offer of $1 million have not been accurately reported," he wrote.

  He previously weasled out of this bet once before when John Kerry himself took Pickens up on the offer. I guess there are some things money can't buy. Like dignity. Or class. Or humility.

• Charles Blow of the NYT's has a humorous op-ed discussing McCain's age and the fact that he would be the oldest person ever elected -- should he win in November.  Blow makes a couple of terrific observations:

  It is confusing when you sardonically call Obama a "young man." That makes me ponder your age even more. After all, how old do you have to be to call a 46-year-old a young man? (Old enough to have to issue more than 1,100 pages of medical records to prove that you’re "fit," I guess. The "young man" issued a one-page statement.)

  Add to this joshing grandpa shtick the vast and immutable visual disparity between you and the cover boy, and you get two negatives that do not equal a positive. The camera loves him. You, not so much. It sucks the life out of you, and amplifies your awkward aesthetic — the wispy comb-over, the stilted grins, the blank expressions.

• What ever happened to the Wisconsin delegate who said that she'd vote for McCain over Obama? Looks like she won't be going to the convention after all.
• Tonight, NBC pays tribute to George Carlin by rebroadcasting the first SNL episode, which featured Carlin as the original guest-host.
• Errington Thomas, aka Kossack ecthompson interviewed me and Kagro about FISA. Today he talked with Glenn Greenwald. [mcjoan]

• If you are headed to the Netroots Nation convention, be sure to check out the Netroots Nation Visitor's Guide to Austin.  A hearty thanks to the Burnt Orange Report for pulling it all together.
• Even Faux News viewers think Bush is doing a horrible job. A recent poll Fox news poll showed that his approval rating has slipped to 29%, the first time their poll has dipped below 30%.
• Federal investigators are looking into Justice Department grant-maker, Robert J. Flores, and why he approved grants for golf outings and other projects, overriding recommendations from experts and career staffers.

  The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee focused on decisions by Flores to give grants to the World Golf Foundation's First Tee initiative, whose honorary chairman is former president George H.W. Bush, and a sexual abstinence program promoted by Best Friends, led by Elaine Bennett, wife of Reagan administration Cabinet official Bill Bennett.

  Nonprofit groups that focus on child protection complained that they failed to win funding last year even though they had higher rankings from independent peer reviewers and career staff members in the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention.

  "The question before this committee is whether the grant solicitation was a rigged game and whether it has best served children around the country," said the committee chairman, Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.). "Mr. Flores, it seems you're the only person at the Department of Justice who thinks your process was fair, transparent and served the interest of taxpayers."

• John McCain announced his fundraising totals for May, his best month yet, with $21 million.  Obama is expected to announce his May fundraising later today.
• While flood waters continue to threaten the midwest, MSBNC.com examines the impact the damage will have on our economy:

  And it is the consumer who will get the bill. Smaller harvests mean food will cost more. Damaged facilities mean it will cost more to process. Crippled transportation means it will cost even more to get into stores.

  Already, "feed prices are skyrocketing," said Patrick Boyle, a corn farmer in Springfield, Mo. "That’s a pocketbook issue for all of us."

• The NW Progressive Institute is having its annual conference this weekend in Tacoma, WA.  Area folks can join fellow activists and bloggers, plus legislative leaders and candidates like Senator Eric Oemig, Darcy Burner, Peter Goldmark, and John Ladenburg. Registration is free, and discounted hotel rooms are available for those who have to travel. (mcjoan)

Disaster struck the midwest last week as flood waters shattered previous records, drowning crops and putting tens of thousands of people out of their homes. The full effects of the flood will be felt nationwide as gas prices could increase another 15% and food prices could increase another 25 - 30%.  No doubt, this would be a serious issue for an aspiring presidential candidate.  Obama answered the call this weekend, touring the hard hit areas, rolling up his sleeves to fill sandbags, and taking action with local leaders.

Obama's camp also began putting out an urgent, nationwide plea to help flood victims -- making it the front page headline on his website:

And how did John McCain react? He was busy rolling up his sleeves -- filling up moneybags at a California "finance event." For all the talk about Republicans disliking California and "west coast values", they sure do spend a lot of time at California fundraisers. You may recall that while New Orleans drowned, GWB and McCain were miles away, sharing a little cake between friends. In a sad case of deja vu, McCain is once again nowhere to be found. What was featured on John McCain's website over the weekend?  John McCain, of course. So, how about today? Is there a serious focus on the growing tragedy of the floods? Nope, back to the alleged former Clinton supporter on the front page.  A small flood donation button does appear, after scrolling a bit, right after the plea for McCain donations and the request that you add five "friends" for McCain.  Apparently, adding more names to McCain's fundraising email list takes priority over a flooded midwest and a country about to be smacked with even higher prices on everything from gas to milk and bread. And despite the fact that McCain's team has thus far tried to mimic every aspect of Obama's website and logo, they don't feel the need to mimic his compassion and leadership in a time of dire need.

And even now, as the midwest continues to flood, McCain is hopping back and forth between Texas fundraisers. Mr. Moneybags doesn't seem to have time for flood victims in the next few days. According to his campaign schedule, McCain is going to be very busy getting to know GWB's oil and energy friends in Texas:

Mr. McSame.  Same Texas oil fundraisers.  Same irresponsible foreign policy.  Same non-response to a natural disaster and Americans in need. It would seem that GWB and McCain have a great deal in common....no matter how badly Mr. Moneybags wants to convince you otherwise.

So, who do you trust when disaster strikes?  The guy filling moneybags?  Or the guy filling sandbags?

Via press release from the Barack Obama campaign, Al Gore's officially jumping in the fray to campaign for Obama:

Message from Al Gore: "My Endorsement"; Watch the Live Stream Tonight at 8:30 pm EDT

Former Vice President and Nobel Peace Prize laureat Al Gore just sent out this email...

Dear Friend,

A few hours from now I will step on stage in Detroit, Michigan to announce my support for Senator Barack Obama. From now through Election Day, I intend to do whatever I can to make sure he is elected President of the United States.

Over the next four years, we are going to face many difficult challenges -- including bringing our troops home from Iraq, fixing our economy, and solving the climate crisis. Barack Obama is clearly the candidate best able to solve these problems and bring change to America.

This moment and this election are too important to let pass without taking action.

That's why I am asking you to join me in showing your support by making a contribution to this campaign today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/...

Over the past 18 months, Barack Obama has united a movement. He knows change does not come from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or Capitol Hill. It begins when people stand up and take action.

With the help of millions of supporters like you, Barack Obama will bring the change we so desperately need in order to solve our country's most pressing problems.

If you've already contributed to this campaign, I ask that you consider making another contribution right now. If you haven't, please take the next step and own a piece of this campaign today:

https://donate.barackobama.com/...

On the issues that matter most, Barack Obama is clearly the right choice to lead our nation.

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Al Gore

Looks like Al Gore is fired up and ready to go!

And given the fact that Obama chose Detroit for both the Edwards and Gore endorsements, it would seem he is making a hard push for Michigan voters this fall.  

Update w/ correction:  The Edwards event took place in Grand Rapids, not Detroit.  Nonetheless, the point remains the same....Michigan is important this November.

• Although it's still early, Kossack and notable statistician, poblano, has predicted an Obama win. He's not alone. Historians around the country also give McCain very little chance of winning in November.

  “This should be an overwhelming Democratic victory,” said Allan Lichtman, an American University presidential historian who ran in a Maryland Democratic senatorial primary in 2006. Lichtman, whose forecasting model has correctly predicted the last six presidential popular vote winners, predicts that this year, “Republicans face what have always been insurmountable historical odds.” His system gives McCain a score on par with Jimmy Carter’s in 1980.

• Speaking of poblano - a/k/a Nate Silver, congratulations are in order.  It was announced on Friday that he is teaming up with the Rasmussen Reports.

  Scott Rasmussen, President of Rasmussen Reports, noted that “Nate Silver and fivethirtyeight.com are a great example of how the online community is improving election coverage. His quantitative approach is a welcome addition to the debate and a valuable resource for any serious electoral analyst or armchair campaign manager.”
  Silver said, “I’m thrilled to be working with Rasmussen Reports in this endeavor. In addition to being one of the most active and reliable pollsters, Scott and his team have made every effort to consider other sources of information in order to provide their readers with the most comprehensive electoral picture possible”.

• Charlie Rose will host a health care discussion with Ezekiel, Ari, and Rahm Emanuel tomorrow. - DemFromCT
• Colin Powell told a crowd in Vancouver that he is considering voting for Barack Obama.

  He noted that although both he and Mr. Obama are black, he would not cast a vote for the Illinois senator on the basis of race. "I will vote for the individual I think that brings the best set of tools to the problems of 21st-century America and the 21st-century world regardless of party, regardless of anything else other than the most qualified candidate," Mr. Powell said at a news conference before delivering a speech to about 800 people attending a leadership forum at the Vancouver Convention Centre.

  Given that McCain recently admitted he has never used a computer, it's hard to imagine that he can even grasp the technology and tech driven economy of the 21st-century.

• While the midwest continues to flood and tens of thousands of Americans are losing their homes, GWB is having tea and crumpets with Queen Elizabeth. Deja vu.

• Ted Kennedy left the hospital this morning and returned to his home in Hyannis Port. What will he do next?

  Kennedy's son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., told the Providence Journal on Sunday that his father's surgery "went better than anyone expected."

  He said his father is looking forward to returning to the Senate and working with Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama on universal health care legislation should the Illinois senator win the White House.

  "That is what he is talking and thinking about," Kennedy said. "It adds a great deal of poignancy to his recovery. But that's how he sees it -- he has to recover so he can get health care for the millions of people who don't have access to the care that we do."

  Kennedy told the newspaper that his father wants to begin writing the legislation this year so it would be ready if Obama was victorious.

• President Bush is making the rounds in Europe, the last time he is expected to visit during his dreadful term as president.  He's being greeted with the usual hostility, but he's also being greeted with some indifference.  It seems that many in Europe have suffered Bush fatigue and are now more interested in who will succeed Bush in the fall.

  When Bush first visited this ex-Yugoslav republic in 2001 for a summit with then-Russian President Vladimir Putin, he was met with large and boisterous demonstrations.

  This time, reflecting deep-seated apathy for a president increasingly viewed as yesterday's man, only a few small, loosely organized protests were planned. And though security was tight, unlike his 2001 stop, there were no American flags to welcome Bush.

  "I feel nothing for him," said Andrej Sit, a 29-year-old CD vendor. "I don't think about him at all."

• Floyd G. Brown, the man who produced the "Willie Horton" ads against Dukakis, is back.....and this time he has Barack Obama in his sights. He plans to create a series of ads trying to create an image of Barack Obama being weak on crime. Brown says a candidate's record on crime "provides in window into the morality of a candidate." Pffft.....puh-lease. Maybe Brown should examine the morality in needlessly starting and promoting a war that has costs millions of lives and billions of dollars.
• White House press corp pitbull, Helen Thomas, has been absent from her column for the last three weeks recovering from a gastric infection.  Best wishes to Helen as she recovers.
• Obama may have 99 problems, but it doesn't appear that women are one.  According to Rasmussen, Obama already has more support from women than John Kerry did in 2004:

  Pollster Scott Rasmussen says that as of today, based on 3,000 automated telephone surveys over the past three nights, Obama gets support from 52% of the women in his national tracking poll compared with 40% for presumptive Republican nominee John McCain. He says that's better than Democrat John Kerry did with women against President Bush in 2004.

• A massive fire has destroyed much of the Texas governor's mansion in downtown Austin. Authorities are trying to determine the cause of the fire.
• Former (and likely future) Republican presidential candidate, Mike Huckabee, saved the day at a North Carolina GOP fundraiser yesterday:

  The former Arkansas governor performed the Heimlich maneuver on Robert Pittenger, Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, at a lunch yesterday.

  Pittenger said he was laughing when he choked on some food.

  "I stood up and the governor came over and did the Heimlich and got the relief," Pittenger said. He said the food dislodged when Huckabee applied the trademark Heimlich squeeze to the midsection.

  Hats off to Huckabee.  Luckily for us, there is no way for him to stop the Republicans from choking this fall.

• Violence in South Africa continues to escalate against foreigners, particularly against immigrants from Zimbabwe, most of whom migrated to South Africa to escape the poverty and violence in Zimbabwe.

  Mobs of South Africans continue to roam around some townships near Johannesburg, looking for foreigners and looting their shops.
  But there have also been attacks on South Africans from other parts of the country, especially from near the Zimbabwean border.
  Over the weekend, correspondents say central Johannesburg resembled a war-zone, as armed police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse angry crowds.

• As of this morning, the national average price of gasoline is $4 per gallon.  It is the first time the US average has crossed the $4 line.
• On Friday, the U.S. government officially labeled the Caribbean monk seal as extinct. Although the last confirmed sighting was in 1952, scientists have spent five years searching for any evidence of their existence. Sadly, it is the first seal species to be classified extinct due to "human causes."