Carly Fiorina, known best for reassuring ex-Clinton backers that John McCain voted for Ginsburg/Souter/et cetra's confirmation even while McCain says he'd never appoint them, while also hinting that McCain won't give a preference to viagra over contraceptives when it comes to medical coverage(actually, he does!), has met privately with the brother of Hillary Rodham Clinton in Pennsylvania.  I am not kidding you.   Hillary Clinton's own brother is planning to vote Republican after supporting her in the primaries.

Wasn't Clinton suppose to reach out to these people?  Per the Times Tribune of Scranton, Pennsylvania;

The final-final update;
Jack Tapper over at ABC is all over it!  The McCain campaign is only answering in geographical terms and refuses to comment on devices such as cellphones or blackberries!

A. Larry Ross, a spokesman for Saddleback Church and Pastor Rick Warren, says that the campaign of Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., has assured the organizers of Saturday night's "Civil Forum" that McCain did not "see or hear any of Senator Obama's appearance."

But as for the question the McCain campaign won't answer -- did anyone with McCain, given the questions via email or cell phone, share them with the senator -- Ross says, "I cannot speak to that."

Why that crazed response to Andrea Mitchell?  Why won't they outright say that McCain and those around him had no access to mobile devices that could've allowed them to cheat?   Donate.

Senator Lugar appeared on CNN's Face the Nation today with nothing short of honesty.  He bashed Joe Lieberman's recent statements at a campaign rally for John McCain(in regards to Obama and Georgia) as "a clearly partisan statement."  In other words, that ain't straight talk- that's some politics being played by John McCain's close friend.  Lugar definitely decided not to tow the party line.  Commenting on John McCain's position to kick Russia out of the G-8, Lugar said that's probably not a good idea.  In other words, it's probably a bad idea.

The bitterness between Governor Mitt Romney and Governor Mike Huckabee never really died.  Romney, favored by Bush, was the poster-child of the Club For Growth(which Huckabee called the Club For Greed).  Huckabee was the champion of the "value voters" and the Fair Tax.  Somewhere in between them was John McCain, ceding Iowa to the Romney/Huckabee struggle while he focused on Iowa.  Then the Huckaboom of Iowa happened, that night of the underdogs(can't forget Obama), and then the resurgence of "the Maverick" in his beloved New Hampshire.  Out-maneuvered, Romney would cut his loses after Super Tuesday at CPAC and move to set himself up as the team player.  Mike Huckabee fought on for another month, setting himself up as the winner of the silver medal, and then ambushing Mitt Romney's Veep-prospects when the timing was right.

And Huckabee is just getting started on solidifying his place in American politics.

Next week is the week Barack Obama returns from vacation and prepares for the Democratic National Convention.  The title doesn't have to state what he'll announce, it's what everyone is sitting around and waiting on.  The.  Running.  Mate.  My personal favorite remains current Senator and former Governor Evan Bayh of Indiana.  Others prefer Wesley Clark(despite the steel-like CW), while I think Zinni or Jones are more likely ex-Generals than Clark.  However, Barack Obama's schedule for next week doesn't offer any hints in those directions;  rather, sources have said that Barack Obama has an advance team getting set up in Richmond, Virginia.

I know, I know, neither of them are particularly popular around here.  That's fine.  You don't got to like them to want to see them face off this weekend on CBS' Face the Nation.  Someone may get politically bloodied!  As Halperin figures it, the top veep contenders are to square off!  They are also both the ones I figured to be Veep for awhile now.  Bayh since May, Pawlenty since June.  I think Pawlenty is far more likely than Romney, but McCain may decide to go with someone who can convincingly take over should the worse occur twice(that being, McCain gets elected and passes).  Now, as for what we can expect on Sunday;

The campaign memos released by the Clinton campaign confirm an early suspicion that I had.  Below the fold is a time-line of events followed by analysis.

Despite this entry, it should be noted that I am still deeply for my guy, Bayh, as Veep.  I am of the belief that he brings all the experience that the pundits demand, experience that could certainly help Barack Obama govern.  I believe that his credibility within the Rust Belt will be priceless.  I believe that he would please a lot of Clinton supporters who want to see someone, anyone from their camp in that role.  I believe that a Senator from Illinous and a Senator/Ex-Governor from Indiana, two states bordering one another, would create a powerful ticket.  I believe, perhaps most importantly, that Senator Bayh will be H.W. Bush to today's Reagan; reassuring skeptical voters aching for change that "yes, this guy is alright."  With that said, in no particular order;

Hell no!  In no particular order;

Yes, another diary about my guy, Bayh.  I chose Sam Nunn for this point-by-point comparison because he, unlike Kaine/Sebelius, is far more likely to be seen by the nation as ready to be Commander in Chief(which is, y'know, sort of important in a Veep) while being less likely than Joe Biden to say something stupid.  For those of you wondering why I will not mention Wesley Clark(like those before who wondered why no one considered John Edwards as a potential Veep), the reason is simple; Wesley Clark is still best remembered for his remarks about John McCain, and he's definitely not being vetted(James Jones as a better chance than Wesley Clark).  So in no particular order;

G***amn Putin.  It's everywhere.  Politics stop at this point, this could swiftly become an international crisis if it doesn't cease immediately.  Given that I heard nothing in recent days that could be seen as provocation, I really have to wonder why Russia would suddenly decide to invade Georgia.  OK, so there's tension between them over a Georgian region(South Ossetia), but that can't be what set this off since there have been no new developments on that front.  Since this is also the first day of the Olympics, I wonder if they're hoping that people in general won't pay much attention.

I suggest turning to the wire services to get up-to-the-minute information

I've gone on the occasional rant against self-described Democrats and liberals who would kick their own in the sack at a time like this.  I didn't care about the controversy around FISA because that is such a small thing in comparison to deciding who will next sit in the Oval Office.  I'll be honest; I think many ideals are selfish ones.  I do think an end can justify a mean.  I think Obama should do whatever it takes and then-some to win back the White House and to restrengthen the party of Roosevelt to the days of its greatest glory. Even if that means naming a running-mate that will, for dubious reasons, agitate vital sections of the Democratic base(people on the internet).

Both the Republican Party and Democratic Party always try to register people to vote.  This year, being a Democratic year, a heck of a lot more people are registering to vote as Democrats or Independents planning to vote Democrat.  There is also a highly-targeted campaign by Obama for America to register voters who they can count on and who they'll be able to easily find for turn-out efforts in November.  However, the Republican Party is also greatly known for "preventing voter fraud", which is a nice way of saying, "preventing people from voting Democrat.  The head of the Republican Party in Virginia has issued a ridiculous allegation and warning to would-be-voters.

Let me be clear that I consider General Wesley Clark to be a great American and a true patriot.  His service to our country has no faults and is exemplified by the greatness of his leadership in the Balkans.  There is no one amongst the Democratic Party with the sort of foreign policy and national security experience as General Wesley Clark.   If he were put up next to Senator John McCain, General Wesley Clark would run away with any argument on national security without breaking a sweat.  He's a man of excellent composure and has been a fantastic surrogate.  However, anyone with any continuing desire to see General Wesley Clark as Senator Barack Obama's running mate is bound to be disappointed.

In no particular order, these are the names to consider;

In no particular order, starting with Senator John McCain's choices.

In no particular order;

Previously, I wrote about the benefits of Obama in announcing that he'd probably keep Gates.   there's a reason for that.  We all know Chuck Hagel secretly admires Barack Obama.   Everyone knows that Colin Powell is feeling torn between his long-time friend and this aspiring figure on the rise.  Former Lt. Gen. Brent Scowcraft?  Huh, who's that?  These three men are all realists who represent a weakened wing of Republican foreign policy- the moderate one.