Clinton conspiracists thought they’d found a smoking gun yesterday when it came to light that the person who invited Rev. Wright to the National Press Club — and who introduced him there — is a Hillary supporter. Politico’s Michael Calderone has some reporting that suggests there’s less to the coincidence than meets the eye, however: [...]

• “If there was a magic wand to wave, I’d be waving it.” [WSJ] • “At a time when we need leaders who are clear, strong and decisive, Obama has been inconsistent, saying he would remove all troops, but then indicating that he might not, and pledging to renegotiate NAFTA, but then sending signals that [...]

Not that I agree, but LOL:

Via the Page, here’s the video from the press conference where Obama cut Wright off. Is it overly cynical of me to think that Wright diminishing Obama as a mere politician was the true tipping point? Because that seems to be one of the few new arguments (ideas? rants? conspiracy theories?) that Wright made. Sadly [...]

I heard Joe’s voice asking a question at the Obama news conference a few minutes ago, and I’m sure you will be hearing more from him about it. The other sound I think I heard was a big sigh of relief from some of Obama’s leading backers, who have been distraught in recent days by [...]

Just finished reading Arianna Huffington’s new book, The Right Is Wrong. Review (good if slightly one-note) will be forthcoming, but I thought Swamplanders might be interested in some of what didn’t make the studio cut. Huffington spends a fair amount of time laying out a brief not against the Right but against the media. Her [...]

A smart Democratic strategist suggested to me yesterday that one reason we have reached the point where the battle for the Democratic nomination has disintegrated into an argument about flag pins and ministers is that the candidates chose, early on, to make it “a race about nothing.” Rather than the kind of great ideological contests [...]

There is so much excellent reporting in this McLatchy feature about Brigadier General Qassam Suleimani that it is hard to pick a choose the best nuggets. To my mind, there are two crucial takeaways from this piece: 1. It’s another reminder that the Iranians have as much, if covert, sway in the current ruling alliance [...]

Favorite moment: Watching Ben Affleck harangue a McCain senior staffer about the press’ overly favorable treatment of McCain, then slip seamlessly into an equally passionate rant about the press’ overly favorably treatment of Obama. “Sure, I’m gonna vote for the guy,” he said, “But they’re being way too easy on him.” Asked if he was [...]