ABC investigative journalist Brian Ross digs into the Troopergate story and comes to one obvious conclusion: Palin clearly lied about her involvement. The editorial board of the biggest newspaper in Alaska wants Sarah to stop stalling: Gov. Sarah Palin is taking the wrong approach to Troopergate. She should be practicing the open and transparent, ethical and accountable government she promised when running for governor and boasts about now that she’s on the national stage. Instead, ...

It's been five days now and John McCain has not allowed his vice-presidential pick to be interviewed by the press even once. If the McCain-Palin ticket is about "tranparency" and "reform," why are they so afraid about letting Sarah Palin talk to the press? Oh, that's right. Because as a result of John McCain's two-minute "vetting" process (Rush Limbaugh loves her, so it's a go), reporters (and bloggers, for matter) have undertaken the real vetting ...

Time/CNN polls swing states in the Midwest. The big prize first: Ohio, where Obama enjoys a very narrow lead. Obama (D) 47 McCain (R) 45 With third-party candidates: Obama (D) 45 McCain (R) 44 Nader (I) 5 Barr (L) 2 McKinney (G) 1 Let's slide over to Minnesota, where the convention is not helping the Elephants: Obama (D) 53 McCain (R) 41 Obama (D) 51 McCain (R) 37 Nader (I) 4 Barr (L) 2 McKinney ...

George W. Bush won North Dakota twice, with 60% of the vote, to 38% for both Al Gore and John Kerry. Bill Clinton failed to win the state twice, and his closest margin in the state came in 1996 when Bob Dole defeated him by 6.8%. This was as he was delivering a sound electoral-college thrashing to the Kansas senator, 379-159. No Democrat has won the state since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964. That was ...

Nick writes "A few weeks ago a video of a talk given by Adam Savage of the television show MythBusters spread across the internet (including a mention on Slashdot.) On the video, Savage stated that the show was unable to produce an episode about previously known RFID vulnerabilities due to a conference call to Texas Instruments that unexpectedly included several credit card companies' legal counsel. TI (via a spokesperson talking with cnet.com) stated that only ...

Not even trying to hide their racism anymore, I see. The Hill: Georgia Republican Rep. Lynn Westmoreland used the racially-tinged term “uppity” to describe Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Thursday. Westmoreland was discussing vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin’s speech with reporters outside the House chamber and was asked to compare her with Michelle Obama. “Just from what little I’ve seen of her and Mr. Obama, Sen. Obama, they’re a member of an elitist-class individual that ...

How did I miss this, as reported by the UK’s Guardian? Why isn’t it a major news story in the U.S.? Ah yes…it’s all about Sarah. Biden’s comments, first reported by ABC news, attracted little notice on a day dominated by the drama surrounding his Republican counterpart, Alaska governor Sarah Palin. But his statements represent the Democrats’ strongest vow so far this year to investigate alleged misdeeds committed during the Bush years. “If there has ...

Joe Klein unloads on the McCain campaign for getting testy with the press for having the audacity to do their job. Swampland: The second thing is more insidious: Steve Schmidt has decided, for tactical reasons, to slime the press. He wants the public to believe that there is an unfair–sexist (you gotta love it)–personal assault going on against Palin and her family. This is a smokescreen, intended to divert attention from the very real and ...

A new report by Women's Rights Committee of the European Parliament asks hard questions about the use of women in advertising, but its comments on the depiction of women in gaming appear to be slightly misguided. Read More...

The Guardian UK: (h/t uglycasonova) After police banned them from playing a political rally in Minnesota yesterday, Rage Against the Machine whipped out the loudspeaker and went a cappella. The band’s original plan was to play an impromptu gig at left-wing rally Ripple Effect. Sadly, the police had other ideas, leaving Zack de la Rocha to address some angry fans. “Rage Against the Machine is a band that has never, ever advocated violence,” he, er, ...