The Politico’s David Mark reports: Barack Obama’s vice presidential vetting team will undoubtedly run across some quirky and potentially troublesome issues as it goes about the business of scouring the backgrounds of possible running mates. But it’s unlikely they’ll find one so curious as Virginia Democratic Sen. Jim Webb’s affinity for the cause of the Confederacy. Webb is no mere student of the Civil War era. He’s an author, too,

Need a Vice-Presidential selection in a hurry?  Introducing Barack Obama’s “volunteer” chief Veep vetter James Johnson! James Johnson got friendly loans from subprime lender Countrywide Financial Corp. – which Obama has frequently targeted for its lending practices and allegedly excessive CEO compensation.  At least four of the loans were issued while Johnson was employed either as the CEO or an outside consultant for Fannie Mae.  Multi-functional! But wait! There’s more! [L]ook at the Office of

HotAir’s Ed Morrissey seems gobsmacked over Barack Obama’s defense of chief Veep vetter James Johnson, who got a number of loans from subprime lender Countrywide Financial Corp. by being a “friend of Angelo” Mozilo — whose lavish bonuses Obama has bashed in his campaign speeches.  Specifically, Cap’n Ed is stunned that Obama would dismiss the issue by saying that Johnson is a “volunteer” who is “tangentially related” to Obama’s campaign. He should not be

Excitable Andy passes along the debunking of some viral videos, for those who are taken in by a pretty face or wacky conspiracy theories.

file articles (again) have shirley contact henry check on advance tix

A clean bill of health. And there was much rejoicing.  

That would be Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL): I cried all night. I’m going to be crying for the next four years. So maybe Barack Obama will be bringing people from both sides together.  But wait: The event itself is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance. Oops! I think he just lost those New Agers who worship him as a Lightworker. 

Having watched the video briefing from Rick Davis yesterday, I think “strategery” is the correct term, as it was fairly long on spin and fairly implicit on strategy.  Marc Ambinder — who has some screencaps for those who don’t want to sit through the clip — charitably notes that the info is “arranged in a way that might provide some comfort to those who believe that the campaign is listing.”

I denounce myself for having missed this tidbit from Barck Obama’s address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee: Obama, who has been criticized for sometimes not wearing an American-flag pin, wore a pin of both Old Glory and the Star of David on his lapel. Hillary Rodham Clinton, who also addressed the Washington convention, did not. Good thing the folks at MyBO missed this also, as they generally seem