I find all this fever-pitch speculation about the vice presidential choices rather amusing. Many years ago the choice of the vice president was an afterthought - as long as the candidate was breathing, he was an okay choice. Now a theatrical drama is put on for television and the press. In reality, vice presidential choices rarely turn out to mean much during the election season. People vote for the top of the ticket, not the August second-stringer. The last time a vice-presidential... Read Full Story

NATO, or, as we used to call it, No Action Talk Only, did more talking yesterday. The subject was Georgia. The Wall Street Journal is disappointed: "Empty words." That's how Moscow glibly dismissed NATO's criticism yesterday of Russia's continued occupation of Georgia. The Russians may be bullies, but like all bullies they know weakness when they see it. The most NATO ministers could muster at their meeting in Brussels was a statement that they "cannot continue with business as... Read Full Story

Russia and Georgia Aug 14th 2008 | GORI, MOSCOW AND TBILISI From The Economist print edition GORI was Stalin?s birthplace. Did his statue in Stalin Square smile approvingly on Vladimir Putin as Russian tanks rolled past and the few residents left wandered around the bombed ghost town, without purpose? In 1921 the Bolsheviks occupied Georgia. Now Russia, for the first time since the collapse of the Soviet Union, had invaded a sovereign country. Georgia was once the jewel of its empire, and... Read Full Story

NATO and Russia Aug 19th 2008 From Economist.com NATO foreign ministers gathered in Brussels on Tuesday August 19th for an emergency summit, called by America, to discuss what to do next about Georgia and Russia. The military alliance gave warning that ?we cannot continue with business as usual? until Russia withdraws troops from Georgia. NATO also pledged to deepen ties with Georgia by setting up a NATO-Georgia Commission. Russia and America have cancelled plans for joint military exercises... Read Full Story

McCain’s surge follows a month in which he has aggressively portrayed Obama as an out-of-touch elitist and celebrity not prepared to be President. McCain also continues to accuse Obama of being willing to lose in Iraq in order to win the election. While Obama was on vacation last week, McCain took the spotlight, talking tough about Russia’s military action against the Republic of Georgia. Pollster John Zogby: “Since Obama returned from his overseas trip, it seems like McCain has thrown all... Read Full Story

This is the big stuff. The Dems really mean it this year. They're rolling out the heavy artillery, as the AP tells us: An Indiana railroader, an Iowa mother and a Michigan truck driver are getting a moment at the Democratic convention to help portray Barack Obama as the people's champion and counter GOP characterizations of him as an out-of-touch celebrity. The idea is for these ''real people,'' as the campaign calls them, to share personal stories about why they are supporting... Read Full Story

Time constraints, absent celebrities hamper peaceniks efforts.   Millions of peace protesters say they’ve been too busy to protest Russia’s invasion and occupation of Georgia. “I really has lots to do the past weekends. I’m all booked up for this weekend, too,” said Fawn Hallerback, liaison for the Altoona branch of Moms for Peace. “I have to get groceries, stain the porch, and meet with a couple of friends for drinks.” While the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq and continual aggression... Read Full Story

By INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY | Posted Monday, August 18, 2008 4:20 PM PT Election '08: Last weekend's McCain-Obama protodebate made it clear why Obama won't keep his promise to debate McCain "anywhere, anytime." McCain, with a robust resume and details at his fingertips, won big. Read More: Election 2008 Religion It was only in May that Sen. Barack Obama cockily proclaimed he would debate Sen. John McCain "anywhere, anytime." But in June, Obama said no to McCain's challenge to have 10 one-on... Read Full Story

Is this any way to elect a modern president? Secularists so no … Nachrichten, Switzerland McCain and Obama: Sucking Up at the Mega-Church "One can only wonder what the next attempts will be to weaken the barriers between religion and state. … The fact that a future U.S. President has to suck up at this kind of a forum really gives global politics a surrealistic undertone ..." By Patrik Etschmayer Translated By Patrik Etschmayer August 18, 2008 Switzerland - Nachrichten - Original... Read Full Story

Russia accused of cluster bomb abuse Rice in Georgia amid scorched earth claims Video: Journalists attacked in Ossetia Russians were told over breakfast yesterday what really happened in Georgia: the conflict in South Ossetia was part of a plot by Dick Cheney, the Vice-President, to stop Barack Obama being elected president of the United States. The line came on the main news of Vesti FM, a state radio station that ? like the Government and much of Russia's media ? has reverted to the... Read Full Story