- Michael Barone proves self to be a complete tool in front of the whole country. Shorter Barone: John McCain's ads have made Obama's good performances with crowds a liability for him, and also, driving home slowly from the hospital with a new infant doesn't really make you a protector figure.

- From soon-to-be-homeless to taxpaying homeowners, the story of how Washington State decided to invest in people who live in mobile home parks that were being sold off to developers.

- How we know that the wingnuts know that the goal in attacking abortion is really attacking women's rights.

- Oregon tribe to recognize same-sex marriages. (via)

- Health care has been a big focus of the convention, as it has been of the public, though the media at large is perhaps uninterested.

- As usual, Juan Cole brings a comprehensive roundup of Iraq-related news, but as much as the constant violence and the Iraqi government's desire to have the US out by a date certain, the lack of water and basic services stand out as serious concerns in Iraqis' lives. How much sand do conservatives have to bury their heads in to think that Iraqis are on the verge of a peaceful future?

- Shorter Norah O'Donnell: Because I didn't watch C-SPAN, I dinged Democrats for not doing something that my network had simply refused to air them doing.

- As several speakers at the Democratic Convention have noted, a sensible energy policy would be a new jobs bill. Though if those jobs are going to be in the renewable energy sector, there's plenty of work to do revamping the energy grid.

- Random science thing ... grazing animals often align north-south.

- Two Sudanese airplane hijackers who landed in Libya, surrendered, and freed their hostages there have asked for asylum.

- Thai police have arrested demonstrators as protests around the Prime Minister's compound continue. The government is dealing with the protests as a police matter, where applicable, and the military has said they won't get involved.

- John McCain forgets 1989.

- Finally, a note to commentators who don't deserve links (because they're just garden variety tools of no particular interest), re Hillary Clinton's speech: It is, in fact, common practice for politicians to talk about their life story and political history in speeches. Someone who didn't know this, perhaps someone tuning in to their first political speech after not listening to any primary stumping or the rest of the convention, might have heard Mark Warner's keynote last night and said that it sounds like he was still holding on to his 2006 presidential ambitions because he told stories about needing student loans, failing in business before succeeding, and his legislative record, but that would just be stupid. Though when the speaker is a Clinton, all manner of stupidity is excused.

If politicians don't talk about their lives, they're distant. If they do, it's 'all about them.' Blame a fish for swimming, why don't you. And get a grip. Or a room. That sort of wanking should be done in private.