I get e-mails and press releases daily from protest groups asking me to "come to Denver" and join them. Here's the platform of one of them (I'll tell you which one at the end):

If you think no government should be allowed to do what the Bush regime has done the past 7 years, come to Denver and join others building a movement to that end.

If you are sickened by your government waging an endless, illegitimate, immoral war and occupation in Iraq, with ominous and immediate threats on Iran, and you demand U.S. aggression in the Middle East stop now, come to Denver and say it loudly!

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Ralph Nader says he's "on track" to be on the ballot in 45 states in November and now polls at 5%. I just received an e-mail from his campaign advising he'll be speaking in Toronto tonight to promote the new documentary about him, The Unreasonable Man, and tell Canadians "what's at stake "for them in the election. He lists his positions on issues:

Ralph Nader is the only major candidate for President of the United States standing up to implement Canadian-style universal healthcare, a Dion-style Carbon Tax, and ending the war in Iraq with a full 6-month withdrawal.

Over ten million Americans say they will vote for him, and another 20 million say they would if they thought he had a chance of winning. He's on track to be on the ballot in 45 states, and has a shot at getting in the Google Presidential Debates to be held in New Orleans this September.

With 5% and 10 million votes, he can't win. I wouldn't mind seeing him debate Bob Barr, but he's surplusage when it comes to McCain and Obama. I doubt he'll have the spoiler effect he had on the 2000 elections.

That is CNN's headline. And strictly speaking, it is true. But obviously it is a ridiculously misleading description of the situation. But that does not really matter. As Matt Yglesias writes (btw Matt, who I often disagree with but ALWAYS read, an interesting blogger you must agree, is now at Think Progress), American Media coverage is pretty irrelevant to this situation - something the Georgian President seems not to understand:

Georgia’s president, Mikheil Saakashvili, perhaps seems to have been confused by the fact that he gets great press in the U.S. and Vladimir Putin gets terrible press. Thus, he made the puzzling decision last week to escalate the “frozen conflict” by launching an attack aimed at retaking South Ossetia. Russia, predictably, is now retaliating with results that look set to be disastrous for Georgia.

Putin could not care less what Fred Hiatt thinks of him. Someone may need to inform the Georgian President of this. As Stalin once asked of the Pope, "how many divisions does Bill Kristol have?"

Speaking for me only

The Russia-Georgia conflict gives John McCain another chance to play "experienced hand" versus Obama's novice. Obama has already chosen his VP and most of us assume it will be Kaine, Bayh or Biden.

If he has chosen Kaine, he will be having second thoughts. These developments should favor Joe Biden, but the school of thought that does not want the "change" meme diluted will be up in arms about it - additionally arguing that it hurts Obama to acknowledge his inexperience.

It will never happen, but Hillary Clinton is an obvious choice here. Why? Because while she projects experience, unity will be seen as the reason for picking her. Obama will not be projecting concern or weakness regarding his inexperience. But Obama simply does not want Clinton on his ticket, no matter how much sense it makes.

By Big Tent Democrat, speaking for me only

The conflict in South Ossetia between Russia and the Georgian Republic continues to blaze and spread:

Georgian and Russian troops fought fierce battles overnight. . . [I]n a sign that fighting could escalate on a second front in the west of Georgia, Russia issued an ultimatum to Georgian forces to surrender in and around the western pro-Russian separatist enclave of Abkhazia.

How does this relate to Iraq? Let's ask Bill Kristol:

Today, the Vladimir Putins and Hu Jintaos and Mahmoud Ahmadinejads of the world — to say nothing of their junior counterparts in places like Sudan, Zimbabwe, Burma and North Korea — are no more likely than were Soviet leaders in 1924 to be swayed by “moral influence.” . . . [I]n one respect, an auspicious year for freedom and democracy. In Iraq, we and our Iraqi allies are on the verge of a strategic victory over the jihadists in what they have called the central front of their struggle. This joint victory has the potential to weaken the jihadist impulse throughout the Middle East. On the other hand, the ability of Syria, Hezbollah and Hamas to get away with murder (literally), and above all the ability of Iran to pursue its nuclear ambitions effectively unchecked, are setbacks for hopes of peace and progress.

Bill Kristol sees a connection between Iraq and Georgia. But not the right one. Our invasion of Iraq has utterly destroyed the United States' moral and REAL influence in the world. Who will listen to us? Who would be insane enough to listen to the Bush Administration on "morality" or anything else for that matter? The Georgian President did and look what is happening to him. More. . . .

The LA Times thinks Obama blew it here. I don't, I agree with him. America is not what it once was and all our children deserve better The question he was asked: Why is he running for President.

Republicans have tarnished this country's image during the past 8 years. America can do better. We have a chance to do better with Democrats back in control of the White House and Congress. Good for Obama. He spoke the truth.

Ralph Reed, pal of Jack Abramoff is holding a fundraising event for John McCain.

“John McCain believes in a strong national defense, a smaller, more accountable government, steady economic growth and opportunity, the dignity of life and traditional values,” wrote Reed, whose 2006 campaign for lieutenant governor sank under the weight of evidence detailing his relationship with Washington lobbyist Jack Abramoff — much of it uncovered by McCain’s Indian Affairs Committee.

Giulianni and Ralph Reed were close too. Anyone remember Reed's treatment of women in his recently published novel? Publisher's Weekly described it this way: [More....]

Just in from the Los Angeles Times: Sen. Barack Obama's campaign sent emails out today indicating he's very close to announcng his Vice-Presidential candidate and he may make the announcement by text-message and e-mail:

An e-mail just sent out says Obama "is about to choose a running mate." And when word comes, it will come by text message, e-mail and on the campaign website. An interesting twist that could mean the word might be released this week even during Obama's family vacation.

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The Democratic National Convention Committee today released the final keynote speaker's list for the four nights of the convention:

Monday: Michelle Obama
Tuesday: Hillary Clinton
Wednesday: the Vice Presidential Candidate
Thursday: Barack Obama

Former President Bill Clinton will also speak on Wednesday night.

The Olympics have started. Here's an open thread for them.

Isaac Hayes, Academy and Grammy Award winner, died this afternoon at the age of 65.

His music, which came to be known as urban-contemporary, paved the way for disco as well as romantic crooners like Barry White. And in his spoken-word introductions and interludes, Hayes was essentially rapping before there was rap. His career hit another high in 1997 when he became the voice of Chef, the sensible school cook and devoted ladies man on the animated TV show "South Park."

"Isaac Hayes embodies everything that's soul music," Collin Stanback, an A&R executive at Stax, told The Associated Press on Sunday. "When you think of soul music you think of Isaac Hayes -- the expression ... the sound and the creativity that goes along with it."

The video above is the wonderful Isaac Hayes version of "Walk On By," the Burt Bacharach song made famous by Dionne Warwick. You can go here if you prefer to remember Hayes by listening to his award-winning "Theme From Shaft."

This is an open thread.

John Edwards has been much in the news recently, but a different Edwards -- Darrell -- is going through his own version of hell.

Edwards was convicted of the 1995 execution-style shooting of a drug dealer in Newark. It took three years for the case to go to trial. The first two ended in mistrials, and the third ended with a hung jury that acquitted a co-defendant. At his fourth trial, Edwards was convicted, due in large part to dubious eyewitness testimony.

An editorial in The Philadelphia Inquirer explains why Darrell Edwards deserves a new trial. [more ...]