413-423 – Michael Barone, The "smartest guy in the room" on American Politics, senior writer for U.S. News and World Report, regularly seen on Fox News, (author of The Almanac of American Politics out every other year, and blogger at usnews.com/blogs/barone).
• Reuters (8/20/08), Poll shows McCain in 5-point lead over Obama. In the poll taken last Thursday through Saturday, before Saddleback!, there's been a 12 point swing against Obama and in favor of McCain in all demographics except black voters. Obama led McCain by 7 points in July, and now McCain's out front by 5 points. This is a gigantic shift. McCain's up 49-40 on the economy, and the 18-29 youth vote shows a much smaller lead for Obama, now just 52-40, when he had been ahead last month 64-28. Regarding women, the gender gap is gone. In July, Obama was winning 53% of women and 47% of men, and now Obama is winning just 43% of women and 41% of men. Thus, Obama is down 6 points among men but 10 points among women.
• Gallup (8/22/08), The Marriage Gap in Support for McCain, Obama: Marriage gap reflects underlying differences in composition of the parties. Married registered voters prefer McCain by 13 points (51/38%), unmarried prefer Obama by 22 points (55/33%). Married/Unmarried – Republicans 64/36%, Independents 50/50%, Democrats 44/55%. Preferences Obama/McCain: Married Men 35/56%; Unmarried men 52/37%; Married Women 42/46%; Unmarried Women 57/30%.
• CNN, Disclosure reports show Clinton still deeply in debt. About $24 million in the red, $11 to vendors and $13 to herself, which she says she doesn't want back. She raised $2 in July and $3 in June. She owes the most, $5.2 to Mark Penn's polling/political consulting group. Obama raised $50 million in July and could "easily" retire her debt, if he wanted.
428-437 – Ben Shapiro, nationally-syndicated columnist (benjaminshapiro.com), and author of Project President: Bad Hair and Botox on the Road to the White House.
• Dick Morris (8/22/08), The Presidential Race That Hasn't Yet Started.
443-452 – Mike Barnett, Women's Track and Field Coach at Azusa Pacific University and currently "Throws Coach" for the 2008 US Olympic Track and Field team, LIVE FROM BEIJING on Bryan Clay's WINNING the Gold Medal in the Decathlon yesterday and gaining the unofficial title of "greatest athlete on Earth."
• USA Today, USA's Bryan Clay breaks through for decathlon gold.
• Herald Tribune, Olympics board seeks inquiry into age of Chinese gymnast.
• Times Online, Probe into gymnast He Kexin could rule soon - but censorship stops online debate. The IOC is now demanding more evidence that the Chinese girls are 16, not 14.
458-508 – Raul Ries, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Golden Springs in Diamond Bar (calvarygs.org), heard weekdays at 1pm with his Somebody Loves You broadcast.
• AP, Now on the Hallmark aisle: Gay marriage cards.
• AP (8/22/08), Gay Democrats talk strategy. The Stonewall Democrats are up in numbers at this year DNC with 370 delegates, up from 100 in 2004. They now make up 6% of all Democrat delegates. Their #1 agenda? Opposing "anti gay rights measures" in Arizona, California, and Florida.
512-523 – Professor Grant Horner, associate professor of English at the Master's College (masters.edu), twice elected their Teacher of the Year – and a Big Wall Rock Climber! He's also associated with trinityclassicalacademy.com.
528-539 – • Peggy Noonan (8/22/08), They're Paying Attention Now.
• MSNBC, Obama veep still a mystery: Officials said text message announcement will go out Sat. morning.
544-554 – So Obama supporters, why should we vote for your candidate? Give us one policy issue where you think he is best for you and America. Here's your opportunity to convince the rest of us to vote for your candidate. But…I get to respond too.
558-608 – Calls
612-623 – Calls
628-639 – Calls
644-655 – Calls
• Fox News, Study Cites Cheering as Most Dangerous School Sport for Girls. There have been 67 fatal or life-threatening injuries due to cheerleading since 1982, making it by farr the most perilous sport for young athletes. Cheerleaders suffer more injuries than all other school athletes combined, about 65% of severe injuries in high school and 67% in college. Few states recognize cheerleading as a sport – an estimated 20 d0 – which means there is less oversight than sports such as field hockey, soccer, and basketball.
• AP News, Young evangelical backs out of convention prayer. Cameron Strang, 32-year-old editor of Relevant Magazine (big in Pentecostal and Charismatic circles, since his father Steven Strang is the founder of Charisma Magazine), will not be giving the benediction on opening night at the DNC. Strang was a registered Republican until this week when he registered as an Independent.
• Lorie Byrd (8/22/08), The Case Against Obama - In His Own Words.
Another example of actions speaking louder than words can be found when we listen to Obama's money talk. According to Obama's tax returns from 2000-2006, the Obamas have given far less to charity than John McCain has. In all but the two most recent years reported, the Obamas gave around 1% or less of their income to charity. Their contributions increased in 2005 and 2006 to 4.7% and 6.1% respectively, but still are far short of those of McCain who gave 28.6% in 2006 and 27.3% in 2007. But if you listen to Obama's words you will hear that he is very concerned about the least among us.
• Rich Lowry (8/22/08), McCain's Missing Middle: An enormous weakness.
