There are some items up on News Unfiltered that may interest the community.

DNC calls on the FEC for a new investigation into McCain's campaign finance violations:

With the Federal Election Commission scheduled to address John McCain's decision to unilaterally withdraw from the federal matching funds program on Thursday, the Democratic National Committee today called on the Commission to remove that item from its agenda and instead proceed with a full investigation of the charges made against McCain in the administrative complaint filed by the DNC in February. In a conference call with reporters this morning, DNC General Counsel Joe Sandler discussed a letter he sent to the FEC last night that argued that the Commission should not consider McCain's decision to withdraw from the matching funds program because there is no request for permission pending and the Commission hasn't yet conducted an investigation as required by the law.

Read more.

A couple of weeks ago I posted a Convention Roll Call and received several good responses (see comments at linked diary).  

Side Note:  am in the Deep South countryside right now, looking out the window with a field in front of me and a stand of young pines about 150 yards away.  A red headed woodpecker's climbing the 40 foot pine that's just outside my window.  I'm facing West and the sky's blue, but the moon hasn't set, yet.

Anyway, I will be there blogging for this wonderful site:  Left in Alabama.

I have learned not to be disgusted by anything the Republican Party does nowadays because they explore new depths all the time. But an announcement today really takes the cake.

On the flip.

There are some items up on News Unfiltered that may interest the community.

McCain has received $1.75 million of Reed's fundraising:

Last night John McCain held a fund-raiser in Atlanta, GA, with help from George W. Bush smear architect and Jack Abramoff crony Ralph Reed, who brags of being a member of McCain's "Victory 2008" team. Although Reed was hastily directed away from attending the McCain fundraiser after a storm of stories exposed Reed's $4.2-million-dollar tie to Abramoff and his lead role in Bush's vicious 2000 smear campaign in South Carolina, McCain's still accepting the $1.75 million Reed helped raise for him. It's more of the same from McCain, whose double-talk on ethics means saying he'll ban lobbyists from his campaign even as he embraces them behind closed doors, on-board the Straight Talk Express, in the front rows of his campaign events, and, as last night in Atlanta, at high-dollar fundraisers.

Read more.

I have supported Obama from the first day, mostly by donating money but later by writing letters to the editor in support of Senator Obama. Here in Dupage County I am part of the Democratic parties’ letter writing group, now when we write letters we share them with the group for feedback and critiques. One day a letter came to my inbox that slammed Obama in favor of Clinton. I was surprised to say the least and I dared to ask the writer, someone I had never met but had agreed with on many occasions, why such anger towards Obama? Her response was an eye opener and in the weeks to come the "leader" of the letter writers had to separate us – well at least is a metaphysical over the internet e-mail sense. After that it was flame on – instead of just supporting Obama I went after Clinton and her supporters which kicked off my first ever diary on Kos.

I gave in and made an open thread. Either this will be ignored and scroll into oblivion as new VP threads make their way into the noise, or we can distill all this fervor a little bit.

This is really good and a similar cut, without all the filler, should be on air already...

Hitting McCain on this all throughout the convention I believe would be a great move.  Let the DNC spend some of that intake on some Cable Ads solidfying the Democratic base before the Democratic Audience...

Meanwhile, Howie Wolfson has advice for concerned Democrats

Feels like this story is written every four years. Relax, Democrats. Given their successes so far, hasn’t the team running the Obama campaign earned the benefit of the doubt?

Americablog freaked out.  Josh Marshall is even concerned. Marc Ambinder portrays the psycho-drama...  Thank God the convention starts Monday.

Following this endorsement.

FAIRBANKS — Republican Mayor Jim Whitaker has said he is endorsing Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama.

"My goal is to let Republicans have a clear understanding that their right to vote should not be restricted by any party affiliation," the borough mayor said. He said the economic and political challenges facing the state and country are broader than political parties alone can address and suggested Republicans should consider crossing party lines by focusing on the strongest candidate this year.

http://www.newsminer.com/...

Comes this.

I'm a strong Obama Backer, all the way! But I have a problem understanding the transition in his campaign direction since he mathematically secured the nomination. For me the confusion exists in the basics. In the early days of Barack's primary campaign, he maintained a strong populist message, the essence of which was captured in the popular slogan "Yes we can!!"

However, since Barack nailed down the nomination, there appears a blending of philosophical messages between the DNC and the Obama campaign have taken place, resulting in a significant dilution of the populist tenor which dominated his primary campaign. Follow me below the fold...

A week from today the Democrats will begin their nominating convention in Denver. This seems like a good time to recall the incitations to violence that were voiced last April by Rush Limbaugh:

Screw The World! Riot in Denver

This year, to find out where celebrities, political leaders, and the rest of the crowd of influence are going to be– a variety of sources exist.  The best one out so far is Metrohikers- Unauthorized DNC Insider’s Guide.  With over 400 events listed, it’s pretty much the definitive source for finding out where all the hot spots are during the convention.  

New York, NY (Aug. 18): Senator Joe Biden (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, is profiled as a possible Democratic Vice Presidential candidate in today's New York Times on page A-12.

Here is the Web link to the full story:
http://www.nytimes.com/...

"As Running Mate, Biden Offers Foreign Policy Heft but an Insider Image," by John Broder, states "he would bring heft, knowledge and nearly four decades of experience in Washington" if chosen as the vice-presidential nominee.

Sen. Biden flew to Tbilisi, Georgia this weekend, accompanied by Senators Lindsey Graham and Joe Lieberman, to meet with the country's embattled president, Mikheil Saakashvili.

Biden is running for re-election to the U.S. Senate; to learn more about the issues or make a contribution to his campaign, please visit www.JoeBiden.com.

BTW:  Sen. Biden was spotted in the Las Vegas airport a few days ago, the same day Sen. Obama had a meeting in Nevada.  Is this a clue or just a coincidence?? !!

The issue of revoking Kwame Kilpatrick's super-delegate credentials was diaried earlier.  This diary is intended to allay the fears the DNC may have about a backlash from Detroit voters this election.

Detroit Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick who faces ten felony charges in two separate cases and has twice violated the conditions of his release on bond has been granted permission from the court to attend the Democratic Convention in Denver next week.  In the first case, Kilpatrick is charged with perjury, misconduct and obstruction of justice in matters relating to an affair with a former staffer.  http://kdka.com/...

In the second, he faces two counts of resisting and obstructing police officers attempting to serve a subpoena on a friend of the mayor in the perjury case. http://www.cnn.com/...

The Denver papers are discussing plans for violence at the DNC?

With Obama crushing McCain in fundraising, with the DCCC and DSCC absolutely destroying their GOP counterparts, the lone fundraising bright spot for Republicans has been the RNC. Well, now that Obama is helping direct contributions to the national party, that advantage is gone.

From an email press release on the July numbers:

This morning the DNC announced July fundraising numbers.  For the first time since October 2004, the DNC has outraised the RNC.   The strong fundraising numbers are a testament to Barack Obama's message of change and hope and his vision for America's future.
July 2008 Fundraising

Raised: $27.7 M
COH:   $28.5 M

NOTE: Totals include: DNC, Obama Victory Fund (DNC/Obama joint fund), and Democratic White House Victory Fund (Joint DNC, Obama and Hillary Fund)

The RNC reported $26 million in June, and still leads in cash in the bank, with $75 million. But if the DNC raised this much, expect monster numbers from Obama. McCain, for his part, raised just $27 million with $21 million in the bank. While that haul was a record for McCain, it was barely half what Obama raised in June -- $52 million. His July numbers should be released any day now.

The RNC also announced it had passed 1 million individual donors, while the McCain campaign claims 600,000. The Obama campaign has already blown by the 2 million mark.

Update: Obama's numbers for July are in--$51 million. (mcjoan)

Attack him where he is unprepared, appear where you are not expected. - Sun Tzu

Hence that general is skillful in attack whose opponent does not know what to defend; and he is skillful in defense whose opponent does not know what to attack. - Sun Tzu

Sun Tzu, in the Art of War, laid out these important principles.  I have been pondering how Obama can use such tactics to take back the campaign narrative.  

My solution:  Announce the Vice Presidential nomination on the first night of the Convention.

Follow me after the jump to find out why I think this is a logical action to take for the campaign and some questions for those of you more politically savvy than myself.

Fo

The DNC has increased its fundraising, raising more in July than the RNC for the first time this cycle.  The DNC raised $27.7 million and had $28.5 million on hand as of August 1, Obama raised $51 million and had $65.8 million on hand as of August 1.  

cross-posted from The Dream Antilles

Just in case you thought that exercising your Constitutional Right to assemble in Denver,  engage in non-violent protest and perhaps participate in civil disobedience at the Democratic National Convention was going to be easy and humane, the NY Times informs in an article entitled, "Grim Warehouse Set To Process Convention Arrests," that is not to be the case.  The Government has set up a mini-Gitmo to handle pesky protesters who get arrested in Denver.  And they're telling you about it now, so you'll reconsider your plans.  And maybe stay home.

Join me across the razor wire.