Lieberman Will Speak at GOP Convention

(NEWSER) - Sen. Joe Lieberman turned tail on his former party tonight and said John McCain is clearly the "best choice" for president, NBC reports. "Country matters more than party," he told the Republican National Convention, urging Democrats to cross party lines. Lieberman said Barack Obama might one day be ready to lead the nation, but for now, "eloquence is no substitute for a record." By contrast, he said, McCain is a proven man of principle. More»

(NEWSER) - President Bush tonight praised the "courage and vision" of John McCain and invoked the "lessons" of the 9/11 attacks as he asked Americans to vote for him, CNN reports. Bush, who addressed the Republican convention via satellite, also praised McCain for backing the US military surge in Iraq when it was politically unpopular. The president said McCain's "independence and character helped change history." More»

Campaign lays out anti-RNC programs

(NEWSER) - All's fair in the war between conventions, and the Democrats are readying their spoiling machine ahead of the GOP gathering next week, the Swamp reports. An Obama campaign operative’s email lays out the attack Dems will launch from their war room literally across the street from the RNC:

• A mobile billboard (pictured) showing McCain hugging Bush that will follow McCain campaign stops on his way to St. Paul.

Sixty-senator caucus makes Reid hostage to any naysayer

(NEWSER) - The convergence of events that led to the Democrats getting 60 senators in their caucus must have felt like fate to Harry Reid, a sign that health care reform was meant to be. But as negotiations drag on, lucky No. 60 feels more like unlucky 13, because Reid must do anything to preserve it. If Democrats had started out with a lower number, like 58 or 59, their proposals might have been more modest, writes David Herszenhorn. More»

Find out who gets bloodied in Palin's book

(NEWSER) - It's the read all of Washington has been waiting for, but, alas, it has no index. Lest Sarah Palin's friends, foes, and frenemies be forced to read it all the way through to see how they made out, Politico's Jonathan Martin and Andy Barr offer a guide: Friends

• John McCain: Palin praises him, but ruefully recalls his decision to muzzle her on election night.
• Joe Lieberman: The one-time Democrat's advice was “so heartfelt, so genuine, so sincere.”
• Steve Biegun: Rumored to be the aide responsible for connecting Palin with the Candian DJ who pretended to be Sarkozy, Palin calls him "an absolutely stellar professional."