Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr made good on threats and threw his hat into the presidential arena. No, Barr’s not challenging John McCain. The Georgia-based politico’s gunning for the Libertarian nomination, which will be decided Memorial Day weekend. There’s debate over whether Barr would hurt McCain, the Democratic nominee or simply not matter. One thing’s for sure: he ain’t winning. [LA Times]

From The Editor: I heard something interesting while in Philadelphia this weekend. A gay man mentioned that he and many of his friends - all of whom support Hillary Clinton - plan on voting for John McCain if Barack Obama gets the Democratic nomination. Like so many others, these voters don’t think Obama has the experience necessary to run the country. So, readers, this has me wondering: are there any other men or women out there who plan to back McCain’s campaign if Clinton loses the nomination? And, if so, why?

The presumptive political nominees, Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, are already mapping out their national strategies. And, according to people close to McCain, he and his peers are going to pull some old tricks: “Republicans will seek to portray Mr. Obama as out of touch with many voters on issues like abortion and gay rights.” [NY Times]

Girl! The gloves came off last night as undeclared Donna Brazile, her hair from the future and magenta lipstick ripped into Clinton-backer Paul Begala.
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John McCain’s right-wing wooing antics aren’t working.

A shocking amount of Indiana and North Carolina Republicans put their weight against the presumptive nominee, giving their support to fallen candidates like Mike Huckabee, Ron Paul or, of course, simply voting “no.”

Twenty-six percent of North Carolinians rejected the politico, while twenty-two of Indiana’s Hoosiers have apparently given up on the Senator from Arizona.

What will we do with John McCain?

It seems the Senator will say anything to woo conservatives, many of whom worry you’re too - gasp! - liberal for the presidency. Today the Republican vowed to take on the dreaded “activist judge.” You know, the ones who rule in favor of the flamers…
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John McCain’s Republican chops come under fire again this morning.

From Arianna Huffington: At a dinner party in Los Angeles not long after the 2000 election, I was talking to a man and his wife, both prominent Republicans. The conversation soon turned to the new president. “I didn’t vote for George Bush” the man confessed. “I didn’t either,” his wife added. Their names: John and Cindy McCain (Cindy told me she had cast a write-in vote for her husband). The McCain campaign denies the tale, saying people should “consider the source.” Huffington responded with a list of McCain’s very public - and erroneous - “denials,” like knowing lobbyist Vicki Iseman, not budgeting … Continued…

Journo Frank Rich wonders why the media hasn’t paid more attention to John McCain’s absolutely insane, anti-gay preacher pal, John Hagee: “Mr. McCain says he does not endorse any of Mr. Hagee’s calumnies, any more than Barack Obama endorses Mr. Wright’s. But those who try to give Mr. McCain a pass for his embrace of a problematic preacher have a thin case. It boils down to this: Mr. McCain was not a parishioner for 20 years at Mr. Hagee’s church. That defense implies, incorrectly, that Mr. McCain was a passive recipient of this bigot’s endorsement. In fact, by his own account, Mr. McCain sought out Mr. Hagee…” [NY Times]

John McCain-backing pastor John Hagee may have “retracted” his “gays caused Katrina” comments, but he’s got a whole slew of other offensibles.

Here are two of our favorites from a totally frightful top ten: “The military will have difficultly recruiting healthy and strong heterosexuals for combat purposes. Why? Fighting in combat with a man in your fox hole that has AIDS or is HIV positive is double jeopardy.”
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“It is impossible to call yourself a Christian and defend homosexuality. There is no justification or acceptance of homosexuality…. Homosexuality means the death of society because homosexuals can recruit, but they cannot reproduce.” Let it be known that McCain has not denounced Hagee.

Is the Associated Press in bed with John McCain! Some ultra-suspicious people say “yes.”

Take this AP lede: “The Republican National Committee demanded Monday that television networks stop running a television ad by the Democratic Party that falsely suggests John McCain wants a 100-year war in Iraq.”

Notice anything wrong with it? How about the little fact that they incorporated McCain’s spin into the factual portion of that statement?

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John McCain-supporting pastor John Hagee last week “retracted” his oft-repeated assertion: gays caused Katrina. Writes Hagee: “…Ultimately neither I nor any other person can know the mind of God concerning Hurricane Katrina. I should not have suggested otherwise.” That’s not so much a retraction as a “I’m backing off for my candidate’s sake.” Weak. [LA Times via Towleroad]

Has the Democratic National Committee gone too far? Republicans say yes.
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Rudy Giuliani’s still playing presidential politics.

Sure, the former New York mayor rescinded his own candidacy, but now he’s headed out on the town to raise money for likely nominee, the cadaverous John McCain: Giuliani will be the “special guest” at a Sheraton New York fundraiser for McCain on May 7 expected to raise $5 million, sources said. Many of Rudy’s wealthy presidential supporters have jumped on the Mac bandwagon, Money’s all well and good, but we can’t help but wonder how this alliance will play among social conservatives, who hate Giuliani and are on the fence about McCain, who they deem too liberal.

House Majority whip Rep. James Clyburn says that a superdelegated Hillary Clinton nomination could alienate black voters. Party leaders have become so obsessed with who can carry white voters, that they’re “almost saying black people don’t matter.” Clyburn also suggested that Mrs. Clinton has a grand strategy to ensure Obama loses to McCain, thus clearing the slate for a 2012 win.[Washington Post]

Above you see a picture of Colorado-politico Jared Polis in Iraq last year. The never-ending war has become a cornerstone in Polis’ Congressional campaign, perhaps because of his parents’ past opposition to the Vietnam War, a vicarious history Polis cites as one the main components of his political activism.

Of course, the war hardly counts as Polis’ only political interest. The 32-year old, who made a fortune riding the world wide web, has long been active in his state’s educational evolution, both in elected office on the Board of Education and through his own eponymous foundation. The Colorado native also toots his environmentalist horn.

In fact, the issue is number one on his website: Preserving our natural resources for future generations is a critical priority. As a matter of personal and collective integrity, we need to stand up for the environment by initiating and supporting policies that emphasize sustainability through innovation and collaboration.That said, it comes as no surprise that a report on Polis’ previous oil and mining investments caused a bit of stir yesterday.

Polis addressed that report in this exclusive interview with our editor, Andrew Belonsky. The boys talked more than just investments, of course, like Polis’ Barack Obama endorsement, how Colorado reflects the United States and, yes, whether this peace-loving Boulder-resident has ever taken a toke.

Read all about it, after the jump…
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