Today’s edition of quick hits.
* Mark Penn has been forced out of his role in the Clinton campaign, but he’s not really gone: “…Penn may no longer have the coveted title of chief strategist, but he remains a key member of the campaign’s senior staff. Mr. Penn took part on the campaign’s morning message call this morning, as usual. This afternoon, he is also scheduled to be on a call with Clinton and other aides to begin to prepare for Saturday’s presidential debate in Philadelphia. Mr. Penn ‘is still going to be very much involved,’ a senior campaign official said. Indeed, it is not clear precisely what Mr. Penn’s title-change entails, other than a public rebuke, although the official said that ‘there is a difference between being in charge and being one of many voices.'”
* Former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D), now out from behind bars, has quite a few interesting things to say — about the details of his case and about the need for Karl Rove to testify about his role in the controversy.
* Great chart comparing job growth during Clinton’s two terms against job growth during Bush’s two terms.
* John McCain gave another big speech in Iraq today. Right around the time the GOP candidate was insisting that we’ve “turn[ed] things around,” MSNBC had to break away to report on mortars being fired into the Green Zone, which came just a day after five Americans troops were killed in Iraq.
* Interesting statement from the Clinton campaign: “The violent clashes in Tibet and the failure of the Chinese government to use its full leverage with Sudan to stop the genocide in Darfur are opportunities for Presidential leadership. These events underscore why I believe the Bush administration has been wrong to downplay human rights in its policy towards China. At this time, and in light of recent events, I believe President Bush should not plan on attending the opening ceremonies in Beijing, absent major changes by the Chinese government.”
* Good move on the part of New Jersey officials on six weeks of paid leave for workers to to “care for sick family members and newborn or adopted children.”
* “The percentage of recruits requiring a waiver to join the Army because of a criminal record or other past misconduct has more than doubled since 2004.” Still no law-abiding gays, though.
* The Mortgage Bankers Association is now finding it “harder than it imagined to pay its own mortgage.”
* Historian Sean Wilentz makes the case today that the if the Dems used a winner-take-all system in the primaries and caucuses, Clinton would be way ahead, and Obama’s lead is “reliant on certain eccentricities in the current Democratic nominating process,” most notably a proportional system of dividing delegates in the states. Perhaps. But why is a winner-take-all system superior? Wilentz doesn’t say. (And aren’t those “eccentricities” the party rules that all the candidates agreed to play by before the process even began?)
* The Pulitzer Prizes were announced today. The WaPo did especially well.
* I’m sure everyone will want to pick up the new book from my friend Cliff Schecter, “The Real McCain: Why Conservatives Don’t Trust Him and Why Independents Shouldn’t.”
* Some of Cliff’s revelations are already raising eyebrows.
* The NYT characterized professional blogging as dangerous to one’s health.
* After seeing his lead dissipate last week, the new Gallup Daily Tracking poll shows Obama back up by nine.
* Cokie Roberts helps capture everything that’s wrong with the media establishment’s take on Iraq. It’s painful but important.
* And finally, Rep. Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.), one of Congress’ most unhinged members, insisted last week that because of immigration, “We’re losing our country. People are not assimilating themselves to America. They’re not speaking English, and you must speak it if you want to succeed here in this country,” she said. Bachmann also compared the situation on the border to the Israel/Palestine conflict, saying “the argument that fences don’t work doesn’t hold water. Look at Israel and Palestine. Fences work.” Oh my.
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.