Deaths reported as plane skids off runway at Madrid airport Hua Guofeng, who succeeded China's Chairman Mao, dies at 87 Obama and his new VP choice to campaign together on Saturday Tropical Storm Fay may rebound and hit Florida again Dave Matthews Band sax player LeRoi Moore dies The Bigfoot body captured in Georgia? That's right -- a hoax Olympic spoiler alert: Jamaica's Usain Bolt wins 200 meters in world record time......

Presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain distributed tire-pressure gauges labelled “Obama’s Energy Plan” to members of his travelling press corps on Monday. The tire-pressure gauges were in response to a comment that Obama made last Wednesday alleging that the amount of oil available through increased offshore drilling could be saved each year if Americans kept their car tires properly filled with air....

Despite his lackluster major media performance, George Bush is still the subject of nearly 100% of Volkswagen bumper stickers and represents the butts of more than 60% of the jokes told by terrible stand-up comedians....

New York Times rejects McCain’s Iraq War Essay The New York Times on Monday rejected an essay by presumptive Republican presidential nominee John McCain. The essay was written as a response to an Op-Ed piece by Barack Obama published by the paper last week and focused on McCain’s strategy for the Iraq war. The New York Times, which endorsed McCain as the Republican candidate and has published seven Op-Ed pieces by the Senator, encouraged McCain to submit another draft. ...

Driver slams his bulldozer into a crowded bus in Jerusalem, killing at least 3 people Manhunt ends in Illinois for suspect in eight murders Hospital employees disciplined after ignoring a woman who collapsed and died in an ER waiting area Starbucks closing 600 stores across the country President Palmer from '24' believes his role helped Obama Tabloids buzzing about potential Alex Rodriguez-Madonna hookup Texas ex Piersol sets world record at Olympic swimming trials......

Obama asks donors to help pay Clinton campaign debt Florida buying out the sugar business to help save the Everglades Six dead in shooting spree at Kentucky factory Supreme Court rules the death penalty cannot be imposed for child rape Security scare for French president Sarkozy as policeman commits suicide There are now 10 million millionaires in the world - are you one of them? Ex-'American Idol' champ Ruben Studdard to wed......

Flooding continues in the Midwest as levees break on the Mississippi River President Bush to make a renewed push to allow offshore drilling Obama has a narrow lead on McCain, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll After making his home more energy-efficient, Al Gore's home energy use went up 10% Obesity surgery may reduce a person's risk of cancer by 80% Firefox fans celebrate release of new browser Celtics crush Lakers for their 17th NBA......

Republican Market, a Florida-based website devoted to all things GOP, was recently spotted at the Republican State Convention in Houston with a booth offering the latest round of politically shallow and morally irresponsible pins declaring "If Obama is President...will we still call it the White House?" ...

Two town hall meeting-style forum opportunities have been offered to presidential candidates John McCain (GOP) and Barack Obama (Dem). The Johnson family has asked the candidates to hold a forum at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, and Nancy Reagan has asked them to hold a forum at the Reagan National Library in California. Both forums would be scheduled for July. ...

Obama's choice of insider for VP advisor draws fire Floods in the Midwest may drive food prices even higher Jetliner inferno kills dozens in Sudan Pakistan says U.S. airstrike killed 11 of its soldiers The new iPhone costs less, but monthly plans don't Paul Newman doesn't exactly deny he has cancer Lakers win to close NBA Finals gap to 2-1......

Patrick Dentler/flickrDemocratic presidential nominee Barack Obama's local campaign headquarters in downtown Austin are moving over to East 12th and I-35, and they could use a hand. From Burnt Orange Report: Hey Austin folks Obama HQ has to vacate the lovely and cavernous 816 Congress, immediately, as in Tuesday, starting at noon! Much of the office is being transferred to a new location in the new TCDP coordinated campaign office at 12th and I-35, which is......

Texans For Obama are hosting a "Turn Texas Blue Party" at Club Deville tonight, in advance of this weekend's massive Texas Democratic Convention, whereupon some 15,000 liberals are expected to descend upon our fair city....

Just when you thought Travis County couldn't get any darker blue, The Texas Democratic Convention will bring an estimated 15 thousand people to the capital city beginning tomorrow. Keeping with the record-breaking trends the Democrats have been setting during the primary season, this year's expected convention turnout will be a 50% increase from recent conventions hosted by the Party of Jackson. ...

Obama clinches the Democratic nomination; Clinton hasn't conceded yet United Airlines cuts planes, jobs to offset costs Ed McMahon fighting foreclosure on his Beverly Hills mansion Actress Gina Gershon: I did not have sex with that man, Bill Clinton Those disinfecting wipes you have may spread, not kill, germs The Milky Way loses two arms The Texas polygamist sect case will cost the state $7 million......

Although nowadays things are looking rosier for his candidate, McKinnon had to leave; he told people earlier this year that if Obama was the Democratic nominee, then he wouldn't keep working with the McCain campaign. Even though Obama isn't officially the Democratic nominee yet, it seems inevitable that he will be....

Bill Richardson, the governor of New Mexico (and former presidential candidate), endorses Obama. A few people from the State Department peered into Obama's passport file. Soon there will be a horror movie about sting rays. Consumers are not getting the benefit of the recent Federal Reserve rate cuts. Bank of America customers look out! Judge Orders Starbucks to Pay More Than $100 Million in Back Tips. Man admits to having group sex with former......

Before we let Texas fade off the political radar for a while, let's take a look at the Texas Democratic elite who will likely have the final say in who their nominee for president will be. ...

Two men kidnapped a woman at a Bastrop Whataburger this morning. Mayor Wynn apologizes to city after assault charge, says he is in anger counseling. Winter weather leads to more than 200 flights being cancelled at DFW. On election day, APD arrested two members of the Mexican Mafia. With 41% of Texas precincts reporting, Obama is in the lead for caucus delegates. An agreement set up today between the City of Austin and TxDOT means that your vehicle registration could be denied if you don't pay your traffic fines. After losing the race for Tax Assessor-Collector, Maxey endorses Nelda Wells-Spears and says he is going to help the Obama campaign....

Primary results from national/state/local races: So even though it seems that Hillary won the Texas primary (it's interesting that Obama led in statewide early voting), Obama may beat her in delegate numbers. In the GOP race, McCain is now the GOP candidate as Huckabee gives up the ghost. In Travis County, Ron Paul won 17% of the vote . . . ...

There's a Joke in Here Somewhere: Clinton Campaign Stations Media Next to Toilets At yesterday's "Texas-sized Town Hall" at the Austin Convention Center, Senator Hillary Clinton's media entourage was forced to work out of a men's bathroom in a nearby community center. "It was immediately interpreted as something of a metaphor for the Clinton campaign's attitude to the press: With Sen. Hillary Clinton at Austin's convention center for 'a Texas-sized townhall,' her media entourage......

or most of us who simply go to work, ruthlessly stab our livers, mow our lawns, and try to find enough time to fight off sleep deprivation, voting is the most impact you will likely have on the world you live in. SO GO. Vote your brain. Vote your heart. Vote your history. Vote your soul. I don’t care, just go vote for something. STAY FOR THE CAUCUS!!!...

When Norman Mailer and Hunter Thompson wrote about political showdowns, they were incapable of resisting the fight metaphor. They knew that there is no such thing as a contest of ideas, a balanced measure of experience and aptitude. That a political debate is most akin to boxing, that it’s both a brawl and a dance. But if a political debate is tantamount to a heavyweight title, then it is one cast in negative: Even if he wins, Americans don’t want to see their man take too many shots on the chin....

Clinton campaign seeks to control local caucus sessions? According to a Dallas Morning News blog, recent training materials distributed by the Clinton campaign read, "DO NOT allow the supporter of another candidate to serve in leadership roles... If our supporters are outnumbered, ask the Temporary Chair if one of our supporters can serves as the Secretary, in the interest of fairness." Mike Huckabee's latest outreach video reworks "Mr Sandman" Calling "Rangers," Huckabee's supporters are urged......

Watching the presidential primary unfold these last few weeks, the thought has often occurred to us: "When will Obama and Clinton shut up about saving the people of Darfur from displacement and genocide, and start talking about the important stuff, like plaigarized speeches and superdelegates?" Haven't had the same reaction? Tonight, a very different kind of politics will be on display at the B. Iden Payne Theatre at the University of Texas. Our city will play host to one of the great voices for democracy and social justice in post-colonial Africa. ...

Reason the power was out in East Austin Wednesday afternoon: a copper theft gone seriously wrong. The Cowboy Breakfast this morning kicked off the rodeo in town by providing a free breakfast to everyone there at 6am. Slightly reminiscent of "Daisy": Obama campaign unhappy with Hillary's new "Children" campaign ad. Clinton attends funeral of Dallas cop who died while serving in her motorcade. Huckabee makes campaign stop in Waco today. Show your voter registration card and ride the bus for free on election day....

We would like to take a moment to thank this week's advertisers on Austinist. The 2009 Toyota Corolla, which encourages you to "Live the Dream for Less Coin." Obama for America, remember the Texas primary on Tuesday. Return of the Stardust Cowgirl, available now in paperback. Joe Jackson's Rain, available now on Amazon.com. Elsewares, where you can get a 10% off your order with the discount code "ist". Busted Tees, which introduces three new designs......

"Chemical Ali'' to be executed in 30 days. Prince Harry has apparently been fighting in Afghanistan. Good on ya, Harry. Good on ya indeed. Vote for Putin's successor, Dmitry Medvedev, or disappear. Obama currently has a small lead in Texas and is pulling even in Ohio. McCain admits he is a liberal. Austin set to increase use of wind power. We totally rule. Courtney Cox and Demi Moore are the same person.......

Brian Thompson seeking an injunction against Dawnna Dukes; her campaign ads say he's never voted. New KXAN statewide poll of Democratic voters has Obama with 50%, Clinton with 47% and 3% undecided. McCain will hold a town hall meeting with Dell employees tomorrow in Round Rock. New City Manager Ott made two appointments today. Someone at Liberty Hill ISD hasn't heard of a shredder....

An Ohio school has suspended a boy over his mohawk. Thought $3.00 was bad? Obama HQ in Longview, Texas vandalized. Civil rights leader and former Clinton devotee John Lewis switches his endorsement over to Obama. Gives a whole new meaning to "Red China". Kenyan leaders agree to share power; post-election violence has haunted the country since December. Got it bad. Got it bad. Got it bad. I'm hot for teacher.......

Today both the Clinton and Obama campaigns announced upcoming town hall meetings. Obama's will take place tomorrow at the Austin Convention Center, while Hillary's sounds like more of a "virtual" town hall meeting - on TV the Monday before election day....