On Hardball with Chris Matthews last night, former president Jimmy Carter spoke about everything from his new memoirs to energy policy to the midterm elections. He also gave his thoughts on a possible 2012 presidential run by Mayor Bloomberg. He said, "I think it would be a mistake if he did, because he couldn't win, but he might prevent Obama from winning reelection. And what he would do was just guarantee that a Republican would move into the White House." more ›

Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama march into tonight's Ohio debate with their arms swinging over a 2006 photograph of Obama visiting Kenya. The Obama campaign blamed the Clinton campaign for "shameful" tactics, while the Clinton campaign denied responsibility and said the Obama campaign should be "ashamed" of thinking the photo would be controversial. more ›

Yet another example of foot-in-mouth syndrome due to the hours of punditry on TV, followed by an apology and suspension! Yesterday, while referring to Chelsea Clinton's campaigning on behalf of her mother, MSNBC correspondent David Shuster commented, "Doesn't it seem as if Chelsea is sort of being pimped out in some weird sort of way?" Yes, he totally said that. Or, as the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz writes, "Using a prostitution metaphor for the daughter of a presidential candidate is a surefire way for a journalist to get into trouble." more ›

John Edwards will drop out of the presidential primary race. The Caucus finds symmetry in the announcement, since Edwards will give "a speech this afternoon at the same place where he began this campaign — in New Orleans." Which now means the path is cleared for a full-tilt boogie Hillary Clinton vs. Barack Obama fight for delegates and the nomination. We also expect some wooing from Clinton and Obama for Edwards' delegates. more ›

Senator John McCain won the Republican primary in New Hampshire, with the race being called for him early on. Senator Hillary Clinton beat Senator Barack Obama by a few thousand votes in a very close race. Comebacks all around! more ›

While hosting a live edition of "Real Time With Bill Maher," a number of 9/11 conspiracy theorists began to shout statements and questions at Bill Maher and guest Chris Matthews. When studio security was slow to respond, Maher left the set himself to remove the disruptive audience member. Other conspiracy theorists continued to interrupt the program by shouting from the audience. Maher yelled back, "This is not a debate. This is a debate between [him and his guests onstage]. You're in the audience. Audience comes from the Latin, 'to listen.'" more ›

READING: Our interviewee from yesterday, Adrian Tomine, will be reading tonight at Book Court. The graphic novelist not only has his work in some of the more prestigious rags, he's also got a full length graphic novel, titled Shortcomings. more ›

• Today on the Gothamist Newsmap: a bank robbery at Union Turnpike in Queens, a fatal fall victim on Union St. in Brooklyn, and an infant water rescue at Mallow St. on Staten Island.
• What loud-mouthed inflammatory interrogator could MSNBC get to stand in for Chris Matthews? Tonight it will be Al Sharpton interviewing former DNC head Terry McAuliffe and one-time Presidential candidate Howard Dean. Set your VCRs, DVRs, Tivos, or whatever.
• A swimming pool in Hells' Kitchen is sprouting weeds as more than $3 million of private funds sits in the bank, waiting to be used. We imagine it will get sorted out around January.
• A self-described pacifist wrestled a shovel away from an attacker and started hitting the thief with it after the man went after his wife. The whole exchange occurred in a Queens cemetary and cops eventually arrested the initial shovel-wielding thief.
• The enforcement of a new city noise code is unsurprisingly lax.
• For the 130th year, the Fresh Air Fund is sending NYC kids upstate and further north for some summer recreation.
• Bookmark it: a GoogleMap of open WiFi spots around the nation.
• A downtown Manhattan pizzeria offers lapdances with its lunches. Employees must wash their . . . everything, before returning to work.

With fallen DC lobbyist Jack Abramoff's plea deal freaking out the Beltway, people would expect him to turn over Republican congressmen Tom DeLay and Bob Ney. But Gothamist wondered if any of our area politicians were involved. And, naturally, some were, which isn't surprising given money Abramoff had at his disposal (through Abramoff's organization, about $915,000 went to Republicans in Congress, while $770,000 or so went to Democrats; however, Abramoff's personal contributions seem to be limited to Republicans themselves - about $127,000 worth). Newsday reports that Representative Charles Rangel was the top New York receipient of Abramoff's largesse, getting $36,000; he was followed by "Rep. Tom Reynolds (R-Rochester) at $7,000 and Rep. Nita Lowey (D-Westchester) at $2,000":

Rangel, who has not been implicated in any wrongdoing, said he is unfairly in the spotlight because of Abramoff's actions. "Don't know him, never met him, never took a dime from him," said the senior member of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. more ›

The NY Times had special Democratic Convention section, in addition to their Campaign 2004 site. And here's the Washington Post's extensive convention site. Talking Points Memo's Joshua Micah Marshall writes how MSNBC's convention coverage site (here) has "absorbed the blogging model to something like a mind-bending degree." It's true - MSNBC has a blog, Hardblogger, (heh!) and Gothamist was shocked Chris Matthews' posts weren't in all caps or bold....an assistant must have posted 'em. more ›

Gothamist shakes our head. Come on, do our senators have no respect for history? Alexander Hamilton was the founding Secretary of the Treasury! And Gothamist likes Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill because, well, he just looks so dashing with that wild hair. And FDR presided over the U.S. during WWII. Yes, Reagan had stature, but let's wait for the man to be buried before the really crazy ideas, okay? Gothamist head Katie Couric asked Chris Matthews about comparisons between Reagan and George W. Bush and we almost plotzed. [Via the real janelle] more ›

The Fog of War site has an interesting lesson plan (PDF) for teachers that acts as a great way for anyone to brush up on their history. more ›