MORNING READ

The John McCain campaign attack at the media for going too soft on Barack Obama has unleashed the Republican’s blogging backers, who take up the fight. Obama’s online supporters focus on the Democrat’s trip abroad and what it could mean for the United States’ standing in the world. Meanwhile, as Congressional Democrats move along their housing bill, conservative bloggers wonder why Republicans haven’t been able to succeed with domestic oil drilling.

Time magazine’s Joe Klein is wrong to slam McCain’s remark that Obama would lose the Iraq war to win an election since the Democrat has been talking about a withdrawal without victory for several years, writes RedState’s Dan McLaughlin. Obama didn’t make much sense when he said he would oppose the surge today even knowing what he knows now, yet the “compliant press” has failed to follow up on his comment with targeted questions, according to The Corner’s Peter Kirsanow. McCain, however, has long benefited from the press, so it’s “about time” that pundits turn on him, notes MyDD’s Todd Beeton.

Though Obama is receiving rave reviews for his trip abroad, he and McCain have a chance to improve attitudes toward the United States and the country’s national security merely by not being George W. Bush, writes The Huffington Post’s Marty Kaplan. But that doesn’t mean there won’t be speed bumps; Obama received both cheers from the crowd and jeers from a heckler during his trip to the Western Wall in Jerusalem, reports ABC’s Jake Tapper on Political Punch.

Republicans in Congress should have forced Democrats to put domestic offshore oil drilling on the table during the housing bill debate, which Democrats won without giving up much in return, writes The Corner’s Andy McCarthy. Drilling is getting much support from T. Boone Pickens, the Republican donor whom the liberal The New York Times editorial board may have mistaken for an ally in the fight for renewable energy sources, Power Line’s John Hinderaker writes.

FROM THE BLOGS:
Obama’s Losing Bet on Defeat in Iraq – D. McLaughlin, RedState
Bizarro World of Obama and Surge – P. Kirsanow, The Corner
Much Iraq Support for Obama’s Plan? – P. Yousefzadeh, RedState
McCain’s Losing His ‘Base’ – Todd Beeton, MyDD
McCain, Timelines, Freedom for Iraq – mcjoan, Daily Kos
‘Ich Bin Ein Amerikaner’ – Marty Kaplan, Huffington Post
Obama Visits Wall, Hears Psalm, Heckling – J. Tapper, Political Punch
Puzzling Republicans on Housing Bill – A. McCarthy, The Corner
T. Boone For Drilling, Not for NYT – John Hinderaker, Power Line
Rep. Kirk’s Campaign Stupid or Despicable? – brownsox, Daily Kos
For Better or Worse, Florida’s Back – Nate Silver, The Plank
Poll & VP – Jerome Armstrong, MyDD
Novak: Speed Demon – Josh Marshall, TalkingPointsMemo

OTHER NEWS SOURCES:
Huge Housing Bill Set to Become Law – Washington Post
Voter Unease About Obama Lingers Despite Lead – Wall Street Journal
Obama Working to Ensure Jewish Vote – Washington Post
Dems Rack Up Wins – The Hill