Political operatives of all stripes are furious at RNC chair Michael Steele today for his anti-Afghanistan war comments. Now everyone must "spin" and "clarify" instead of taking a half-day! Republicans are calling for Steele's resignation, while Democrats are being stupid.

The Democratic party, under the veneer of a high-journalism name like "Accountability Now," has launched a new website where you can upload wacky videos of Republican candidates saying stupid things. Isn't this already the entire point of YouTube?

As if plagiarizing a speech weren't bad enough, if you're a Palin-endorsed Republican, is there anyone worse to plagiarize than President Obama? From his famous 2004 speech to the Democratic National Convention, the one that all but launched his career?

First, Desiree Rogers refused to acquiesce to Sally Quinn's demand that she be an old person from Georgetown. Then she let some losers into a party. Now we learn that she forgot to send Christmas cards to rich people!

This should surprise no one but Obama's campaign organization, which has swallowed the DNC, failed to do any organizing for the Maine gay marriage vote, though it did email Maine volunteers asking them to make calls for Jon Corzine.

Denver's a sprawling city, so we can't decide whether MSNBC's elephant-and-donkey mascots rode Segways at the Democratic National Convention as a blogger-baiting publicity stunt or a practical transportation move. Can you think of a better caption? Leave it in the comments. The best one will become the new headline. (Bonus points to those who avoid the obvious "asses of themselves" joke.) Yesterday's winner: Duncan, for "When I grow up, I want to become President." (Photo by Steve Rhodes)

Hunky God-mayor Gavin Newsom tries out his new stand-up routine at the Unconventional '08 party in Denver, in front of a backdrop featuring Shepard Fairey's Soviet-kitsch Barack Obama propaganda and a hipster mashup of Obama as Illinois Republican Abraham Lincoln. Care to heckle San Francisco's mayor? Best caption in the comments becomes the new headline. Yesterday's winner: "Ask me about our affordable day care plans!" by null. (Photo by Steve Rhodes)

Another reason why it sucks to Bill Clinton: When you get stuck in an elevator for two minutes, Fox News posts a 500-word article with the headline "Bill Clinton Gets Stuck in Elevator." [Fox News]

• About 24 million people watched Joe accept the Democratic nomination for veep on Wednesday night. [TV Decoder]

For those stressed out at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Colo. this week, the Google "Retreat" offered a refreshing smoothie and a free, ten-minute massage. Because nothing says "Stick it to the man!" like a rubdown from your friendly search-engine overlords. Think you're funny? Best caption submitted in the comments will get ranked first as the headline. Yesterday's winner was auntanna for "Mark is all smiles until Dave explains the 'vomitorium.'" (Photo by Steve Rhodes)

Some of the famous faces spotted in Denver for the Democratic National Convention: Susan Sarandon, Sheryl Crow, Richard Schiff, Eva Longoria, Spike Lee, Dana Delany, Anne Hathaway, Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Alan Cumming, Josh Brolin, Warren Beatty, Annette Bening, Cyndi Lauper, Rufus Wainwright, Melissa Ethridge, Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner, Pete Wentz, Rachel Leigh Cook, Kal Penn, Kanye West, Jennifer Hudson, Fran Drescher, Dave Matthews, Method Man, Sean Penn, Josh Lucas, Wyclef Jean, Giancarlo Esposito, Danny Glover, Margaret Cho, John Legend, Gayle King, Hill Harper, Will Smith, Nas, Al Franken, Val Kilmer, Willie Nelson, Rosario Dawson, Quentin Tarantino, Jessica Alba, Ani DiFranco, James Taylor, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Tucker, Sofia Vergara, Fat Joe, Ana Ortiz, Ashley Judd, Angela Bassett, Cuba Gooding Jr., Stevie Wonder, Charles Barkley, Chris Daughtry, Matthew Modine, Wilmer Valderrama, Chevy Chase, Ed Norton, Ashanti, Sarah Silverman, RZA, Kerry Washington, Herbie Hancock, Carly Simon, Darryl Hannah, Bruce Springsteen, Moby, Oprah, Neil Patrick Harris, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, and Richard Dreyfuss. Are we missing someone? Email us!

It costs an estimted $50,000 per reporter to cover the media blitz at the big political parties' national conventions, causing some to wonder why coverage is so expensive. Short answer? Journalists with news organizations perceived as legitimate are members of unions and therefore have collectively bargained contracts which provide for accommodations — instead of relegating them to friends' couches. If Google offered bloggers beds and balanced meals instead of candy buffets and Wi-Fi, the search engine just might be able to command the same level of kowtowing obsequiousness America's political parties get from the well-rested mainstream press. [Podcasting News]

Did you skip Hillary Clinton's big speech at the DNC last night? Here's the full transcript, a few video clips of her performance, and a good analysis of what went down.

Have you heard about Google's "Big Tent," the $100 luxury newsroom Google has set up for bloggers at the Democratic National Convention? If not, here's another story on the Internet where reporters go, Oh man, Google is totes on the pulse, giving all the intrepid young blogger kids at the Democratic National Convention this week a safe place to get massaged for free by ladies and plug in their 'iPones" — read the label — while they change the world together!

Oh, hey, look what some bloggers caught! Yesterday, Democratic strategist and original Clinton war room attack dog James Carville gave a lousy review to the first night of the Democratic National Convention. Which is his prerogative as an independent commentator, of course! Except that all the other liberals-and Democratic Party Operatives, like him-liked it, and loved Ted Kennedy, and loved Michelle Obama, and those little girls. But Carville, he was all, no, it sucked. "If this party has a message, it's done a hell of a job hiding it tonight, I promise you that." Click to see how his choice of footwear explains this bitter response to the first night of the party.

CNN isn't the only news network with its own temporary restaurant set up for the Democratic National Convention. But it is the only one with a menu certified by Danny Meyer. The dining impresario's Union Square Hospitality was tapped by the marketing agency Civic Entertainment Group to craft the menu for the "CNN Grill." Don't expect to see Meyer in person—he's in Italy at the moment, although he dispatched his deputy Richard Coraine to stand in for him and says he plans to make it to the Republican convention himself. And don't expect any fireworks from the menu of pub grub. After the jump, Danny and chef Michael Romano's official menu, including "CNN fries" and a tuna salad sandwich.

Greta Van Susteren isn't exactly known for her superstar celebrity guests, and God knows that with 15,000 journalists covering the Democratic convention, the competition for big-name guests is fierce. But that still doesn't quite account for why the Scientology-lovin' Fox News host didn't, say, pull some strings with Kirstie Alley or Lisa Marie Presley and decided to sit down with Wyclef Jean instead. Fortunately, Greta starts off with the obvious question: What's Wyclef doing in Denver? Unfortunately, it was a question that seemed to stump Wyclef. ("I think it's a historical time in history.") But presumably that was a better response than telling Greta that he's there to represent "Vote or Die!" since Diddy was too busy to attend. Video below!

Did you skip the opening of the Democratic National Convention last night? You didn't miss that much. Sure, Michelle gave a great speech. And Ted Kennedy, who is suffering from brain cancer, generated some of the evening's most emotional moments. But the best part? When the two Obama girls, Sasha and Malia, made appearances center-stage and promptly stole the show. Clip after the jump.

• NBC says 211 million Americans tuned in to the Beijing Olympics, making it the most widely-viewed Games in television history. And merchandise sales were way up, too. [TV Decoder, TV Week]

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