Shamelessly influenced by the "Remainders" feature of Politico bloggers Ben Smith and Jonathan Martin, I'm introducing "Chasers," a periodic offering to provide a round-up of material related to recent Sound Politics posts...with some random additions as well.

Accordingly, here they are...

Following-up to our own discussion of the antics of the New York Times newsroom, the Gray Lady's latest attempt to cast a shadow on its own credibility raises an interesting either/or scenario: either the paper is a) guilty of neglecting to cover a serious issue when the GOP nomination was actually in question or b) guilty of reporting a story that is without serious merit.

The trade debate continues. John McCain reaffirms his own free trade bona fides, while fascinating word leaks out supporting the thesis that Obama's anti-free trade rhetoric isn't likely to hold steady into the fall (or beyond).

Parting shot:

Bob Geldof interviews the "person who has quadrupled aid to the poorest people on the planet."

The Hangover:

George Will sums up the angst of many conservatives who seen McCain's behavior from a reasonably close proximity:

Although his campaign is run by lobbyists; and although his dealings with lobbyists have generated what he, when judging the behavior of others, calls corrupt appearances; and although he has profited from his manipulation of the taxpayer-funding system that is celebrated by reformers -- still, he probably is innocent of insincerity. Such is his towering moral vanity, he seems sincerely to consider it theoretically impossible for him to commit the offenses of appearances that he incessantly ascribes to others.

Over time that tends to irritate people.