Barack Obama is still overseas playing the role of visiting President and, so far, has successfully thread the needle of pleasing Arabs and Israelis (sort of) at the same time without changing his positions. Kuby will explain how he did it, and why so few other candidates, or even Presidents, have been able to do the same thing. Also, Obama has had such success with this Mid East junket in part because he just looks like a dashing President, exuding leadership charm and the such, as he meets with smiling dignitaries who are used to dealing with Bush.

While we’re imagining Obama as President, CNN raises a provocative question on the topic. Is it possible that an Obama Presidency could actually make race relations in the USA worse? Might white Americans become more reluctant to acknowledge entrenched racism once a black man has made the supreme achievement?

We’ll check in with Lawrence Mishel to clear up a few economic questions. For one, how can Congress pass a housing bailout bill for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if they say the cost will be somewhere between zero dollars and $100 Billion. Who makes up these estimates? Another sign of the dreary times: the rising prices of raw materials, even as scrap has led to a rash of manhole cover thefts.

Plus, McCain’s latest fit and flubs, Planned Parenthood hits him on contraception votes, and Christian Bale’s dilemma: mom or wife? And so much more …