Donkey Dish strives to whet your appetite for political punditry, be it with our own rants or turning our attention to what’s being written and spoken elsewhere on the issues you care about most. Here are some of today’s top stories …

John McCain

• While the Cindy McCain Vogue article and photos generate major buzz, the Arizona Senator himself received a clean bill of health. But don’t expect this positive news is the end of his critics trying to make his age an issue. In an effort to nip another potential Democratic talking point in the bud, McCain publicly repudiated several right-wing pastors.

Hillary Clinton

• While only the New York Senator knows what her endgame actually is, theories abound. As for sexism and media bias hindering her campaign? Some buy that argument, but others say it’s just plain sissy.

Iraq

• Gen David Petraeus says more troop cuts are likely. And, in a stunning reversal of conventional wisdom that may apply to Iraq and other issues, failure is increasingly being viewed as a viable alternative to success.

Ted Kennedy

• While the “Lion of the Senate” is resting at home on Cape Cod after being diagnosed with a brain tumor, he will be replaced as Wesleyan University commencement speaker by a last-minute fill-in: Barack Obama.

Farm Bill Fumble

• The Senate voted 82-13 to override W’s veto of a crucial farm subsidy bill Thursday. A portion of the bill, however, remains in limbo after lawmakers discovered that the version sent to the White House was … missing part of it. Details. Anyone curious what this bill actually does?