President Bush and Prime Minister Blair of the United Kingdom Participate in Press Availability  —  PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you all.  Prime Minister Tony Blair, welcome back to the White House.  As you know, we've got a close relationship.  You tell me what you think.

Gunman shoots 6 at Seattle Jewish center  —  SEATTLE - Patti Simon was working in the Jewish Federation's office when she heard screaming, gunshots and what sounded like furniture crashing on the floor above her.  She tried calling her co-workers upstairs, but no one answered, so she called police and fled.

Minimum Wage Hike Passed By House  —  The House last night voted to boost the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade while also permanently slashing the estate tax, a coupling that GOP leaders calculated might garner enough Senate support to become law.

Big List Of Big Givers Bolsters Lieberman  —  Lamont Far Back In Fundraising  —  WASHINGTON — Every day a fax machine in a Senate office spits out lists of the latest big donors to the Democratic primary campaigns of Joe Lieberman and Ned Lamont.  —  The Lieberman list is long …

Leak of Classified Information Prompts Inquiry  —  A federal grand jury has begun investigating the leak of classified information about intelligence programs to the press and has subpoenaed a former National Security Agency employee who claims to have witnessed illegal activity while working at the agency.

2008 May Test Clinton's Bond With McCain  —  Two summers ago, on a Congressional trip to Estonia, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton astonished her traveling companions by suggesting that the group do what one does in the Baltics: hold a vodka-drinking contest.  —  Delighted, the leader …

Gibson's Anti-Semitic Tirade — Alleged Cover Up  —  TMZ has learned that Mel Gibson went on a rampage when he was arrested Friday on suspicion of drunk driving, hurling religious epithets.  TMZ has also learned that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department had the initial report doctored to keep the real story under wraps.

U.S. Economy Cools As Consumers Pull Back  —  The U.S. economy slowed sharply in the three months ended in June, expanding at less than half its pace earlier this year, as consumers and businesses hunkered down in response to climbing inflation and interest rates.

The Man Is Clear In His Mind, But His Soul Is Mad  —  Apparently, when John Podhoretz read Heart of Darkness he came to the conclusion that Kurtz had the right attitude: … In other words, as Kurtz memorably wrote, "Exterminate all the brutes."  And then Podhoretz asks: … Why yes, John, I can.

How the New York Times Makes Local Papers Dumber  —  THAT'S ONLY A SLIGHT EXAGGERATION.  —  The New York Times is a force so great it could only be used for good or evil.  That is just one of many thoughts that came to me as I read the paper titled "The New York Times and the Market for Local Newspapers" …