Top Items:
Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Kerry apologizes for 'a botched joke' — WASHINGTON - Sen. John Kerry apologized for "a botched joke" about President Bush's Iraq policies that led Bush and fellow Republicans to accuse him of insulting U.S. troops. Even some Democrats assailed Kerry, who had some campaign appearances scratched Wednesday.
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Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Lazy and uneducated photo of the day! — Someone just sent me this. I think it's too good to be true, but you can inspect the full-sized version yourself by clicking the image. — If it is a photoshop, it's awfully well done. — Update: Readers think it's real. I concur.
johnkerry.com:
Statement of Senator John Kerry — As a combat veteran, I want to make it clear to anyone in uniform and to their loved ones: my poorly stated joke at a rally was not about, and never intended to refer to any troop. — I sincerely regret that my words were misinterpreted …
Discussion:
Riehl World View, Little Green Footballs, Captain's Quarters, The Caucus, Bizzyblog, Tammy Bruce and Blue Crab Boulevard
MSNBC:
Kerry apologizes for 'botched joke' on Imus — Kerry says administration has 'failed America,' playing distraction politics … In an unscheduled call-in interview this morning, Senator John Kerry (D-Ma) spoke with Don Imus about his misstatements in a speech Monday.
Smash / The Indepundit:
Kerry's Non-Apology — JOHN KERRY has issued a written statement, which he is calling an "apology": … This doesn't feel like an apology to me; it reads more like a tactical retreat. And after his "I apologize to no one" remark from yesterday, I'm having a very difficult time swallowing it as genuine.
Jules Crittenden / Boston Herald:
Massachusetts' botched joke — It's hard to know where to start with our junior senator's botched joke, about dumb people getting stuck in Iraq. — The first person who comes to mind for me is Marine Cpl. Matt Boisvert. When I met him at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in late 2004 …
Discussion:
The Anchoress
Jennifer Loven / Associated Press:
Some Dems Join GOP Seeking Kerry Apology — A few Democratic candidates joined Republicans Wednesday in pressing John Kerry to apologize for a comment critics said appeared disrespectful of U.S. troops as several Kerry campaign appearances were canceled. — "Whatever the intent …
Discussion:
Minneapolis Star Tribune, Hotline On Call, The Free Press, Mankato, MN and Boston Herald
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Kerry apologizes to the troops
Kerry apologizes to the troops
Discussion:
Two Cents, Stop The ACLU, The Strata-Sphere, Right Wing Nut House, Ed Driscoll.com and Leaning Straight Up
Dean Barnett / Hugh Hewitt's TownHall Blog:
Why It Matters — First thing's first: The outrage is real.
Why It Matters — First thing's first: The outrage is real.
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Jenffifer Loven / 570news.com:
Fallout from Kerry flap reflected in comments, campaign schedule changes
Fallout from Kerry flap reflected in comments, campaign schedule changes
Rick Klein / Boston Globe:
Kerry's 'stuck in Iraq' remark ignites firefight with Bush, GOP
Kerry's 'stuck in Iraq' remark ignites firefight with Bush, GOP
Discussion:
USA Today
Roger Runningen / Bloomberg:
Kerry Events Cut as Democrats Criticize Iraq Remark (Update3)
Kerry Events Cut as Democrats Criticize Iraq Remark (Update3)
Discussion:
Guardian
William Branigin / Washington Post:
Kerry Apologizes, Calls Remarks a 'Botched Joke'
Kerry Apologizes, Calls Remarks a 'Botched Joke'
Discussion:
Inactivist
rushlimbaugh.com:
Rush's Interview with President George W. Bush — RUSH: Mr. President. — THE PRESIDENT: Hey, Rush, how are you? — RUSH: Never better. It's a thrill to have you on the program today and many thanks for making time for us. — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir, for giving me a chance to visit with you.
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Terence Hunt / Associated Press:
Bush says Rumsfeld, Cheney should stay — WASHINGTON - President Bush said Wednesday he wants Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld and Vice President Dick Cheney to remain in his administration until the end of his presidency, extending a job guarantee to two of the most-criticized members of his team.
The Daily Dish:
Abandoning An American Soldier — While the media is obsessed parsing the ad libs of someone on no ballot this fall, something truly ominous has just happened in Iraq. The commander-in-chief has abandoned an American soldier to the tender mercies of a Shiite militia.
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Michael R. Gordon / New York Times:
U.S. Central Command Charts Sharp Movement of the Civil Conflict in Iraq Toward Chaos — A classified briefing prepared two weeks ago by the United States Central Command portrays Iraq as edging toward chaos, in a chart that the military is using as a barometer of civil conflict.
Discussion:
The Corner, The Moderate Voice, Dick Polman's American Debate, Firedoglake, Michelle Malkin, INTEL DUMP, Riehl World View, Gateway Pundit, TAPPED, Outside The Beltway, Bradford Plumer, The Mahablog, DownWithTyranny!, Norwegianity, Political Animal, The Belgravia Dispatch, Global Guerrillas, The Agonist, The Heretik and Daily Kos
Jason Horowitz / New York Observer:
In Lamont Race, Bitter Democrats Do Pre-Mortems — Lieberman Seems to Hug Big Lead in Connecticut; Ned Speaks in Past Tense; Lefties Blame Wolfson; Brazile: Bloggers 'Give You Wind But Not Sail' — Ned Lamont, Connecticut's Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate, crossed the rainy street alone.
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Andrew Miga / Associated Press:
Lieberman push for GOP votes may aid GOP
Lieberman push for GOP votes may aid GOP
Discussion:
Grade-One Gadfly
Agence France Presse:
Nearly half of Americans uncertain God exists: poll — Nearly half of Americans are not sure God exists, according to a poll that also found divisions among the public on whether God is male or female or whether God has a human form and has control over events.
Discussion:
protein wisdom, Pharyngula, The Sundries Shack, Shakespeare's Sister, The World Wide Rant and Demagogue
New York Times:
Poll Shows Iraq War Is Voters' Main Concern — A substantial majority of Americans expect Democrats to reduce or end American military involvement in Iraq if they win control of Congress next Tuesday, and say Republicans would maintain or increase troop levels to try to win the war if they hold …
George F. Will / Washington Post:
Allen's Fumbles, Romney's Gain — Even before the votes are counted, over the Republican Party a "thick darkness broodeth" — words from a Victorian hymn, for a party with a Victorian tendency. But one Republican, who is not running for anything this year, will emerge from this bruising season with enlarged prospects.