As MSNBC reported late yesterday, retired General John Batiste has been fired as an analyst for CBS News because he appeared in a VoteVets ad slamming President Bush and advocating for withdrawal from Iraq.  —  I just checked in with CBS for an explanation, and the network gave me this statement:

An Open Declaration of War Against The House Republican Leadership  —  There is only one thing you need to do.  Call John Boehner at (202) 225-4000 and tell him the House GOP will get no support until Ken Calvert is off Appropriations.  —  Dear Readers of RedState,

Bush and Democrats in Accord on Trade Deals  —  The Bush administration reached agreement on Thursday with the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and other Democrats to attach environmental and worker protections in several pending trade accords, clearing the way for early passage of some pacts and improving prospects for others.

The Assassination of Journalists - Protected by States Secrets  —  I wrote about this two years ago: … <snip> … We now learn that both Keogh and O'Connor have been found guilty: … So, two government officials acting out of their conscience to expose President Bush's plans to bomb journalists are found guilty.

A beautiful mosaic of anti-blogger hatred  —  Various prominent personages share their visceral contempt for blogs:  —  John Yoo at an April 18 Civil Liberties debate (via blogger Roger Ailes): … As Ailes says: "Yoo wishes they never existed because, unlike illegally-detained prisoners …

FBI agent steps into Coulter voting case  —  Conservative pundit Ann Coulter has been cleared of allegations that she falsified her Palm Beach County voter's registration and voted illegally — this, after a high-level FBI agent made unsolicited phone calls to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to vouch for Coulter.

Judge OKs Immunity Deal in Firings Probe  —  WASHINGTON — A federal judge approved an immunity deal Friday allowing former Justice Department aide Monica Goodling to testify before Congress about the firing of eight federal prosecutors.  —  Goodling, who served as the department's White House liaison …

Poll: Congress' Approval Same As Bush  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - People think the Democratic-led Congress is doing just as dreary a job as President Bush, following four months of bitter political standoffs that have seen little progress on Iraq and a host of domestic issues.

FBI probes Nevada governor for corruption  —  Did Jim Gibbons accept cash and gifts in exchange for defense contracts?  —  Then-Congressman Jim Gibbons, seated, toasts with Dennis Montgomery during a March 2005 cruise.  Montgomery has now accused Gibbons of accepting cash on the trip.

Rape is Hilarious  —  Via Breitbart TV, this clip from the XM radio show of "shock jocks" Opie and Anthony is truly sickening.  Please be warned—it's got extremely offensive and vulgar language and is definitely not worksafe.  —  One of their guests, a man called Homeless Charlie, says …

Bush aides berate GOP members  —  Top Bush administration officials lashed out at a pair of House Republicans at the White House yesterday after details about a contentious meeting between President Bush and GOP legislators were leaked to the media earlier this week.

Bloggers could be dead link for Clinton  —  As Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, her biggest opposition may not come from primary rivals or Republican challengers, but rather from the leftist blog community that often views her as a political punching bag.

Art Critic Obama  —  Britney Spears painting, other work ditched before gallery fundraiser  —  When Barack Obama arrived this week for a campaign fundraiser at a Virginia art gallery, one large painting was covered by a curtain and another had been removed entirely before the Democrat's arrival.