Commuting Prison Term Is Implicit Critique of Sentencing Standards  —  In commuting I. Lewis Libby Jr.'s 30-month prison sentence on Monday, President Bush drew on the same array of arguments about the federal sentencing system often made by defense lawyers — and routinely and strenuously opposed by his own Justice Department.

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment: You ceased to be the President of the United States  —  Keith Olbermann delivers arguably his most pointed and most powerful Special Comment yet on the ramifications of Bush's commutation of Libby's sentence.  —  Download (9997) |  Play (12513) Download (4995) |

IN THE MONEY, PART II....I had an item earlier this week on Democratic presidential candidates' fundraising in the second quarter, so it seems only fair to note the Republicans' fundraising efforts as well.  For the GOP, the results are less than encouraging.

BBC Gaza journalist Alan Johnston freed  —  GAZA (Reuters) - Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held hostage in Gaza, was freed early on Wednesday after a late-night deal between the ruling Hamas Islamists and the al Qaeda-inspired clan group that kidnapped him in March.  —  "It is just the most fantastic thing to be free.

Washington, Lincoln Most Popular Presidents: Nixon, Bush Least Popular  —  Seven American Presidents are viewed favorably by at least 80% of all Americans.  Those esteemed seven are led by the first President George Washington.  The Father of our Country is viewed favorably by 94% of Americans.

Private contractors outnumber U.S. troops in Iraq  —  New U.S. data show how heavily the Bush administration has relied on corporations to carry out the occupation of the war-torn nation.  —  The number of U.S.-paid private contractors in Iraq now exceeds that of American combat troops …

Press Briefing by Tony Snow  —  MR. SNOW: Good morning.  Good to see you all.  Couple of notes, first on the President's day.  The President had his normal briefings in the morning.  At 10:30 a.m. he'll have a visit with wounded military personnel at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Mayor reveals romantic link with TV newscaster  —  Both seek privacy but the admission raises questions about ethics.  —  At 4 p.m. on June 8, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued a terse statement announcing that he and his wife, Corina, were separating after 20 years of marriage.

The Tricky Part of an E-ZPass Economy  —  There is a stretch of the Garden State Parkway that used to feel like the tollbooth capital of America.  In a span of 100 miles — from Pascack Valley, in northern New Jersey, to Barnegat, along the coast — eight different toll plazas greeted drivers.

Prosecution Padilla expert admonished for appearing on CNN  —  MIAMI — The federal judge in Jose Padilla's terrorism support case asked the prosecution's star expert witness to forego future media appearances after he spoke to CNN on Tuesday about the bomb investigation in Britain.

The baggage handler who tackled terrorists  —  Watch John Smeaton describe the incident  —  A baggage handler who helped to foil Saturday's terrorist attack on Glasgow airport has become an internet star, with a tribute website set-up in his honour describing him as a Scottish hero in the mould of William Wallace.

Website bomb-making lessons to be outlawed across Europe  —  David Charter, Europe Correspondent and Jonathan Richards  —  Placing instructions on how to make a bomb on the internet will become a criminal offence across Europe under plans outlined by Brussels yesterday.