Top Items:
Patrick Healy / New York Times:
Bill Clinton Criticizes Bush on Libby Move — Former President Bill Clinton criticized President Bush on Tuesday for commuting the prison sentence of I. Lewis Libby Jr. and tried to draw a distinction from his own controversial pardons. — In Iowa to promote the presidential candidacy of his wife …
Discussion:
Associated Press, Captain's Quarters, Hot Air, Macsmind, JammieWearingFool and Outside The Beltway
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Washington Times:
The Libby affair — President Bush's commutation of the 30-month prison sentence for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, is neither wise nor just. It is clearly within the president's executive powers, but that is beside the point.
New York Times:
Bush Is Said to Have Held Long Debate on Decision — Before commuting the prison sentence of I. Lewis Libby Jr., President Bush and a small circle of advisers delved deeply into the evidence in the case, debating Mr. Libby's guilt or innocence and whether he had in fact lied to investigators …
Discussion:
Obsidian Wings, Hullabaloo, TBogg, Associated Press, National Review Online, White House and Washington Post
Christy Hardin Smith / Firedoglake:
Accountability By Footnote — In case you were wondering how truly unusual it is for a President to swiftly commute the prison term of a loyal minion (via NYTimes) in an effort to continue to obstruct justice, wonder no more (via Sentencing Law blog):
Steve Benen / Washington Monthly:
MEET VICTOR RITA....In light of Scooter Libby's scandalous commutation …
MEET VICTOR RITA....In light of Scooter Libby's scandalous commutation …
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report
CNN Political Ticker:
Police: Drugs found in Al Gore III's car — LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Former Vice President Al Gore's son, Albert Gore III, was arrested early Wednesday morning in Orange County, California on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs, Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department told CNN.
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Reuters:
Al Gore's son busted for drugs in hybrid car — LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - The 24-year-old son of former Vice President Al Gore was arrested for drug possession on Wednesday after he was stopped for allegedly speeding in his hybrid Toyota Prius, a sheriff's official said.
Joyce Lee Malcolm / Opinion Journal:
'Wonderfully Spared' — Our Founders were talented men—and lucky ones too. — "You and I have been wonderfully spared," Thomas Jefferson wrote John Adams in 1812. "Of the signers of the Declaration of Independence I see now living not more than half a dozen on your side of the Potomak, and, on this side, myself alone."
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Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:
A Stark Edge in Race for '08 Cash — New Numbers Heavily Favor The Democrats — Campaign contributors to the 2008 presidential candidates heavily favored Democrats in the three-month period that ended Saturday, giving three dollars to the party's leading contenders for every two dollars they gave to the top Republican candidates.
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Bob Geiger:
No Joy This Fourth Of July — "A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people." ~ Declaration of Independence — I've always enjoyed the Fourth of July. — It's summer, it's a festive holiday about celebration …
Ted Nugent / Opinion Journal:
The Summer of Drugs — Forty years ago, dirty, stinky hippies converged on San Francisco to "turn on, tune in and drop out." — This summer marks the 40th anniversary of the so-called Summer of Love. Honest and intelligent people will remember it for what it really was: the Summer of Drugs.
Rasmussen Reports:
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.
Michael Ledeen / The Corner:
The Brits and The Others — Like Mark and Victor, I too have a very bad feeling about Gordon Brown. Those Orwellian language changes spooked me, as did the appointment of M.M. Brown. The obvious intent is to reduce the whole unpleasantness to a policing problem, which is what they did with the I.R.A. …
David Leonhardt / New York Times:
Technology Eases the Ride to Higher Tolls — 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.
Sandra Stokley / PE Angels Baseball:
Grand jury finds Jurupa agency violated laws — Download story podcast — The Press-Enterprise — RIVERSIDE - The Jurupa Community Services District violated state law when it sold 4 acres of public land to Rep. Ken Calvert and his investment partners without first offering …
Discussion:
Think Progress