memeorandum: Surge Seen in Applications for Citizenship (Julia Preston/New York Times)

4:05 PM ET, July 5, 2007

Top Items:

Tony Snow / USA Today:

President respects justice — So he lifted excessive sentence but left convictions, fine, probation. — President Bush commuted part of Lewis Libby's sentence because he considered a 30-month stretch in prison too severe. Libby was convicted of obstruction of justice and perjury …

Discussion: The Carpetbagger Report, Washington Monthly, Think Progress, Happy Furry Puppy Story …, MSNBC, The Daily Background, The Heretik and New York Times

Mark Murray / MSNBC:

LIBBY PAYS $250,000 FINE — From NBC's Joel Seidman and Mark Murray — Convicted former top White House aide I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby has paid the fine of $250,400.00. The U.S. District Court has posted the canceled check on the docket this afternoon. (Our question: Where did Libby get this money to write this hefty check?)

Discussion: Firedoglake and Think Progress

Michael Kinsley / New York Times:

The Lying Game — WHEN the Republicans in Congress impeached President Bill Clinton over the Monica Lewinsky affair, they insisted that it wasn't about sex, it was about lying. Of course that wasn't true. Even at the height of their power-mad self-delusions (when Newt Gingrich was conducting …

Discussion: Firedoglake, Balkinization, The Carpetbagger Report, Commentary, Booman Tribune, Multi Medium, Captain's Quarters, Greg Mankiw's Blog and Salon

CNN:
White House: Clinton shameless on Libby

Discussion: bustardblog and Angry Bear

Dan Froomkin / Washington Post:
What Was Bush Thinking? — President Bush apparently doesn't feel …

Discussion: TalkLeft, Democrats.com, White Collar Crime Prof Blog and Sentencing Law and Policy

Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:
White House: "Equal Justice?"

Discussion: Talking Points Memo

Rasmussen Reports:

Election 2008: Clinton, Thompson Tied — Clinton (D) 46% Romney (R) 42% — The latest Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds New York Senator Hillary Clinton (D) tied with former Tennessee Senator Fred Thompson (R) in an Election 2008 match-up. Both candidates attract support from 45% of voters.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, Charleston Daily Mail, The Corner, Rasmussen Reports, DownWithTyranny!, Pajamas Media, Bluey Blog, PoliPundit.com and UrbanGrounds

Rasmussen Reports:
Post-War Presidents: JFK, Ike, Reagan Most Popular

Discussion: The Corner

John Steel / Telegraph:

45 Muslim doctors planned US terror raids — A group of 45 Muslim doctors threatened to use car bombs and rocket grenades in terrorist attacks in the United States during discussions on an extremist internet chat site. — Police found details of the discussions on a site run by one of a three-strong "cyber-terrorist" gang.

Discussion: Jules Crittenden, NewsBusters.org, Outside The Beltway, GINA COBB, Captain's Quarters, JammieWearingFool, ThreatsWatch, Jihad Watch, Michael P.F. van der Galiën, Confederate Yankee and Townhall.com

The Raw Story:

Top Democrat endorses Hillary — Former House Majority Leader and 2004 presidential contender Dick Gephardt (D-MO) will endorse Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-NY) this afternoon in her bid for the presidency, according a senior campaign aide. A spokesman for the campaign confirmed the claim to RAW STORY this morning.

Discussion: The Gun Toting Liberal™, Taylor Marsh and Wonkette

Karen Tumulty / TIME: Swampland: Dick Gephardt Endorses Hillary Clinton

Paul Kiel / TPMmuckraker:

Libby Fallout: House Committee Plans Hearing, Defense Lawyers Rejoice — It turns out that a president can't make the unprecedented move of commuting a former aide's prison sentence without some consequences. — On Capitol Hill, House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) …

Discussion: New York Sun and Talking Points Memo

Joe Hodnicki / White Collar Crime Prof Blog:
The Libby Motion — Will we be seeing defense counsel making …

Discussion: Think Progress and Sentencing Law and Policy

Izhar Wani / Agence France Presse:

Muslim 'Rage Boy' says he's really angry — SRINAGAR, India (AFP) - He has become the face of Muslim fury: an angry young man whose bushy beard and fiery-eyed scowl take centre stage at nearly every pro-Islamic demonstration in Indian Kashmir. — Shakeel Bhat, 31, has been displaying …

Discussion: Little Green Footballs, The Jawa Report, Jihad Watch, Gateway Pundit, Weasel Zippers and Solomonia

David S. Broder / Washington Post:

A Mob-Rule Moment — Former senator Fred Thompson has begun his unannounced quest for the Republican presidential nomination by telling audiences in New Hampshire that Washington is badly out of touch with the country. — As a senior campaign adviser put it to The Post's Michael Shear …

Discussion: Captain's Quarters, The Huffington Post, Heading Right, The Mahablog, Michael P.F. van der Galiën, Firedoglake, Moon of Alabama, Outside The Beltway, Middle Earth Journal, Sadly, No!, Corrente, The Impolitic, Booman Tribune and The Heretik

Dean Barnett / Townhall.com:

A Disappointing Legacy — Yesterday I participated in my club's annual 4th of July golf tournament. Because I usually dress sloppily and in haste, I headed to the course wearing a "W 2004" hat. — One of my partners asked me twice on the first hole whether if I knew then what I know, would I have still voted for "Dubs".

The Big Trunk / Power Line:
SHOELESS GEORGE BUSH BACKSLIDES

Discussion: SwanBlog

New York Times:

Doctor Accused in Glasgow Attack Described as Loner Angry About the Iraq War — In some ways, he was the unexceptional product of a privileged upbringing in an educated Baghdad family: an intelligent, pious young man who enjoyed swimming, hiking and socializing at the Iraqi capital's exclusive Hunting Club.

Discussion: Hot Air, New York Times, The Atlantic Online and The Blotter

Chris Cillizza / Washington Post:

Romney's Data Cruncher — In late 2002, Alex Gage sold his share of a well-established polling firm and set about convincing Karl Rove that he had the answer to ensuring President Bush's reelection. — His pitch was simple: Take corporate America's love affair with learning everything …

Discussion: Pollster.com, Redstate, Donklephant, The Carpetbagger Report and Eduwonk.com

Eric Kleefeld / Election Central:

Domenici Breaks With White House, Calls For Implementing ISG Recommendations — Put down the name of Senator Pete Domenici (R-NM) as the latest Republican to break with the Bush Administration's policies on Iraq, after a long history of backing their positions in Congress.

ABCNEWS:

Exclusive: U.K. Terror Plot — Why the Bombs Failed — Fuel-Air Bombs Notoriously Difficult — A Mercedes car, which contained a suspected car bomb, is loaded onto a removals truck in Haymarket Street, near Piccadilly, in central London, last Friday. (Simon Dawson/AP Photo)

Discussion: In From the Cold, ThreatsWatch and Michael P.F. van der Galiën

Washington Post:

Paganism May Not Pass Religious Muster — It is debatable whether paganism is a religion, per say. It is generally defined as a pre-Christian state, but it takes a wide variety of forms—all the way from relatively benign New Age-style nature worship, to pantheism, to witchcraft, and even human sacrifice.

Discussion: The Newshoggers and Shakesville

Agence France Presse:

Arctic Monkeys shiver at Live Earth 'hypocrisy' — Rock group Arctic Monkeys have become the latest music industry stars to question whether the performers taking part in Live Earth on Saturday are suitable climate change activists. — "It's a bit patronising for us 21 year olds to try …

Discussion: Ed Driscoll.com, Maggie's Farm, Clayton Cramer's BLOG and Wizbang

Tim Craig / Washington Post:

President Defends War on July 4th — Bush Compares Iraq To Revolutionary War — President Bush warned Wednesday that the Iraq war "will require more patience, more courage and more sacrifice," as he appealed to a war-weary public for time and sought to link today's conflict to the storied battles that gave birth to the nation.

Discussion: New York Times, The Huffington Post, DownWithTyranny!, FP Passport, Shakesville and Truthdig