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

3:35 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, MSNBC, The Daily Background, The Heretik and New York Times

CNN:

White House: Clinton shameless on Libby — WASHINGTON (CNN) — White House spokesman Tony Snow fired back at former President Bill Clinton after Clinton charged that the Bush administration believes the law is a "minor obstacle" in the "Scooter" Libby case.

Discussion: bustardblog and Angry Bear

Dan Froomkin / Washington Post:

What Was Bush Thinking? — President Bush apparently doesn't feel that the American public deserves a detailed explanation of why he chose to commute former vice presidential chief of staff I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby's prison sentence. — He issued a short written statement on Monday …

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

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 …

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

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, DownWithTyranny!, Pajamas Media, PoliPundit.com, Bluey Blog and UrbanGrounds

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

Discussion: The Corner

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: 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

Josh Gerstein / New York Sun:
Libby Case May Aid Hamas Suspect

Discussion: CNN Political Ticker

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

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, Moon of Alabama, The Mahablog, Michael P.F. van der Galiën, Firedoglake, Outside The Beltway, Middle Earth Journal, Sadly, No!, Corrente, Booman Tribune, The Impolitic and The Heretik

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

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

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

Joshua Partlow / Washington Post:

Body Count In Baghdad Up in June — Nearly five months into a security strategy that involves thousands of additional U.S. and Iraqi troops patrolling Baghdad, the number of unidentified bodies found on the streets of the capital was 41 percent higher in June than in January, according to unofficial Health Ministry statistics.

Discussion: The Newshoggers, Weekly Standard, Think Progress, Greatscat! and Air America Radio

June Kronholz / Wall Street Journal:

Giuliani Support Hints at Shift — Emphasis on Defense, — Not Social Issues, — Attracts Some Republicans — DES MOINES, Iowa — He is a pro-choice, thrice-married New Yorker. So why is Rudy Giuliani the leading presidential candidate in a Republican Party long dominated by pro-life …

Discussion: Boston Globe, Townhall.com, New York Times and New York Times

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

Brent Budowsky / The Hill:

Contacting Brazilian Ambassador: Do Not Cancel Live Earth Concert — A lower court in Brazil has decided to cancel the Live Earth Concert in Rio because 700,000 Brazilians are planning to attend and the court believes the government of Brazil cannot ensure the safety of the attendees.

Discussion: Make Them Accountable and Shakesville