Top Items:
Dan Balz / Washington Post:
Top McCain Aides Quit Struggling Campaign — Republican presidential candidate John McCain accepted the resignations of two of his top aides today in a stunning shakeup of a campaign that has been roiled by financial and political problems. — Campaign manager Terry Nelson …
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The Atlantic Online:
More On McCain Campaign Decimation: UPDATE — One Republican directly connected to today's events said that Mark Salter, McCain's long-time chief of staff and co-author of his five books, had also left the campaign payroll. — But Salter will remain as an adviser.
Discussion:
Hot Air, The Corner, JustOneMinute, Washington Monthly, NewsBusters.org, Washington Times, MyDD, Lonewacko and Macsmind
Liz Sidoti / Associated Press:
McCain shakes up staff — WASHINGTON - John McCain's campaign manager and chief strategist are gone from their leadership roles, according to several officials with knowledge of the staff changes. — One official said Terry Nelson resigned as campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate …
The Atlantic Online:
The McCain Decimation: The Inside Story: UPDATED — From a half dozen Republicans close to the campaign here is, best I can tell, what happened: — Republicans close to Sen. John McCain said today that McCain was under "enormous pressure" by friends and advisers outside the campaign …
Jonathan Martin / The Politico:
Davis in charge as Nelson fired and Weaver and Salter quit — Rick Davis, who managed Sen. John McCain's 2000 presidential campaign but had a more limited role in this contest, will take the helm of the Arizonan's troubled candidacy, according to two McCain sources.
Shailagh Murray / Washington Post:
Senator's Number on 'Madam' Phone List — Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized last night after his telephone number appeared in the phone records of the woman dubbed the "D.C. Madam," making him the first member of Congress to become ensnared in the high-profile case.
Discussion:
Captain's Quarters, Fox News, The Atlantic Online, Sister Toldjah, Jon Swift, Althouse, UrbanGrounds, Riehl World View, TIME, Unqualified Offerings, Say Anything, CBS News, Balloon Juice, The Gun Toting Liberal™, The Carpetbagger Report, The News Buckit, The Newshoggers, Taylor Marsh, Mercury Rising, Right Wing News, Outside The Beltway, wtopnews.com, Beltway Blogroll, Abovethelaw.com and Lawyers, Guns and Money
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Justin Rood Reports / The Blotter:
'Hustler' Call May Have Prompted Vitter Admission — Justin Rood Reports: — A call from Hustler magazine may have prompted a Louisiana Republican senator to expose his past with an escort service run by the so-called "D.C. Madam," the Blotter on ABCNews.com has learned.
Glenn Greenwald / Salon:
Sen. David Vitter, a leading Christian social conservative — Republican Senator David Vitter of Louisiana was not merely a supporter of last year's proposed constitutional amendment to "protect the sanctity of traditional marriages" by amending our Constitution to ban same-sex marriages …
Discussion:
MSNBC, The Rude Pundit, MoJoBlog, Democratic National Committee, The Carpetbagger Report and TIME
Carrie Budoff / The Politico:
GOP senator admits link to escort service
GOP senator admits link to escort service
Discussion:
Think Progress, Yeas & Nays, TPMmuckraker, TIME, ABCNEWS, Pandagon, The Carpetbagger Report, Beltway Blogroll, MSNBC and Blogs of War
Chris Bowers / Open Left:
Bush Equals Nixon's Highest Disapproval — The Roper Center at the University of Connecticut is an excellent archive for poll junkies, featuring polling archives that go back much further than Polling Report (not that polling report isn't great). the coup de grace (I hope I spelled that right) …
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The Hill:
Pelosi lines up Iraq votes — House Democrats are planning a series of votes this month on Iraq that they hope will ratchet up pressure on the White House and congressional Republicans to change course on the unpopular war or suffer political consequences. — Sensing that additional GOP …
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New York Times:
Bush Is Firm as Criticism Over Iraq Mounts — With his Iraq policy under intensified criticism and debate, President Bush is delivering a "stay the course" message today in the Middle West. — Previewing a speech he is to give in Cleveland this afternoon, Mr. Bush said he would talk about …
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John Solomon / Washington Post:
Gonzales Was Told of FBI Violations — After Bureau Sent Reports, Attorney General Said He Knew of No Wrongdoing — As he sought to renew the USA Patriot Act two years ago, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales assured lawmakers that the FBI had not abused its potent new terrorism-fighting powers.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, TPMmuckraker, Think Progress, AMERICAblog, The American Mind, Daily Kos, cab drollery, PoliBlog (TM), Wonkette, Obsidian Wings, New Pairodimes, The Next Hurrah, Reason Magazine, The Carpetbagger Report, MoJoBlog, Scholars and Rogues, On Deadline, Mercury Rising, Capitol Hill Blue and Democratic National Committee
MichaelMoore.com:
'SiCKO' Truth Squad Sets CNN Straight — DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN: "(Moore says) the United States slipped to number 37 in the world's health care systems. It's true. ... Moore brings a group of patients, including 9/11 workers, to Cuba and marvels at their free treatment and quality of care.
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Isambard Wilkinson / Telegraph:
Chief siege cleric killed as rebel mosque falls — The chief cleric of the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad has been killed after Pakistani special forces launched a bloody assault on his compound. — The body of Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who earlier had predicted that his "martyrdom was certain" …
Discussion:
Little Green Footballs
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Digby / Hullabaloo:
Christian Heathens — In case anyone's wondering what kind of appreciation Democrats can expect for publicly discussing their faith, here it is: … According to the religio-politico industry's liberal lobby, there are hordes of good Christians who've reluctantly been voting for Republicans …
NY Daily News:
This is not our fight — Congress must end U.S. role in a civil war nobody voted for — On Oct. 11, 2002, the Senate gave President Bush authority to use force against Iraq. Nearly five years later, it is time for Congress to say enough is enough. — The American people have waited long enough for progress in Iraq.