memeorandum: Iraq — Is the increase in the number of U.S. troops … (PollingReport.com)

5:15 PM ET, July 10, 2007

Top Items:

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 …

Discussion: Taylor Marsh, Michael P.F. van der Galiën, Outside The Beltway, The American Mind, About U.S. Politics and Roger Ailes

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: USA Today, Hot Air, JustOneMinute, The Corner, Washington Monthly, NewsBusters.org, Washington Times, MyDD, Lonewacko and Macsmind

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 …

Discussion: Patrick Ruffini, Pollster.com, The Carpetbagger Report, AMERICAblog and Daily Kos

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 …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, TIME and DownWithTyranny!

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.

Discussion: CNN and CNN Political Ticker

The Fix:

Where McCain Stands Now — If you need to understand just how serious the damage is to Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign as a result of the resignations of two top strategists, you need only look at our earlier post on McCain's Inner Circle.

Discussion: Firedoglake and MoJoBlog

Liz Sidoti / Associated Press:
McCain campaign suffers key shake-ups

Discussion: Captain's Quarters and Shakesville

Ana Marie Cox / TIME: Swampland:
McCain's Sad Finale

Discussion: The Newshoggers

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.

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.

Discussion: Hot Air, Washington Times and JammieWearingFool

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: The Sleuth, MoJoBlog, MSNBC, The Rude Pundit, Democratic National Committee, The Carpetbagger Report and TIME

Carrie Budoff / The Politico:
GOP senator admits link to escort service

Discussion: Think Progress, Yeas & Nays, TPMmuckraker, Pensito Review, MSNBC, TIME, Pandagon, ABCNEWS and The Carpetbagger Report

Perry Bacon Jr / Washington Post:

For Democrats, Pragmatism On Universal Health Care — In a conference call in January, the health-care debate within the Democratic Party played out before former senator John Edwards of North Carolina, who was in search of policy advice for his presidential campaign, and his wife, Elizabeth.

Discussion: Cato-at-liberty, The Atlantic Online, Sirotablog, Boston Globe, MSNBC, The Moderate Voice, Connecting.the.Dots and Universal Health

Ezra Klein / Washington Monthly:
Why the "laboratories of democracy" can't achieve universal health care

Discussion: Ezra Klein

Mike Glover / Associated Press:
Obama challenges rivals on Iraq war

Discussion: TalkLeft

Jesse Lee / The Gavel:

Oversight Hearing on the Office of the Surgeon General — The Oversight Committee is currently holding a hearing, "The Surgeon General's Vital Mission: Challenges for the Future." The hearing is focusing on the importance of the Surgeon General's Office, the need to preserve …

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, Universal Health and Committee on Oversight …

Amanda / Think Progress:
Former Surgeon General Was Muzzled, Censored By Bush Administration

Discussion: New York Times, The Crone Speaks and The Carpetbagger Report

Will Dunham / Reuters: Former Bush surgeon general says he was muzzled

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) …

Discussion: Think Progress, WorkingForChange, Democrats.com, Taylor Marsh, Norwegianity and The Carpetbagger Report

Susan Page / USA Today:
Anti-war views on Iraq rise to record

Discussion: Reuters, Gallup Poll, Salon, CNN, Pollster.com, The Strata-Sphere, The Politico, The Moderate Voice and Dick Polman's American Debate

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.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, WTF Is It Now??, CANNONFIRE, Left I on the News, The Carpetbagger Report, KnoxViews, Blah3, The Raw Story, Daily Kos, The BRAD BLOG, Rising Hegemon, Brian Beutler, The Sideshow and Boing Boing

CNN:
THE SITUATION ROOM — Pentagon Lowering the Bar for Measuring Success in Iraq.

Discussion: Crooks and Liars, NewsBusters.org, BlondeSense and CBS News

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.

365gay.com:

Presidential Candidates In First Ever Gay Debate — (Los Angeles, California) For the first time the leading candidates for the presidency will hold a televised debate devoted solely to LGBT issues. — The one-hour event will be held on August 9 and broadcast on gay network LOGO at 9:00 pm ET …

Discussion: Gawker, Shakesville and Pam's House Blend

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.

Discussion: Weekly Standard, National Review Online, Redstate and Let Freedom Ring

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 …

Discussion: Election Central and Let Freedom Ring