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:
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, The Washington Note, Pollster.com, The Carpetbagger Report, AMERICAblog and The American Mind
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.
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.
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.
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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:
The Politico, Althouse, Captain's Quarters, The Atlantic Online, Yeas & Nays, TIME, Jon Swift, Fox News, Sister Toldjah, Riehl World View, UrbanGrounds, CBS News, The Carpetbagger Report, The News Buckit, Unqualified Offerings, Pandagon, Say Anything, The Gun Toting Liberal™, Middle Earth Journal, Balloon Juice, The Newshoggers, Taylor Marsh, Mercury Rising and Right Wing News
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:
Think Progress, The Sleuth, MSNBC, MoJoBlog, The Rude Pundit, Democratic National Committee, The Carpetbagger Report and TIME
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, Democrats.com, Taylor Marsh, Norwegianity, WorkingForChange and The Carpetbagger Report
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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 …
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 …
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CNN:
THE SITUATION ROOM — Pentagon Lowering the Bar for Measuring Success in Iraq. Some Congressmen Want to Stop Funding Guantanamo Bay. NAACP Held a Mock Funeral for the Burial of the "N" Word. The National Hurricane Center Director has Been Replaced. Panama's Noriega is Due to be Released From U.S. Prison.
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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:
TPMmuckraker, The American Mind, Firedoglake, The Mahablog, Wonkette, AMERICAblog, PoliBlog (TM), Daily Kos, The Next Hurrah, The Carpetbagger Report, New Pairodimes, Reason Magazine, Obsidian Wings, cab drollery, MoJoBlog, Mercury Rising, Think Progress and Democratic National Committee
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.
gaynewswatch.com:
Richardson sorry for 'maricón' moment — BUZZ — Democratic presidential hopeful Bill Richardson apologized this week for using a Spanish-language slur for gay people, even as he suggested it smacked of politics that news of his "maricón" moment is surfacing now, more than a year later.
Andrew Taylor / Associated Press:
Senate Panel Cuts Off Funds to Cheney — WASHINGTON (AP) - Senate Democrats moved Tuesday to cut off funding for Vice President Dick Cheney's office in a continuing battle over whether he must comply with national security disclosure rules. — A Senate appropriations panel chaired by Sen. Richard Durbin …
Discussion:
The Next Hurrah