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 …

'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.

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) …

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 …

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 …

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.

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.

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.

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.

Women drawn to men with muscles  —  CHICAGO (Reuters) - Muscular young men are likely to have more sex partners than their less-chiseled peers, researchers at the University of California Los Angeles said on Monday.  —  Their study, published in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin …

Persecuted Gays Seek Refuge in U.S.  —  Foreigners' Abuse Increasingly Seen as Grounds for Asylum  —  One night in 2003, on the wintry streets of Kosovo, a group of thugs stalked and beat Gramoz Prestreshi almost to death.  Police in the war-scarred Balkan province laughed and called him names.