Top Items:
Updates:
Madam: Vitter a client at Canal Street brothel — U.S. Senator David Vitter visited a Canal Street brothel several times beginning in the mid-1990s, paying $300 per hour for services at the bordello after he met the madam at a fishing rodeo that included prostitutes and other politicians …
Discussion:
Riehl World View, Your Right Hand Thief, The Sleuth, DownWithTyranny!, Mercury Rising and Washington Times
RELATED:
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.
Washington Post:
Top Aides Leave McCain Camp — Senator Retools Campaign Team as Money and Support Fall Off — In the mid-1990s, years before Sen. John McCain officially launched his first bid to become president, it was John Weaver who convinced the senator that he had all the ingredients to win the GOP nomination and the Oval Office.
RELATED:
Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Two of McCain's Senior Advisers Leave Campaign — Two senior advisers to Senator John McCain of Arizona, including one of his closest longtime associates, announced today they were leaving his presidential campaign. The departures are the latest wave of turmoil to sweep over Mr. McCain's troubled effort …
Baseball Crank:
POLITICS: Next Week's Wire Story — News flash: not being a party man not the best way to become the party's man — After today's news, I have to look down the road to next week's headline: … It's sad, actually. John McCain is a patriot and a true American hero, and for all his flaws …
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 Fix, The Washington Note, Pollster.com, AMERICAblog, The Carpetbagger Report, The American Mind and Daily Kos
Brian Ross Reports / The Blotter:
Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel — Brian Ross Reports: — Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here. — The White House has convened …
RELATED:
E.A. Torriero / Chicago Tribune:
Homeland Security chief warns of 'Increased risk' — Chertoff bases 'gut feeling' on history, al-Qaeda statements. — Fearing complacency among the American people over possible terror threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Chicago Tuesday that the nation faces …
Gardiner Harris / New York Times:
White House Is Accused of Putting Politics Over Science — Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional committee today that top officials in the Bush administration repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.
RELATED:
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 …
White House:
President Bush Visits Cleveland, Ohio — Fact Sheet: A Day in Cleveland: President Bush Calls on Congress to Act to Fund Vital Priorities — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Fred. Thanks for coming. Thanks for having me. It's a smart marketing tool — you know, all the cameras. (Laughter.)
Discussion:
Think Progress, Power Line, Universal Health, Daily Kos, Blogs for Bush and ShopFloor.org
Jon Ward / Washington Times:
Bush jokes. Crowd laughs. Girl cries. — A question for President Bush on immigration rose up like a ghost from the grave this afternoon in Ohio. — Only the questioner was a 13-year old blonde-headed girl, Jessica Hackerd, from Brecksville, Ohio, who immediately broke into tears after making her inquiry.
Election Central:
Lieberman Launches Unprovoked Attack On Harry Reid On Right-Winger Bill Bennett's Show — What a guy. This morning, Joe Lieberman went on right-winger Bill Bennett's syndicated radio show — and in those safe conservative confines, Lieberman went out of his way to bash Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.
USA Today:
New rules could rock wireless world — NEW YORK — Coming soon could be a wireless broadband world in which consumers get to pick any smartphone or other device and load any software on it — not have to take what the wireless carrier wants to sell. — That's the goal of Federal Communications …
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Guardian, Wetmachine, The Coffee House, Save the Internet Blog and Open Left
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 …