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.
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
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:
Althouse, Captain's Quarters, Fox News, The Atlantic Online, Sister Toldjah, Jon Swift, UrbanGrounds, Riehl World View, TIME, CBS News, Say Anything, Unqualified Offerings, Balloon Juice, The Gun Toting Liberal™, The Carpetbagger Report, The News Buckit, The Newshoggers, Taylor Marsh, Mercury Rising, Instapundit.com, Right Wing News, Outside The Beltway, Beltway Blogroll, Lawyers, Guns and Money, wtopnews.com, Abovethelaw.com and MSNBC
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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:
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
GOP senator admits link to escort service
Discussion:
Think Progress, Yeas & Nays, TPMmuckraker, Pensito Review, MSNBC, TIME, Pandagon, ABCNEWS, The Carpetbagger Report, Beltway Blogroll and Blogs of War
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, The Moderate Voice, Sirotablog, Boston Globe, MSNBC, Connecting.the.Dots and Universal Health
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Ezra Klein / Washington Monthly:
Why the "laboratories of democracy" can't achieve universal health care
Why the "laboratories of democracy" can't achieve universal health care
Discussion:
Ezra Klein
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
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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, The Mahablog, The American Mind, AMERICAblog, cab drollery, Wonkette, Obsidian Wings, New Pairodimes, The Next Hurrah, PoliBlog (TM), Reason Magazine, Daily Kos, The Carpetbagger Report, Think Progress, MoJoBlog, Mercury Rising, Scholars and Rogues, On Deadline, Capitol Hill Blue and Democratic National Committee
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 …
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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CNN:
White House touts 'retooled' Iraq mission — WASHINGTON (CNN) — As President Bush faces GOP pressure to change his war strategy, the White House announced Tuesday that an upcoming progress report will result in "the beginning of a new way" in Iraq. — Six months after announcing an increase …
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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 …