Top Items:
Kelley Shannon / Associated Press:
Lady Bird Johnson dies at 94 — AUSTIN, Texas - Lady Bird Johnson, the former first lady who championed conservation and worked tenaciously for the political career of her husband, Lyndon B. Johnson, died Wednesday, a family spokeswoman said. She was 94. — Johnson, who suffered a stroke …
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Kelley Shannon / Washington Post:
Lady Bird Johnson Dies at 94 — First Lady Recalled as Charming, Media Savvy and Deeply Connected to Nature — This was another Lady Bird spring we had, wasn't it? — Confident and lush and defiantly gorgeous, this spring burst out of an ugly Washington winter in such glory because of Lady Bird Johnson.
Jeff Zeleny / New York Times:
Time Limit on Iraq Troop Deployments Fails in Senate — Seven Republicans joined Democrats today in supporting a proposal to give American troops more time between their military deployments, but the measure fell short of the 60 votes needed to advance, on the first vote of a two-week Congressional debate on Iraq.
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Associated Press:
Marine Investigator Recommends Dropping Charges in Haditha Killings — SAN DIEGO — An investigating officer has recommended dismissing murder charges against a U.S. Marine accused in the slayings of three Iraqi men in a squad action that killed 24 civilians in the town of Haditha, according to a report.
Discussion:
Cox & Forkum, Let Freedom Ring, QandO, Sister Toldjah, Blogs for Bush, The Strata-Sphere and UrbanGrounds
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Thomas Watkins / Associated Press:
Officer Advises Against Trial for Marine — SAN DIEGO (AP) - The government's case against a Marine accused of fatally shooting Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha lacks sufficient evidence to go to a court-martial and should be dropped, a hearing officer determined.
Discussion:
The Corner, Gateway Pundit, Macsmind, Power Line, The Jawa Report, Blue Crab Boulevard and Confederate Yankee
Jesse Lee / The Gavel:
Miers' Attorney Says She Will Not Attend Hearing — Today, attorney George T. Manning, representing former White House Counsel Harriet Miers, rescinded his prior confirmation that Ms. Miers would attend the House Judiciary Committee's hearing on Thursday in response to a subpoena …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, TPMmuckraker, Balkinization, Think Progress, Reuters, truthout, The Carpetbagger Report, Balloon Juice, Shakesville and The Raw Story
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White House:
President Bush Unveils Renovated Press Briefing Room — Fact Sheet: The 2007 Renovation of the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room — Life in the White House - The Press Briefing Room — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you very much. I like a good, short introduction. (Laughter.) — Q — (inaudible) —
Discussion:
New York Times, Hullabaloo, TIME: Swampland, Daily Kos, Wonkette, Ian Schwartz and TPMCafe blogs
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RADAR:
MCCAIN UNRAVELED BY 'GAY SWEATERS'? — SWEAT THE TECHNIQUE McCain (Photos: Getty Images) — In the final days of his imploding candidacy, John McCain has taken a page out of Richard Nixon's play book, finding increasingly bizarre explanations for his political failures.
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars, News Bloggers Blog, The Fix, David E's Fablog, The Bilerico Project, Shakesville, Wonkette, Hot Air, WTF Is It Now?? and New York Times
Stephen Biddle / Washington Post:
Iraq: Go Deep or Get Out — The president's shaky political consensus for the surge in Iraq is in danger of collapsing after the recent defections of prominent Senate Republicans such as Richard Lugar (Ind.), Pete Domenici (N.M.) and George Voinovich (Ohio).
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Kimberly Kagan / Opinion Journal:
Moving Forward in Iraq — The "surge" is working. Will Washington allow the current progress to continue? — In Washington perception is often mistaken for reality. And as Congress prepares for a fresh debate on Iraq, the perception many members have is that the new strategy has already failed.
Jackie Kucinich / The Hill:
Boehner calls anti-surge GOP senators 'wimps' — Rep. Heather Wilson (R-N.M.) called for comity Wednesday during a meeting of the Republican Conference after House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) referred to Senate colleagues who have begun to favor a change in course in Iraq as "wimps."
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
Felony — Hmmm. A very knowledgeable emailer says it's a felony ... I can't vouch for the legal interpretation. But it seems like decent prima facie case and the emailer knows his stuff.
Discussion:
The Liberal Avenger
Brian T. Fitzpatrick / Los Angeles Times:
Disorder in the court — The 9th Circuit is overturned more than any other appeals court. Its size may be a factor. — ANOTHER Supreme Court term has come to a close, and, while many things changed in the law, one thing stayed the same: The justices spent much of their time reversing the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Dick Morris / The Hill:
Bush will have to pull out of Iraq, or face historical obliteration — Are they traitors or prophets, these Republicans who have jumped ship and called for Bush to begin pulling out of Iraq — Sens. George Voinovich (Ohio), Richard Lugar (Ind.), John Warner (Va.), and Pete Domenici (N.M.)?
Discussion:
The Reaction, TIME: Swampland, USA Today, Riehl World View, The Influence Peddler, PSoTD and Associated Press
Elana Schor / The Hill:
Flynt is tracking 20 congressional sex scandal leads — Larry Flynt, the porn-industry magnate who first linked Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) to the escort service of the "D.C. Madam," said Wednesday that his investigators are tracking more than 20 leads on alleged congressional sex scandals.
Associated Press:
Deficit Falls to $205 Billion — WASHINGTON (AP) - The nation's budget deficit will drop to $205 billion in the fiscal year that ends in September, less than half of what it was at its peak in 2004, according to new White House estimates. — President Bush planned to discuss the figures in an afternoon appearance.