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.)?

Former Bush Aide Will Answer Some Questions  —  Sara Taylor, the former White House political director, has agreed to answer some questions as a "willing and cooperative private citizen," during testimony about the United States attorney firings last year when she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.

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) —

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.

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).

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.

GRAVEL PISSED OVER HRC DISS  —  NON-PROFIT EXCLUDES CANDIDATE FROM GAY DEBATE  —  Democratic presidential candidate Mike Gravel has "steam coming out my ears" after the Human Rights Campaign and Logo neglected to invite him to their groundbreaking gay debates.

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.

Political Bulletin  —  Bush Beseeches GOP To Back "Surge"  —  Traveling in Ohio, President Bush yesterday firmly defended his Iraq policy, urging Congress not to take action until after progress reports scheduled for September.  However, media reports this morning suggest Bush and his Administration are fighting a losing battle.

Al-Qaeda on the Run: Feasting on the Moveable Beast  —  "No al Qaeda Zone": Hefty Buhriz Policeman smoking in public.  —  The last major mission I did while in Baqubah in early 2005 was into Buhriz.  That mission had begun with our artillery firing some 155mm shots into a palm grove on the banks of the Diyala River.

ANDERSON COOPER 360 DEGREES  —  Pizza-Bomber Suspects; Iraq: Reality Check; Tracking War Money; Ex-Surgeon General Censored; McCain Campaign Shakeup; Political Sex Scandals  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Good evening, everyone.

From Barack Obama, Two Dangerous Words  —  PHILADELPHIA — Barack Obama has the teachers cheering.  The National Education Association is meeting here, and Obama— like the Democratic candidates who have spoken before him — is telling the crowd everything it wants to hear.

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."