Press Conference by the President  —  Initial Benchmark Assessment Report  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  Thank you.  Yesterday, America lost an extraordinary First Lady and a fine Texan, Lady Bird Johnson.  She brought grace to the White House and beauty to our country.

Rep. Bob Allen arrested on sex charge  —  Florida State Rep. Bob Allen refuses to talk to the media on July 11, 2007 after bonding out of Brevard County Jail after his arrest on a sex charge.  —  TITUSVILLE - State Rep. Bob Allen was arrested Wednesday afternoon at a local park after offering …

HJC Miers Hearing, Part II  —  From the HJC:  —  Rep. Watts Cont'd: Miers not showing up for hearing today is the last straw.  During the impeachment proceedings, decided to apply the same standards to Dems and Republicans alike, because we have a Constitutional responsibility to do so.

I have been "warned"  —  I can't post here anymore because my potential run for Congress  —  is not on the Democratic ticket.  —  I have been deeply grateful for all of your support over the years.  —  Your love and kindness helped me through lots of sleepless nights  —  at Camp Casey '05.

Nobel laureate calls for removal of Bush  —  Irish peace activist's speech at Dallas event gets standing ovation  —  Nobel Peace Prize winner Betty Williams came from Ireland to Texas to declare that President Bush should be impeached.  —  In a keynote speech at the International Women's Peace Conference …

Guards steal $282 million from a bank in Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD: In an astonishing heist, guards at a bank here made off with more than a quarter-billion dollars on Wednesday, according to an official at the Interior Ministry.  —  The robbery, of $282 million from the Dar Es Salaam bank …

Christian Right Activists Disrupt Hindu Chaplain In The Senate  —  Today was a historic first for religion in America's civic life: For the very first time, a Hindu delivered the morning invocation in the Senate chamber — only to find the ceremony disrupted by three Christian right activists.

As States Lead On Health Care, D.C. Elites Say Only D.C. Elites Can Save America  —  Only in Washington, D.C. can people look at data, success and advances in America's states, and still insist that only the Beltway's Wise Old Men, Serious Policy Experts, Self-Described Political Gurus …

Thompson Waffles On Pro-Choice Lobbying Past  —  Fred Thompson has effectively admitted in an interview with Sean Hannity that he did lobby in behalf of a pro-abortion rights group.  —  Hannity served up a chest-high, 25 mph softball:  —  "They have attacked you, they have attacked your family …

The Democratic (Not So) Short List  —  Tom Goldstein prepared this post with extensive research and input from summer associate Jonathan Eisenman and assistance from Adam Chandler, as well as very helpful thoughts and advice from others on potential nominees.

Poll: 19% Consider Troop Surge a Success  —  Just 19% of American voters believe that the U.S. troop surge in Iraq was a success.  A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 43% of voters consider the surge a failure.  Twenty-four percent (24%) say it's too soon to tell while 15% are not sure.

What about the Iraqis?  —  From today's press conference with the Senate Democratic leaders.  —  I tried to get an answer to what I blogged earlier today.  —  I did not succeed.  —  TAPPER: Senator Reid, what do you say to critics who say, "Look, the Senate voted, including two of you up on the stage …

[TS] Op-Ed Columnist: 'Inspiring Progress' on Iraq?  —  When Iraqis are begging us to leave, it's remarkably presumptuous to overrule their wishes and stay indefinitely.

U.S. Warns Of Stronger Al-Qaeda  —  Administration Report Cites Havens in Pakistan  —  Six years after the Bush administration declared war on al-Qaeda, the terrorist network is gaining strength and has established a safe haven in remote tribal areas of western Pakistan for training and planning attacks …

Courtroom Explodes in Laughter After ABC's Sawyer Touts Fairness of Journalists  —  Thursday's edition of "Good Morning America" featured a Diane Sawyer anecdote that revealed the low opinion Americans have of journalists.  After wrapping up a segment on people who avoid jury duty …

Why I Wasn't Invited to the Debate on Gay Issues  —  Yesterday the Human Rights Campaign announced that it will not invite me to the first-ever presidential debate on gay issues because I didn't raise enough money.  To say that I'm shocked is an understatement.

Bush Dismisses Iraq Critics: 'War Fatigue' Is Affecting Their 'Psychology'  —  Today in his press conference, a reporter asked President Bush why he is "so resistant" to a "change of course in Iraq," even though that's what the American public is "clamoring for."

Let Us Pray  —  Harry Reid had a Hindu chaplain say the opening prayer in the Senate this morning, a first — it didn't go over well with some monotheism fans.  What ensued this morning was very unfortunate — he got heckled from the balcony.  —  Not the Senate's best moment.