Top Items:
Spencer Ackerman / TPMmuckraker:
Exclusive: Bush Nixed Dem-DNI FISA Deal — Today, while standing with Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell, President Bush lamented the inability of Congressional Democrats to give McConnell the tools he needed to capture the communications of terrorists:
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Lara Jakes Jordan / Associated Press:
Bush, Democrats struggle for spy deal — WASHINGTON - Congress and the White House struggled Friday over expanding authority to eavesdrop on suspected foreign terrorists in a high-stakes showdown over national security. — "We're still hopeful that something can be worked out," …
White House:
President Bush Meets with Counterterrorism Team — Washington, D.C. — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming. Director Mueller, thank you for your hospitality. I'm honored to be here at the headquarters of the FBI. Just had a beginning of a series of meetings today …
Discussion:
Wake up America, Balkinization, TPMmuckraker, The Carpetbagger Report and Shakespeare's Sister
Marty Lederman / Balkinization:
More Tales from the "Unitary" Executive (or, What's Going On with the FISA Fix/Mess?) — Very hard to keep up, things are moving so fast. To the best of my very imperfect knowledge, here's the state of play: — Last night, Director of National Intelligence McConnell distributed this Statement …
Josephine Hearn / The Politico:
Busted computer hamstrings House — A busted computer system hamstrung the House (video link courtesy Breitbart.tv) for at least 45 minutes Friday on one of the tensest legislative days of the year. — The House electronic voting system malfunctioned at approximately 2 p.m. as lawmakers began …
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Matthew Sanchez / Matt Sanchez:
BEAUCHAMP INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED — After a thorough investigation that lasted nearly a week the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division has concluded that the allegations made by Private Thomas Scott Beauchamp, the "Baghdad Diarist", have been
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Little Green Footballs:
Serviceman Shouted Down at YearlyKos — The American Prospect: AN ODD CLOSE. … Video, please. — (Hat tip: Exurban League.) — UPDATE at 8/3/07 10:46:52 am: — I'm not familiar with the exact regulations on this, but for the sake of argument let's say that it was against the rules for a uniformed soldier to ask a question.
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Mmstewart / CNN Political Ticker:
Tancredo: Threaten to bomb Muslim holy sites in retaliation — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo's campaign stood by his assertion that bombing holy Muslim sites would serve as a good "deterrent" to prevent Islamic fundamentalists from attacking the United States, his spokeswoman said Friday.
Discussion:
PoliBlog (TM), DownWithTyranny!, New York Times, ImmigrationProf Blog, Say Anything, Wake up America, Pensito Review, Hot Air and Blogs of War
Kim Zetter / Threat Level:
Dateline Mole Allegedly at DefCon with Hidden Camera — Updated: Mole Caught on Tape — DefCon security on Friday warned attendees at the annual hacker conference that Dateline NBC may have sent a mole with a hidden camera to the event to capture hackers admitting to crimes.
Discussion:
Boing Boing
asce.org:
Forward or Back? — Recent steps on infrastructure issues — Senate Passes Infrastructure Improvement Act, the Senate late Thursday night passed the ASCE-endorsed National Infrastructure Improvement Act (S. 775), a bill that would establish a national commission to assess the physical condition …
WCBS-TV:
Odd Replica Sub Intercepted Near Queen Mary II — Vessel Modeled After One Of United States' First Submarines — Featured Slideshows: — (CBS) NEW YORK It's a bird, it's a plane ... it's a submarine? — It certainly was not a sight you see every day in New York.
Discussion:
New York Magazine, New York Times, Debbie Schlussel, Blue Crab Boulevard and Boing Boing
Stephanie / YearlyKos Convention:
Reid, Pelosi, Emanuel Cancel; Fingers Crossed for Schumer — Work on Saturday? Only our favorite politicians in Washington who must be there this weekend for a vote. According to TheHill.com, "The House of Representatives will remain in session on Saturday to consider an energy bill …
Kevin Drum / Washington Monthly:
THE CLINTON-OBAMA CAGE MATCH....At the risk of going all meta on you, I have to confess that I'm fascinated by the recent foreign policy mini-fracases between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama (talking with foreign leaders last week, striking Pakistan and using nukes this week).
Jay Stevens / Left in the West:
Rehberg: CHIP is "extremist political ideology" — Shane's got a great post on Max' CHIP bill, including where Dennis Rehberg stands on the issue: … Hahahahahahaha! — "...affordable, reliable health insurance..."? — Hahahahahahaha! — It's issues like this that remind …
Discussion:
Crooks and Liars
Heidi Przybyla / Bloomberg:
Romney, Giuliani Change Tone on Bush's Iraq Buildup — Aug. 3 (Bloomberg) — For Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, the difference between ``real'' and ``reasonable'' is the distance he's traveled on President George W. Bush's Iraq war policy. — In April, Romney said Bush's plan …