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.
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; [UPDATED] — UPDATE [9:42pm, Chicago Time]: - It has now been confirmed that all of the Meet the Leaders panelists are not going to make their previously scheduled panel. There will be no 8am keynote Saturday. The regular schedule picks up again at 9am.
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
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).
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 …