Top Items:
Matthew Scully / The Atlantic Online:
Present at the Creation — The only person the speechwriter Michael Gerson made look better than President Bush was Michael Gerson. The shaping of a Washington reputation, as witnessed by a White House colleague — M ichael J. Gerson, my former speechwriting colleague in the Bush White House …
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Sheryl Gay Stolberg / New York Times:
First Father: Tough Times on Sidelines — There are times in the life of George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States and father of the 43rd, that people, perfect strangers, come up to him and say the harshest things — words intended to comfort but words that wind up only causing pain.
David Nitkin / Baltimore Sun:
Bush was treated for Lyme disease, White House says
Bush was treated for Lyme disease, White House says
Discussion:
Firedoglake
Michael D. Shear / Washington Post:
Primary Season Getting Earlier — S.C. GOP's Move Could Push Votes For 2008 Into '07 — South Carolina's Republican Party will move its 2008 presidential primary forward to Jan. 19, sources said yesterday, a decision almost certain to spark a cascade of calendar changes that could push …
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University of Iowa News Services:
As Straw Poll Approaches, Romney Soars, Giuliani Drops And McCain Collapses — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney appears to have taken a commanding lead in Iowa among registered Republican voters and Republican caucus goers, according to a new University of Iowa poll released today, Wednesday, Aug. 8.
Discussion:
The Carpetbagger Report, DownWithTyranny!, Taegan Goddard's …, Outside The Beltway and Open Left
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Reuters:
Romney: Giuliani's NYC 'Sanctuary' for Illegal Immigrants — Republican Presidential Contender Calls Giuliani's New York a 'Sanctuary' for Illegals — In one of the strongest conflicts yet between Republican presidential front-runners, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney attacked rival …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, The Moderate Voice, Blogometer, The Mahablog, The Carpetbagger Report, QandO and NY Daily News
Confederate Yankee:
When Hidden Experts Are Found — Exactly one week ago today on August 2nd, the editors of the magazine The New Republic posted A Statement on Scott Thomas Beauchamp, in which they claimed: … What is most interesting about the The New Republic's statement is that while they state they spoke to …
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Ed Morrissey / Captain's Quarters:
Progressives For Racist Smears? — It doesn't take long for provocateurs to crawl out of the woodwork to attack candidates, especially in stealth attacks. With Fred Thompson, they've apparently started before he officially enters the race — and in one case, race is the operative word.
Brian S. Wesbury / Opinion Journal:
Fair but Unbalanced — How the media promote false pessimism about the economy. — Not that it needed any help, but the already energized debate about journalistic bias was electrified when Rupert Murdoch, owner of the "fair and balanced" Fox News Channel, struck a deal to buy The Wall Street Journal.
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USA Today:
First lady, Jenna Bush to write children's book — First lady Laura Bush and daughter Jenna Bush are writing a children's book about a boy who doesn't like to read. It is based on their experiences as teachers. — HarperCollins plans to announce today that it will publish the as-yet-untitled picture book next spring.
Tkarr / Save the Internet Blog:
AT&T Plays Gatekeeper. Censors Pearl Jam. — Over the weekend AT&T gave us a glimpse of their plans for the Web when they censored a Pearl Jam performance that didn't meet their standard of "Internet freedom." — During the live Lollapalooza Webcast of a concert by the Seattle-based super-group …
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Peter Baker / Washington Post:
Bush May Try to Cut Corporate Tax Rates — President Cites Need To Compete Globally — President Bush said yesterday that he is considering a fresh plan to cut tax rates for U.S. corporations to make them more competitive around the world, an initiative that could further inflame a battle …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
OBAMA AND PAKISTAN — I'm always interested to try to tease apart and find the meta-debates operating beneath the surface of campaign debates. As I wrote a few years ago in what I called the bitch-slap theory of GOP electoral politics, the whole swift-boat saga was less about the specifics …
Discussion:
Taylor Marsh, Obama HQ, The Heretik, The Atlantic Online, Washington Post and The Carpetbagger Report
James Ewinger / Plain Dealer:
Kent officer tickets man for 'Impeach Bush' sign — Kent - A soft-spoken teacher posted the words "Impeach Bush" in a public garden, and Kent police cast him as an outlaw. — Today Kevin Egler is fighting that in Kent Municipal Court, and the case is emerging as a free-speech issue …
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
PRESIDENT BUSH ON ACCOUNTABILITY — On Scooter Libby: "Lewis Libby was held accountable." — On Al Gonzales: "I haven't seen Congress say he's done anything wrong ... Why would I hold someone accountable who has done nothing wrong?"
Sidney Blumenthal / Salon:
Will the real Colin Powell stand up? — Every movement, gesture and tic of the Bush administration is shadowed by its past. When National Intelligence Director Michael McConnell was deployed politically to overawe timorous legislators into approving unlimited and warrantless domestic surveillance …
Associated Press:
Marine's Charges Dropped in Iraq Deaths — LOS ANGELES (AP) - A general dropped all charges Thursday against a Marine who had been accused of killing three Iraqi brothers in response to a roadside bomb attack in Haditha in 2005. — "The evidence does not support a referral to a court-martial …
The Blotter:
Administration Fights Dem Plan to Boost School Aid for Vets — Alexandra Bahou and Anna Schecter Report: — The Bush administration opposes a Democratic effort to restore full educational benefits for returning veterans, according to an official's comments last week.
Gavin M. / Sadly, No!:
Police Blotter — Some choose virginity, some have it thrust upon them — and unfortunately, some then turn it around and thrust it upon others at Young Republican events: … Above: Why do they all have this exact facial hair? … "Oh whew," Republicans are saying, "I thought it was another closeted-gay sex crime.