Top Items:
Paul A. Gigot / Wall Street Journal:
'The Mark of Rove' — These are the days of Republican doubt, with President Bush fighting an unpopular war, Congress in opposition hands, and a 2008 presidential field trailing Democrats in nearly every poll. But don't tell that to Karl Rove, Mr. Bush's political alter ego …
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Wall Street Journal:
Karl Rove to Resign At the End of August — Karl Rove, President Bush's longtime political adviser, is resigning as White House deputy chief of staff effective Aug. 31, and returning to Texas, he said in an interview with Paul Gigot, editor of The Wall Street Journal's editorial page.
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Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:
Karl Rove, Top Strategist, Is Leaving the White House — Karl Rove, the political adviser who masterminded President George W. Bush's two winning presidential campaigns, is resigning, the White House confirmed today. — In an interview published this morning in The Wall Street Journal …
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CNN:
Karl Rove to leave White House — WASHINGTON (CNN) — Karl Rove, President Bush's senior political adviser, will voluntarily step down from his White House post at the end of the month, senior administration officials said Monday. — "Obviously it's a big loss to us, said deputy White House press secretary Dana Perino. "
Washington Post:
Karl Rove, Adviser to President Bush, to Quit — Karl Rove, chief architect of the Bush presidency and the premier Republican strategist of the last decade, will step down as White House deputy chief of staff Aug. 31. — Rove revealed his plans to the Wall Street Journal …
The Politico:
Analysis: Rove bows out despised and deified — Karl Rove will leave George Bush's side this month one of the most controversial political figures in living memory. — The verdict on his legacy will be similarly conflicted: He can claim credit for political victories of historic proportions …
Emptywheel / The Next Hurrah:
My Guesses on Why Rove Resigned — By now you've heard the news: Rove is stepping down. So here's my treatment of possible reasons why he's leaving, in reverse order of their likelihood: — Time with the Family — As he said to the WSJ, he wants to spend more time with this family.
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Jane Hamsher / Firedoglake:
Why Don't Journalists Just Tell Us What They Know? — Watching the morning kabuki on television about Rove's resignation is quite something. They're all taking it at face value and nobody is speculating as to what the truth of the matter might be. You know that behind …
Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés / The Moderate Voice: Karl Rove Resigning: 'The Symbolic Quit' (for the family's sake)
Chris Cillizza / The Fix:
Tommy Thompson Is First Victim of Iowa Straw Poll — Former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson dropped out of the race for the 2008 GOP presidential nomination tonight, a day after he finished a disappointing sixth in the Ames Straw Poll in Iowa. — "I have no regrets about running," Thompson said in a statement released by his campaign.
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USA Today:
Major attacks decline in Iraq — The number of truck bombs and other large al-Qaeda-style attacks in Iraq have declined nearly 50% since the United States started increasing troop levels in Iraq about six months ago, according to the U.S. military command in Iraq.
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Herschel Smith / The Captain's Journal:
The Rise of the JAM — Jaish al Mahdi (JAM) essentially …
The Rise of the JAM — Jaish al Mahdi (JAM) essentially …
Discussion:
Power Line
CNN Political Ticker:
CNN's GOP debate set for Nov. 28 — DES MOINES (CNN) - The Republican Party of Florida, CNN and YouTube will announce Monday that the organizations' Republican presidential debate will be held on Nov. 28, two months before Sunshine State voters hold their gateway primary into "Super Tuesday."
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Captain's Quarters
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New York Times:
Wrong Way Out of Iraq — As Americans argue about how to bring the troops home from Iraq, British forces are already partway out the door. Four years ago, there were some 30,000 British ground troops in southern Iraq. By the end of this summer, there will be 5,000. None will be based in urban areas.
Discussion:
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Robert D. Novak / Washington Post:
House of Corruption? — With the midnight hour approaching on Saturday, Aug. 4, near the end of a marathon session, Democratic and Republican leaders alike wanted to pass the defense appropriations bill quickly and start their summer recess. But Republican Rep. Jeff Flake's stubborn adherence …