White House to Offer Iraq Plan of Gradual Cuts  —  The White House plans to use a report next month assessing progress in Iraq to outline a plan for gradual troop reductions beginning next year that would fall far short of the drawdown demanded by Congressional opponents of the war, according to administration and military officials.

Obama to turn down additional fall debates  —  Inundated by dozens of invitations, Sen. Barack Obama will turn down requests to join future debates and forums this fall, his Democratic presidential campaign announced Saturday.  —  Obama will honor his commitment to eight more debates …

A CBS Reality Show Draws a Claim of Possible Child Abuse  —  The ads promoting "Kid Nation," a new reality show coming to CBS next month, extol the incredible experience of a group of 40 children, ages 8 to 15, who built a sort of idealistic society in a New Mexico ghost town, free of adults.

McCain: 'I Was The Greatest Critic' Of The Iraq War Over The Last Four Years  —  Yesterday on CNN, host Kiran Chetry suggested to Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) that he's been unfairly "painted as being a huge supporter of the president's Iraq strategy.  Is that an accurate portrayal?" she asked.

A Plan for Iraq  —  Next month, Gen. David Petraeus, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will report to Congress on the situation in my country.  I expect that the testimony of these two good men will be qualified and nuanced, as politics requires.

Qualified to Serve  —  BEFORE BEING nominated by President Bush to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, Leslie H. Southwick served for almost 12 years on the Mississippi Court of Appeals, where he participated in thousands of cases spanning the gamut of civil and criminal law.

Here's How Fox News Covered Fred Thompson In Iowa  —  Fairly harsh coverage of Sen. Fred Thompson's first trip to Iowa today... from Fox News, an organ of opinion that Mr. Thompson very much wants in his corner.  First, Carl Cameron points out Thompson's Gucci loafers...

Turkish plane hijacking ends peacefully  —  ANKARA, Turkey - Two men who hijacked a Turkish passenger plane in an apparent protest against the U.S. surrendered to authorities Saturday after holding some crew members and passengers hostage for more than four hours.  No one was hurt.

The Highest Form of Wankery  —  From the article linked below: … There is a bunch of stuff here.  Obviously, if the necons were so absurdly wrong one would've imagined that those in the "clerisy" would have taken a strong public stand against them.  What we saw and still see, of course …

Michael Deaver 1938-2007  —  "Almost instantaneously, he responded, "Ronald Reagan was my issue.  Since Ronald Reagan passed away a few years ago, we have seen several members of his inner circle follow him once again.  Lyn Nofzinger, Jeanne Kirkpatrick, and Cap Weinberger all helped craft …

Green Zone Blinders  —  Late last month the Brookings Institution's Kenneth Pollack and Michael O'Hanlon, just back from a quick trip to Baghdad, proclaimed in the New York Times that "we are finally getting somewhere in Iraq."  In June, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, fresh from his latest whirlwind tour …

After Loss of Majority, Several Republicans Head for Exits  —  A rash of retirements among House Republicans is adding to the party's electoral challenges and raising questions about a rush for the exits.  —  Four House Republicans — Representatives J. Dennis Hastert and Ray LaHood …

If It's Sunday, It's Karl Rove  —  Karl Rove will be a guest this Sunday on Face the Nation, Meet the Press, and Fox News Sunday (ABC's This Week is hosting a Democratic presidential debate).  —  Thus far, Rove's farewell media blitz has simply provided him a platform to offer partisan attacks.

Panic on Wall Street  —  You've heard about the home-loan bust, but do you know your derivatives from your tranches?  Read Salon's easy guide to understanding the current market freakout.  —  Gerard Petti, right, directs trading from his post at the New York Stock Exchange, Aug. 16.