Internal Dem memo faults party message  —  Democrats are losing the battle for voters' hearts because the party's message lacks emotional appeal, according to a widely circulated critique of House Democratic communications strategy.  —  "Our message sounds like an audit report on defense logistics …

FEMA Meets the Press, Which Happens to Be . . . FEMA  —  FEMA has truly learned the lessons of Katrina.  Even its handling of the media has improved dramatically.  For example, as the California wildfires raged Tuesday, Vice Adm. Harvey E. Johnson, the deputy administrator, had a 1 p.m. news briefing.

A Scott Beauchamp Update  —  Since our last statement on "Shock Troops," a Diarist by Private Scott Thomas Beauchamp that we published in our July 23 issue, we have continued our investigation into the article's veracity.  On Wednesday, for a brief period, The Drudge Report posted several documents …

Panel to See Papers on Agency's Eavesdropping  —  The White House on Thursday offered to share secret documents on the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program with the Senate Judiciary Committee, a step toward possible compromise on eavesdropping legislation.

The New Right-Wing Smear Machine  —  On February 27, 2001, two members of the American Gold Star Mothers, an organization of women who've lost sons or daughters in combat, dropped by the temporary basement offices of the new junior senator from New York, Hillary Clinton.

Court frees Wilson in teen sex case  —  ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — The Georgia Supreme Court on Friday ordered that Genarlow Wilson be released from prison, ruling 4-3 that his sentence for a teen sex conviction was cruel and unusual punishment.  —  Wilson, 21, was convicted in 2005 …

Patriots Stand Up  —  Sen. Chris Dodd gave a great statement on the floor of the Senate this morning.  You can watch video here on his Senate website.  I asked for a written copy of the remarks, because there wasn't a transcript available, and am reprinting them here with permission because I've had several e-mails asking for this.

Scratching the Bottom  —  Sometimes I wonder, can the Washington Post's editorials get any worse?  The answer — always — turns out to be "yes."  Today we learn not only that the Bush administration's drive toward war with Iran is in fact an effort to avoid war, but also that up is down …

Sen. Webb On Hardball: "The Cheney element of the administration is well represented in the United States Senate"  —  Play (557) (thanks to Heather for vids)  —  On Thursday's Hardball Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA) talked with Chris Matthews about the strong push from Dick Cheney and some members of the Senate …

A No-Nonsense Style Honed as Advocate  —  Hillary Rodham Clinton needs her rest.  She shuns the nocturnal habits of her husband — the 2 a.m. staff calls, the all-hours games of hearts.  "It doesn't suit my body rhythms," said Mrs. Clinton, who typically sleeps six or seven hours …

Another Man From Hope  —  Who is Mike Huckabee?  —  Republicans have won five of the last seven presidential elections by running candidates who broadly fit the Ronald Reagan model—fiscally conservative, and firmly but not harshly conservative on social issues.

Officials balked on '05 Blackwater inquiry  —  State Department e-mails obtained by ABC News discuss how to deflect a Times reporter's questions about a civilian shooting death.  —  Even as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice defended her department's oversight of private security contractors …

Democrats, the War and Shays's Rebellion  —  A poll released yesterday by the Associated Press made it official: Americans are more likely to believe in ghosts (34 percent) than to believe that President Bush is doing a good job with the war in Iraq (29 percent).

Lennonism at Bloomies  —  Bloomingdale's is advertising jewelry with a political message.  A necklace by designer Georgianna Koulianos is fashioned to look like military dog tags.  But the tags read "Imagine" "Peace" and "Love."  —  So trendy ladies in Chevy Chase and Manhattan are going to wear …

MIL-PAKISTAN-SAWAT-OPERATION  —  Pakistani forces launch offensive against militants in Sawat valley  —  Hundreds of Pakistani troops with aerial support launched an operation against a local militant commander and his supporters in the once peaceful Sawat valley in northern frontier province …