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 …

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.

Court orders Wilson freed 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 …

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.

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.

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.

Bush says he'll veto health bill again  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush accused Democratic lawmakers on Friday of wasting time by passing legislation to expand children's health coverage, knowing that he would veto it again.  At the same time, he criticized Congress for failing to approve spending bills to keep the government running.

Strike on Iran Would Roil Oil Markets, Experts Say  —  Price Hits Record Close; U.S. Tightens Sanctions  —  A U.S. military strike against Iran would have dire consequences in petroleum markets, say a variety of oil industry experts, many of whom think the prospect of pandemonium …

Bill Clinton Takes On 9/11 Conspiracy Protesters  —  Bill Clinton addressed a crowd in Minneapolis, Minnesota at a fundraiser for his wife's campaign on Tuesday.  —  Clinton's 50-minute speech, which started about an hour behind schedule, was derailed briefly by several hecklers in the audience …

Sen. Webb On Hardball: "The Cheney element of the administration is well represented in the United States Senate"  —  Play (702) (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 …

Andy Sipowicz Goes to Washington  —  The news that John Gotti tried, back in the 1980s, to persuade his fellow organized-crime CEOs to sign off on having Rudy Giuliani killed may be Giuliani's equivalent of the videotape that Osama bin Laden released in time to swing the 2004 presidential election for Bush.