Top Items:
CNN:
Iraqi PM disputes report on withdrawal plan — (CNN) — A German magazine quoted Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki as saying that he backed a proposal by presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Sen. Barack Obama to withdraw U.S. troops from Iraq within 16 months.
RELATED:
Dotcomabc / Political Punch:
White House Accidentally E-Mails to Reporters Story That Maliki Supports Obama Iraq Withdrawal Plan — The White House this afternoon accidentally sent to its extensive distribution list a Reuters story headlined “Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan - magazine.”
Marc Ambinder:
Al-Maliki's Announcement: A Big Deal — This could be one of those unexpected events that forever changes the way the world perceives an issue. Iraq's Prime Minister agrees with Obama, and there's no wiggle room or fudge factor. This puts John McCain in an extremely precarious spot …
Discussion:
The Moderate Voice, The Raw Story, Emptywheel, Matthew Yglesias, The Daily Dish, The Jed Report and rubber hose
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
PRETTY WEAK — The McCain campaign has just come out with their response to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al Maliki's endorsement of Obama's withdrawal plan. I think the clotted, dodging-the-issue nature of the response communicates very clearly the box this has placed the McCain camp in.
Marc Ambinder:
McCain Campaign Responds To Al-Maliki — “His domestic politics require him to be for us getting out,” said a senior McCain campaign official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The military says ‘conditions based’ and Maliki said ‘conditions based’ yesterday in the joint statement with Bush.
Discussion:
The Road to Surfdom, Abu Aardvark, Ben Smith's Blogs, Think Progress, democracyarsenal.org and TIME.com
Sarah Wheaton / The Caucus:
Maliki Backs Obama's Troop Withdrawal Plan — The policies and whims of American leaders have played a major role in politics in Iraq and elsewhere. And now, it's Iraqi President Nouri Kamal al-Maliki's turn to dip his toes in the United States's race for the White House.
Josh Marshall / Talking Points Memo:
BIG DEAL? NO ... BIGGER — I've spent a couple hours now trying to process the probable impact of Prime Minister al Maliki's explicit endorsement of Barack Obama's 16 month timetable for withdrawal of American troops from Iraq. My first instinct is always to try not to overstate the impact of momentary developments.
Allahpundit / Hot Air:
Maliki: Obama's 16-month timetable sounds good; Update: Spiegel changes quote — Here's the exchange from Spiegel's English translation, duly hyped by Reuters as tacit evidence of Liberal Jesus's foreign-policy sagacity. … The unasked follow-up question: How about the 14-month timetable …
Reuters:Iraqi PM backs Obama troop exit plan: report
Discussion:
American Power, The Field on the Narcosphere, protein wisdom, The Impolitic, The Hill's Blog Briefing Room, VetVoice, THE LIBERAL JOURNAL, Donklephant, Brilliant at Breakfast, RADAMISTO, rochesterturning.com, The Carpetbagger Report, Macsmind, PoliBlog (TM), The Volokh Conspiracy, Polimom Says, Whiskey Fire, Political Machine, Spin Cycle, the talking dog, New York Times, Think Progress, Harry's Place, The Anonymous Liberal, Washington Monthly, www.redstate.com, Corrente, pandagon.net, The Moderate Voice, Pajamas Media, CNN, Matthew Yglesias, TalkLeft, BBC, No More Mister Nice Blog, Gateway Pundit, The Political Carnival and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS
Ilan Goldenberg / democracyarsenal.org:It's Over
Discussion:
Donklephant, Taylor Marsh, AMERICAblog News, Hullabaloo, The Moderate Voice and Pirate's Cove
Kitty Donaldson / Bloomberg:Brown Says No ‘Artificial Timetable’ for Iraq Troop Withdrawal
Discussion:
Commentary
Juan Cole / Informed Comment:Bush Accepts Time Horizon for US Troop withdrawal
Discussion:
Newshoggers.com
Greg Sargent / TPM Election Central:
Top Dem Party Officials Send Sharply-Worded Email Demanding That Hillary Donors And Supporters Get Behind Obama — In a sign that senior Democratic officials remain deeply concerned that post-primary bitterness could imperil Barack Obama's chances, two top Democratic officials have emailed …
Avi Zenilman / Ben Smith's Blogs:
Gore compares offshore drilling to invasion of Iraq — In a surprise appearance at Netroots Nation — which apparently was the worst-kept secret in Austin, Texas — former Vice President Al Gore followed up a speech by Nancy Pelosi by laying out a narrative on climate change and the energy crisis …
RELATED:
Julia Preston / New York Times:
Immigrant, Pregnant, Is Jailed Under Pact — It started when Juana Villegas, an illegal immigrant from Mexico who was nine months pregnant, was pulled over by a police officer in a Nashville suburb for a routine traffic violation. — By the time Mrs. Villegas was released …
Discussion:
Lonewacko
SilentPatriot / Crooks and Liars:
Nancy Pelosi: “Two oil men in the White House” are responsible for high oil prices — Who knew Nancy Pelosi was such a straight-shooter? When Wolf Blitzer tries to pin part of the blame for the current energy crisis on the Democratic Congress, Pelosi shoots back by saying her House …
Discussion:
Macsmind
Gallup:
Gallup Daily: Obama Maintains Slight Edge Over McCain — Advantage is two points in latest update — PRINCETON, NJ — The latest Gallup Poll Daily tracking updates shows the presidential race remains close, with Barack Obama continuing to hold a slight advantage over John McCain, 45% to 43%.
Discussion:
American Spectator
Associated Press:
Lawmakers Could Consider Gas Tax Hike, After Gas Tax Holiday Fails — WASHINGTON — The political vision of a summer gas tax holiday died a quick death in Congress, losing to a view that federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel — far from dropping — will have to go up if they go anywhere.
Discussion:
Hot Air
Kate Galbraith / New York Times:
Texas Approves a $4.93 Billion Wind-Power Project — Texas regulators have approved a $4.93 billion wind-power transmission project, providing a major lift to the development of wind energy in the state. — The planned web of transmission lines will carry electricity from remote western parts …
Output Producer, CA — 
China Markets Correspondent, Shanghai — 
Senior Assignment Editor, DC — 
Breaking News Editor, Tokyo — 
Senior Correspondent - Wealth, NY — 
Reporter - Ottawa Bureau — 
Local Government Reporter, IA — 
Research Director, CA — 
Immigration Enforcement Reporter — 
Presque Island Reporter, ME — 
Contributing Parks Ed. - SW, CA — 
AI Content Editor, WA — 
Legislative Reporter, TN — 
Editorial Assistant, Remote US — 
Elon Musk Reporter, NY or CA — 
Government & Politics Editor, WA — 
Business & GA Reporter. VT — 
Sports Reporter, WA — 
Energy Reporter, TX — 
Senior Reporter, SC — 
Trade & Climate Correspondent, DC — 
Reporter, WI — 
Political Newsletter Writer, CO — 
Jackson Reporter, MS — 
Music Editor, AZ — 
Breaking News Reporter, NV — 
Fearless Reporter/Producer, IA — 
Reporter II - Technology, Remote — 
Editor, Remote US — 
City Reporter, WA — 
Executive Editor, OR — 
Education & Budget Reporter, CA — 
Senior Writer/Editor, FL — 
Media Editor, Remote — 
