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.
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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.”
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.
Discussion:
The Daily Dish
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:
Matthew Yglesias, The Raw Story, Emptywheel, The Daily Dish, The Moderate Voice, Centerfield and The Jed Report
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.
Discussion:
The Huffington Post, Talking Points Memo, The Democratic Daily, Marc Ambinder and The Jed Report
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:
Abu Aardvark, VetVoice, Ben Smith's Blogs, democracyarsenal.org, Eunomia, Donklephant, Think Progress and TIME.com
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
Kitty Donaldson / Bloomberg:Brown Says No ‘Artificial Timetable’ for Iraq Troop Withdrawal
Discussion:
Commentary
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 …
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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
William Kern / The Moderate Voice:
From Argentina's Clarin newspaper: Resurrected U.S. Fourth Fleet Creates Suspicion Across South America — Why has the United States decided to resurrect the U.S. Navy's Fourth Fleet, which has been in mothballs since the 1950s? And why has it chosen to do so now?
Discussion:
Newshoggers.com
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 …
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.
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
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