Wonkette

It’s been a while since we last checked in on White House press secretary Dana Perino, America’s greatest asset. Do you think she’s learned what the Cuban Missile Crisis was since then? Probably not, since she is not smart. Yesterday’s press briefing took on the FISA surveillance extension — the one that those House Democrats refuse to make exactly into what George W. Bush wants, the traitors. Someone asked Dana if the Republicans were maybe going overboard by saying the Democrats’ stubbornness puts America at grave risk, since intelligence agencies can still “spy” and then get retroactive warrants. Dana responds that she knows nothing about the law. MORE »

• The violence level in Iraq is at its highest level ever, with over 2500 roadside bombs detected in July. [NYT]
• The Lebanese government sends troops to the nation’s south in a creative attempt to save the cease-fire. Hezbollah gets to keep some weapons. [WP, BBC]
• The U.S. government wants a piece of the rebuilding action in Lebanon. [LAT]
• A 42-year-old American teacher was arrested in Thailand and charged in JonBenet Ramsey’s 1996 murder. Thai authorities claim John Karr made a full confession. [AP via MSNBC]
• Airport screeners’ newest weapon: Behavioral psychology. [NYT]
• Moron country singer kills tame bear. [AP via CNN]

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• Cease-fire still holding despite Hezbollah’s reiterated refusal to withdraw from southern Lebanon; Annan calls situation “precarious.” [WP, BBC]
• Hezbollah, looking to win the rebuilding process, offers lavish and extensive aid to displaced Lebanese. [NYT]
• Pluto retains planetary status, may be joined by such lovable meteors as 2003 UB313. [LAT, NYT]
• Over 3000 Iraqi civilians killed in July; Iraqi president’s compound hit. [NYT, WP]
• Gerald Ford hospitalized. [AP via MSNBC]
• Sen. George Allen: Wha’happened? [WP]