* The “100 hours” plan is dead before it begun, as Democrats will now focus on the “elephantine gorilla” that is Iraq. [WP]
* And by “focus on,” they mean, “do everything possible to stop a troop surge.” [WP]
* With little Wesley Clark doing his part too. [WP]
* Broadly written anti-terror laws are proving disastrous for asylum seekers, even Gary Bauer agrees. [WP]
* Chief Justice John Roberts is deeply troubled about the “constitutional crisis” of federal judges forced to mortgage their mansions. [WP]
* Joe Biden signs on to provide the comic relief for the Democratic Presidential primaries. [NYT]
* Charlie Rangel is all smiles about chairing Ways ‘n Means. [NYT]
* Frothy mouthed hordes of hot-pink fanny packers can’t wait to swarm the half billion-dollar Capitol visitor center. [NYT]

• Iraq is a “serious concern” for President Bush and he is “unsatisfied,” but we’re still totally winning, obv. [WP, LAT]

• In many Congressional races Iraq has become the central issue. “For Republicans it is a problem to be navigated and for Democrats a stick to be brandished.” [WP]
• New Jersey’s highest court affirms equal benefits for same-sex couples. Gary Bauer thinks it’s great. [NYT, USAT]
• Can’t wait for Democrats to sweep into Congress next month, comrade? These Democrats may be a bit more conservative than you’re used to. [LAT, USAT]
• There are ghosts in the voting machines and the old ass poll workers can’t get them out. [WSJ]
• Apparently all the crazy shit candidates are saying is because they’re “strained” by the tough campaign season, and not because they’re actually crazy. [NYT]
• Kid who first put the Foley emails on the web was fired from Human Rights Campaign, but is still anonymous. [NYT]

Gentlemen, start your praying!

“Did you know, ladies and gentlemen, that every day we inflict on ourselves another 9/11?”
-Gary Bauer

It was certainly news to us, but not to the thousand or so people watching with rapt attention the funny little man behind the podium at the Family Research Council’s (or FRC Action, their lobbying arm) “Washington Briefing” (or “Values Voters Summit“) last weekend. Gary Bauer — former head of the FRC ’til he pissed off the Christian Right by running for president, having an adultery scandal, and endorsing John McCain in 2000 — was the prodigal nutcase, welcomed with open arms as he riled the crowd up with stirring rhetoric that, unfortunately, came from a guy who looks and sounds like Radar from M*A*S*H.

The conference lasted all weekend, and we were at, uh, part of it. Exciting coverage of Gary, Ann Coulter, Newt Gingrich, and yes, future United States Senator Katherine Harris (complete with pictures from Liz Gorman, Intrepid and Creeped Out Girl Reporter), is after the jump.

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August in DC has that ghost town feel, everyone’s gone - except the people wishing they were, and Senator Ron Wyden, who’s a little confused about where he should be on what days. Also, Dick Cheney, since he’s a robot, doesn’t need vacation and instead just continues to consume information. The Bush family, however, knows that when you take time off you really want to be able to relax - so Barbara Bush makes sure to travel with someone who’ll take care of Millie’s little messes on the beach.

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• Roberts supports privacy rights, wavers on Roe; Schumer is “pleasantly surprised.” Gary Bauer: “A careful reading of the transcript shows he committed to nothing once [Roberts] is on the court. We are left with what we always had. . . a new conservative majority.” [WP, WP, NYT, NYT, WSJ, LAT, USAT]
• Bush: “Katrina exposed serious problems in our response capability at all levels of government, and to the extent that the federal government didn’t fully do its job right, I take responsibility. I want to know what went right and what went wrong.” [WP, NYT]
• Roberts remained posed and cautious: “He listened. He smiled. He nodded.” Brownstein: He “exuded the quiet confidence of a man who knew that he was ahead in the game during a lengthy but mostly sedate confirmation hearing Tuesday. . . Roberts’ performance marked a bright spot for a White House battered by criticism of its response to Hurricane Katrina, and demonstrated the inherent vitality of presidential power.” [NYT, LAT, NYT]
• FAA knew Al Qaeda wanted “to hijack a commercial jet and slam it into a U.S. landmark” in 1998 and knew vulnerability of airports. Kean: “[Katrina] is not a terrorist incident, but it brings into play all of the same issues and shortcomings. . . Whoever is responsible for acting in these places hasn’t acted. Are they going to do it now? What else has to happen for people to act?” [NYT, WP]
• Democrats, led by Hillary, seek investigation of government’s response to Katrina. [NYT]
• Homeland Security officials will oversee distribution of Katrina relief funds to ensure responsible spending. [WSJ, NYT]
• Texas grand jury issues more indictments in DeLay case. [WP, LAT]