Wonkette

John Warner, on the Senate floor a little while ago: MORE »

Coverage of Secretary Michael Chertoff’s Senate testimony (continued from this prior post): MORE »

• Second Time magazine reporter is called to testify in leak investigation. [NYT, WSJ]
• Time table for withdrawal from Iraq seems dependent on next month’s Iraqi election and next year’s midterm election. Former administration aide: “We’ve moved from ‘if’ to ‘how fast.’” [NYT]
• Rep. Tim Murphy (R-PA) and Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) are injured when their vehicle overturns in Iraq. [NYT]
• Advocacy groups target swing senators in fight over Alito’s confirmation. [WP]
• Alito has convinced most senators to support him — “an unusual political feat.” [USAT]
• The Washington Post’s special relationship with Bob Woodward “has sparked some resentment among the staff,” writes Howard Kurtz; criticism of star journalist is spreading. [WP]
• Bush visits Arizona today for speech on illegal immigration that is designed to reassure his conservative base. [WT, WSJ]

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• Bush shifts his response to critics of the Iraq war: “People should feel comfortable about expressing their opinions about Iraq. . . This is not an issue of who’s [a] patriot and who’s not patriotic. It’s an issue of an honest, open debate about the way forward in Iraq.” Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.): “They have been overly optimistic, illusionary about their policy. This is not a war of words; this is a real war where people are getting killed.” [WP, NYT, WT, USAT]
• CIA Director Porter Goss: “We use lawful capabilities to collect vital information, and we do it in a variety of unique and innovative ways, all of which are legal and none of which are torture.” [USAT, USAT, USAT]
• Costs associated with rebuilding the Gulf Coast could top $100b; Bush loyalist assumes control of reconstruction effort. [WP, WP]
• Bush has a little fun in China by exercising; White House officials and some journalists enjoy Outback Steakhouse there. [WP]
• Bush returns home after making virtually no news on tour of Asia; the president of China is open to economic reforms but not interested in increasing political freedoms. [WP, NYT, USAT]
• White House associates speculate that Bush “has long been aware that the vice president oversold the case on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.” [NYT]

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The Senate has passed the Republican leadership’s bill calling for “regular progress reports” on the war in Iraq. What, the banners behind Presidential podiums aren’t doing it for you? In any case, the bill isn’t about getting a memo to our representatives, it’s sending a message to the Iraqis. Of course. Sen. John Warner translates: “We mean business. We have done our share, now the challenge is up to you.” Is anyone else concerned that the challenge may be “up to” the Iraqis, but we’re the ones who fucked their country up? So much for “you break it, you buy it.” This is really more, “We broke it, you buy it, fix it, fill it with oil and then sell it to us at a deep discount.” MORE »

• Reliable Source Top guns Karl Rove, John Negroponte, Antonin Scalia, Anthony Kennedy, Michael Chertoff, Carlos Gutierrez, John Warner, Paul Wolfowitz and Richard Myers celebrate the Marines’ 230th birthday. . . Bodyguard reportedly followed Dr. Phil to the bathroon of the Capital Grille. [WP]
• Under the Dome: The WB is developing a D.C.-based soap opera that will show “the town

• Bush commits federal resources to Gulf Coast: “The challenges that we face on the ground are unprecedented. But there’s no doubt in my mind we’re going to succeed.” Pollster: “To the degree that he is the consoler and healer of the nation, it helps.” [WP, WP, WSJ, USAT]
• Financial burden of recovery strikes at federal budget deficit; over $20b will be requested. [WSJ, WP, USAT]
• Katrina sends oil prices over $3 a gallon, possibly beyond $4; Europeans may lend their stockpiles. [WSJ, MarketWatch, Bloomberg, NYT]
• Commodity prices jump. Supply-chain expert: “The Mississippi River is the aorta of the American economy, and New Orleans is the access point to it.” [WP]
• In Baghdad, nearly 1,000 Iraqis die in stampede sparked by panic; greatest loss of life since the invasion. [NYT, USAT]
• Bush tested again by circumstances, but will he deliver? Professor: “It is usually the case with large-scale disasters that it centralizes power in the presidency and improves the president’s ratings in public opinion.” [NYT, LAT]

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• Oil tops $70 a barrel as Hurricane Katrina hits the Gulf. Analyst: “The amount of lost production is equal to almost all the spare capacity in the world.” [Bloomberg]
• Administration officials admit disappointment with Iraq; focus shifts to providing life support for the political process. Bush: “As democracy in Iraq takes root, the enemies of freedom, the terrorists will become more desperate, more despicable and more vicious.” [NYT, WT]
• Al Sharpton lands in Crawford, calls Cindy Sheehan “the conscience” of the country; Martin Sheen also makes an appearance. [WP, USAT]
• States are stepping-up restrictions on abortions, with South Dakota leading the way. [WP]
• Scuffle over military-base closings is likely to continue even if Bush and Congress approve the commission’s recommendations. [WSJ]
• With $1.6m in the stock market, Roberts will have plenty of finanical conflicts. [USAT, USAT]
• Documents show Roberts was anal about grammar and spelling: a “cheerfully ruthless copy editor over the years.” [NYT]

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