• White House shuffles list of possible successors to Sandra Day O’Connor; intention is to find nominee who will survive confirmation fight. Specter: “I think that there’s been a lot frustration on this one, and it’s been commented upon very broadly and I think that frustration may well be vented on the next nominee.” [NYT]
• Administration’s former lead federal procurement official arrested for allegedly lying and obstructing the investigation of Jack Abramoff. [WP, NYT]
• Administration’s nominee to head the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency is faulted for having nominal experience. [WP]
• Domestic Security Advisor Frances Townsend will oversee the White House inquiry of the administration’s response to Katrina. [NYT]
• Al Qaeda takes credit for London bombings. Zawahri: “The blessed London attack was one which al Qaeda was honored to launch against the British Crusader’s arrogance and against the American Crusader aggression on the Islamic nation for 100 years.” [WP]
• Approval of Bush remains at 40% in USAT/Gallup poll; a record 66% of independents disapprove. [USAT]

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• House will pass $10.5b relief package for the Gulf Coast; officials on the ground complain about the administration’s response. Head of emergency management in New Orleans: “This is a national emergency. This is a national disgrace. . . We can send massive amounts of aid to tsunami victims, but we can’t bail out the city of New Orleans.” [WP, WP, USAT]
• Experts blame “late evacuation order and insufficient emergency shelter.” New Orleans Police Superintendent: “We’re in our fifth day and adequate help to quell the situation has not arrived yet.” [NYT, WP, WT]
• Katrina shows government was unprepared for energy crisis. Bush: “Americans should be prudent in their use of energy. Don’t buy gas if you don’t need it.” [WSJ, WP]
• Democrats say Bush’s decision to underfund levee fortification left New Orleans vulnerable. McClellan: “Flood control has been a priority of this administration from Day One. This is not a time for finger-pointing or playing politics.” [WP, NYT]
• Al Qaeda takes credit for London bombings in video broadcast by Al Jazeera; group vows more attacks will come. Suspected bomber: “We are at war, and I am a soldier and now you too will taste the reality of this situation.” [NYT, WP]
• Gas prices top $6 a gallon in some areas. [USAT]

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Dear Al Qaeda, MORE »

Yesterday, sober judges at LGF, as well as Michelle Malkin, posted this sign as proof of British “common sense.” Commentators elaborated — pointing out that “our friends the Brits are not as badly infected with the PC bug;” and bemoaning how civil libertarians here “would turn into apoplectic purple people eaters at the very suggestion.” Eventually, someone figured out the sign was a spoof, which must have disappointed everyone, though not as much finding out that Karl Rove had not, in fact, found asylum Scarborough Country. MORE »