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Kerry Pledges Iraq Troop Cut Within 4 Years WaPo — Permalink BOWLING GREEN, Ohio, Aug. 1 — John F. Kerry pledged Sunday he would substantially reduce U.S. troop strength in Iraq by the end of his first term in office but declined to offer any details of what he said is his plan to attract significantly more allied military and financial support there. | |
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Betsy Newmark: Even more disturbing are his sanctimonious and pompous statements about having a plan that he just won't share with us... Robert Garcia Tagorda: Reduction — For thoughts on John Kerry's pledge to reduce the number of American troops in Iraq, start with Matt Yglesias and Steven Taylor. Ed Driscoll: It's too late for Kerry to reinvent himself before November—especially with stories like this: [snipped quote] Lee... |
Tom Maguire: The WaPo had excerpts from the John-John appearance on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos, and reported this:... Pejman Yousefzadeh: John Kerry has a secret plan to bring troops home from Iraq: [snipped quote] Well, of course, no one asks that Kerry "negotiate in public." Matthew Yglesias: Over the weekend, John Kerry was forced to talk a bit more about his plans for Iraq: [snipped quote] Kerry says he... |
| Also: Nick Gillespie, McQ, Cori Dauber, Glenn Reynolds, Mitch Berg, Tim Graham, Captain Ed | |
REPUBLICANS PLAN PUSH FOR ELIMINATION OF IRS Drudge Report — Permalink A domestic centerpiece of the Bush/GOP agenda for a second Bush term is getting rid of the Internal Revenue Service, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. The Speaker of the House will push for replacing the nation's current tax system with a national sales tax or a value added tax, Hill sources tell DRUDGE. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: The IRS and the Conservative Base — I'll leave the policy analyses regarding the abolition of the Internal Revenue Service to James Joyner and Kevin Drum. Jim D: Eliminating the IRS — Drudge: [snipped quote] Continuing... Jeff Goldstein: Over the rainbow — Somewhere, Steve Forbes just sprung a chubby...* **** h/t Mike update: George Gaskell has some more detailed thoughts here. |
Kevin Drum: ABOLISH THE IRS!...I see that House Speaker Dennis Hastert has written a book boldly suggesting that we abolish the IRS... Matt Singer: Fight Back? Ezra is right: Hastert's idea is stupid. So what do we do if it starts polling well? Bill @INDCJournal: Drudge Has Me Shaking with Excitement Today — First this link ... ... then this? Fantastic. |
| Also: Taegan Goddard, Mike Hendrix, James Joyner, Mitch Berg, Jon Henke, Matthew Yglesias, Steve Antler, Libertarian, Atrios, Ezra Klein, Rice Grad, Ed Driscoll, Charles Johnson | |
Slight Bounce By / ABCNEWS — Permalink Aug 2, 2004— John Kerry took a tepid bump in support out of his nominating convention, gaining an advantage over President Bush among registered voters — but not so among those most likely to vote. | |
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Skippy: cnn, npr, salon.com and new york magazine all agree: skippy has a blog — Monday bouncy bouncy the cw (country western)... Barbara O'Brien: Well, now there's a new ABC/WaPo poll that says people think John Kerry is "better qualified to be commander-in-chief," by 52 percent to 44 percent. Steve Soto: Latest ABC News/Washington Post Poll Shows Kerry Overtaking Bush Amongst Both Registered and Likely Voters — The latest... |
Betsy Newmark: The ABC/Washington Post poll shows that Kerry is only up by 2 over Bush among likely voters. Ace: ABCNews/WashPost: "Tepid Bounce" plus insignificant lead with likely voters. Update: More see Kerry as liberal after convo, too. Atrios: "Better Qualified to be Commander-in-chief"" WaPo/ABC: Kerry leads Bush as "better qualified to be commander-in-chief," by 52 percent to 44 percent. |
| Also: Chris Bowers, Taegan Goddard | |
The Secret File of Abu Ghraib By / Rolling Stone — Permalink It has been months since the now-infamous photographs from Abu Ghraib revealed that American soldiers tortured Iraqi prisoners — yet the Bush administration has failed to get to the bottom of the abuses. | |
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Jeanne D'Arc: While we're waiting for Seymour Hersh — Rolling Stone and the Sunday Herald are covering the abuse of children at Abu Ghraib. Tom Tomorrow: You can read the rest here. Mary InLosGatos: Rolling Stone has published an extensive piece on this drawing from the Taguba annex. Reading this report is enough to make me sick. |
Norbizness: (6) Rolling Stone magazine, of all places, begins to flesh out a few of the disturbing prison abuse report details only hinted at by Sy Hersh. Oliver Willis: Abu Ghraib Again — Jesus H. The Secret File of Abu Ghraib [snipped quote] The people that did this, the people that... |
Campaign Dogged by Terror Fight NYT — Permalink BOWLING GREEN, Ohio, Aug. 1 - John Kerry was supposed to spend Sunday traveling through small-town Ohio and Michigan, going to church and talking at rallies. But by afternoon, his campaign was also searching northern Ohio for a secure telephone line so Mr.... | |
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Hei Lun: Here's what he said: [quote] "I am concerned that every time something happens that's not good for President Bush, he plays...[end quote] Hugh Hewitt: The New York Times quotes Howard Dean being paranoid on CNN yesterday, in one of the most revealing outbursts from the left in months. Will Collier: For one, Howard Dean looks like an utter fool today (not that this was a surprise to anybody outside the Bush-is-Hitler... |
Zachary Roth: Apparently, a "paranoid" Howard Dean, "speaking for the Moore wing of the Dems," told CNN yesterday: "I am concerned... Aaron @LiquidList: One possibility is that the Bush-Cheney campaign can grab headlines whenever it wishes, particularly at times when Kerry-Edwards is dominating the news. Gregory Djerejian: The Democrats Take on the Latest Terror Alert — Check this NYT article out. |
Pakistani-U.S. Raid Uncovered Terrorist Cell's Surveillance Data WaPo — Permalink The fresh intelligence that led to yesterday's extraordinary terror alert comes from documents discovered after Pakistani and U.S. forces broke up an al Qaeda cell in Gujrat, Pakistan, eight days ago, U.S. intelligence officials said yesterday. | |
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Nick Confessore: ONE BATTLE WON IN THE WAR ON TERROR. AND THE WAR? This Washington Post write-up is scary. Cori Dauber: It all began with the take down of a cell in Gujrat, Pakistan last week. QD @SouthernAppeal: Terror Warnings: The Washington Post has more details on the intelligence that provoked the heightened terror warnings. |
Hugh Hewitt: The Washington Post details the intelligence that led to yesterday's alert hike. Betsy Newmark: The information garnered from this catch of the Al Qaeda operative in Pakistan is really scary. |
Captured Qaeda Figure Led Way to Information Behind Warning NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 - The unannounced capture of a figure from Al Qaeda in Pakistan several weeks ago led the Central Intelligence Agency to the rich lode of information that prompted the terror alert on Sunday, according to senior American officials. | |
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Jan Haugland: Perhaps even more important was the unannounced capture of al-Qaeda computer engineer Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan, arrested... Steve M.: And this is from the #2 Times story on the plot today: The unannounced capture of a figure from Al Qaeda in Pakistan... Will Collier: Major New York Times story this morning about how the capture of a Pakistani "computer geek" led to Sunday's unusually... |
Joe Gandelman: The Terrorist Security Alert Dilemma — The heightened security alert (gotten from information contained in the computer... Robin Burk: The New York Times is reporting that this information came, at least in part, as a result of the unannounced capture of... Cori Dauber: Update: The Times has additional details. |
| Also: KJL | |
Interview With Senators Kerry, Edwards; Interview With Howard Dean; Interview With Robert Byrd CNN — Permalink THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED. WOLF BLITZER, HOST: It's noon in Washington, 9 a.m. in Los Angeles, 7 p.m. in Jerusalem, 8 p.m. in Baghdad. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks very much for joining us for "LATE EDITION." | |
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Chuck Currie: Here is what Governor Dean actually said: BLITZER: We're also following the terror threat level here in the United... Jesse Taylor: Problem is, of course, that what he said was the exact opposite of that. |
Jon Henke: He does this through the highly advanced method of "checking the transcript".... "The question is, do I believe this is being fabricated? Gregory Djerejian: I'd ask a reasonable person to read the entire transcript and then consider my original contention (emphasis added) that... |
Race Dogged by Terror Fight By / NYT — Permalink BOWLING GREEN, Ohio, Aug. 1 - John Kerry was supposed to spend Sunday traveling through small-town Ohio and Michigan, going to church and talking at rallies. But by afternoon, his campaign was also searching northern Ohio for a secure telephone line so Mr.... | |
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Jan Haugland: We should at least hope this is the case, but Howard Dean is anything but responsible these days. Tom Maguire: From the Monday front-pager, "Race Dogged by Terror Fight", by Messrs. Howard Kurtz: Yesterday's umpteenth Tom Ridge Alert is impacting the campaigns, says the NYT: "John Kerry was supposed to spend... |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: But if the Bush Administration warns about a terror threat, it is accused of playing politics: [snipped quote] Remember... Robin Burk: Why the Threat Alert Was Raised — Over the weekend, Howard Dean suggested that the Bush Administration's recent... |
Kerry's Arafat Yes-Man By / Front Page Magazine — Permalink Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry's newly appointed Middle East advisor, Martin Indyk, has been working for years to garner American support for Yasser Arafat and his terrorist regime. | |
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McQ: Indyk, per Front Page Magazine, is best known "for working for years to garner American support for Yasser Arafat and his terrorist regime." Allah: If you're wondering what being "respected in the world" might entail, David Bedein and Shmuley Boteach will fill you in. Charles Johnson: Kerry's Arafat Yes-Man — David Bedein has a sobering piece for those who want to believe, in spite of all evidence, that John F. Kerry is pro-Israel. |
Deacon: David Bedein in FrontPageMagazine calls out John Kerry's newly appointed Middle East advisor, Martin Indyk. Ed Driscoll: Read More With regards to Israel, David Bedein writes: "Democratic Presidential nominee John Kerry's newly appointed... |
'Finish the Job' By / Opinion Journal — Permalink Over a month into sovereignty, and Iraq still continues to generate a flood of bad news, at least as far as the mainstream media are concerned. Foreign workers keep getting kidnapped and occasionally executed; terrorist bombs continue to explode throughout Baghdad and other cities, although the victims are now overwhelmingly Iraqi civilians. | |
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Stefan Beck: It couldn't be clearer that this is pushing things in an "onward and upward" direction. Don't believe it? Pejman Yousefzadeh: CHRENKOFF CHALLENGES CONVENTIONAL WISDOM (AGAIN) Read all about it. Jesse Taylor: The Life And Times Of Salmon, Idaho — I'm always a little bit weirded out when people who are presumably pro-Israel and... |
Jan Haugland: Iraq is more than bomb blasts — Australian blogger Arthur Chrenkoff has written another great summary of good news from Iraq. Bird Dog: A picture of Iraq — Ask yourselves this question: Which coverage provides a wider and more complete—and ultimately... Michael DeBow: For a round-up of recent good news from Iraq, read Arthur Chrenkoff on OpinionJournal today. |
| Also: Cori Dauber, The Big Trunk, Arthur Chrenkoff, Andrew Olmsted | |
Gallo's blue moves on Sunset NY Daily News — Permalink Call out the tow trucks: A 60-foot black-and-white billboard showing Chloe Sevigny pleasuring Vincent Gallo was unveiled Saturday on Hollywood's Sunset Blvd. The steamy and controversial ad, plugging a notorious scene in the upcoming "X-Rated Adults Only" flick "The Brown Bunny," which opens next month, went up near the famed Chateau Marmont Hotel. | |
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Liz Cox Barrett: The (New York) Daily News reports today that film actor Vincent Gallo, among other things, "will attend the Republican... Atrios: Hollywood Values — Looks like we know where the Heart and Soul of Republican America is: "Call out the tow trucks: A... |
Steve M.: The people who secure our nation get a couple blocks in Brooklyn while the fags and spics get Fifth Avenue... |
The Kerry Doctrine By / WaPo — Permalink Someday, when the passions of this election have subsided, historians and analysts of American foreign policy may fasten on a remarkable passage in John Kerry's nomination speech. | |
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C. D. Harris: The Wrong Man For The Time — Robert Kagan examines a critical piece of John "Weeble" Kerry's acceptance speech - the... Tom Maguire: My Brief Stint As A Kerry Apologist — Robert Kagan peers at "The Kerry Doctrine", and I say it's about time - this has... Glenn Reynolds: ROBERT KAGAN: [snipped quote] Read the whole thing. |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: Robert Kagan takes John Kerry's acceptance speech before the Democratic National Convention and tears it into shreds Matthew Yglesias: Michael Kinsley. Democrats are great — just check the numbers. Robert Kagan. Kerry's bad, bad, bad! Henry Louis Gates. Charles Johnson: The Kerry Doctrine — In his DNC speech, John F. Kerry said: The United States of America never goes to war because we want to; we only go to war because we have to. |
| Also: Gene @HarrysPlace, McQ, Cori Dauber, Betsy Newmark | |
No Convention Bounce For Kerry CBS News — Permalink (CBS/AP) The Democratic convention did not generate a bounce for the ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards but apparently solidified the slim lead the pair held going into Boston, a CBS News poll finds. | |
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C. D. Harris: And now he's got Howard Dean out there trafficking in conspiracy theories, thus keeping the barking moonbat Democratic... |
Glenn Reynolds: "I DON'T CARE WHAT HE SAID:" KERRY REPUDIATES HOWARD DEAN: [snipped quote] Good for him. |
Bush Calls for New Intelligence Director By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - President Bush urged creation of a national intelligence director Monday to coordinate the war on terrorism but without the sweeping powers for hiring, firing and spending at the CIA , FBI and other agencies as recommended by the Sept. 11 commission. | |
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Moe Lane: That was pretty much my first reaction to this story: "WASHINGTON - President Bush (news - web sites) urged creation of... James Joyner: Bush Calls for New Intelligence Director — AP - Bush Calls for New Intelligence Director "President Bush on Monday... |
Smash: Intelligence Reform — BUSH ANNOUNCED HIS PLAN to overhaul national intelligence agencies Monday, AP reports. Jeralyn Merritt: Bush to Appoint Intelligence Czar — President Bush announced today he will follow the recommendations of the 9/11... |
Poll: No Bounce For Democrats CBS News — Permalink (CBS/AP) The Democratic convention did not generate a bounce for the ticket of John Kerry and John Edwards but apparently solidified the slim lead the pair held going into Boston, a CBS News poll finds. | |
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Mark Kleiman: That seems to have changed in the weekend CBS News poll: While President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney held a 47... Steve Soto: CBS News Poll, July 30-August 1 (Previous results in parentheses) Kerry/Edwards 49% (49%) Bush Cheney 43% (44%) Zogby... |
Chris Bowers: For me, it is all about the two-way, registered voter trial heats: ABC 940 RV, 7/30-8/1, MoE 3 (7/22-25 results) Kerry... Taegan Goddard: Update: A new CBS News Poll also finds the convention "did not generate a bounce" for Kerry but "apparently solidified the slim lead the pair held going into Boston." |
The Dragon Stirs By / TCS — Permalink For the decade after the Cold War, the United States military strategy was built around a scenario involving two nearly simultaneous major regional conflicts with Iraq and North Korea. Much derided by analysts throughout that period, the doctrine was formally abandoned with the September 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review. | |
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James Joyner: TCS: The Dragon Stirs — My long-awaited article on China, "The Dragon Stirs," is in today's TCS. Steven Taylor: Big Trouble with (not so little) China? James Joyner comments in a new TCS piece: The Dragon Stirs. |
Jeff Quinton: Joyner on China & Taiwan — James Joyner has written a rather lengthy article on China and Taiwan at Tech Central... |
'Censorship' whining By / Washington Times — Permalink To hear liberals tell it, free speech is under siege. When crooner Linda Ronstadt imposed her unsolicited fawning views of America-basher Michael Moore on a Las Vegas audience at the Aladdin casino recently, a large portion of that audience did the principled thing: They got up and left. | |
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Charles Johnson: Steven Zak shuts down some more of their free speech in this op-ed for the Washington Times: 'Censorship' whining. The Big Trunk: The right to shriek back — Power Line reader Steven Zak casts a skeptical eye on the complaints of censorship emanating... |
Liz Cox Barrett: Zak reports today that he has "personally met one major television star." Betsy Newmark: Steven Zak explains for morons like Elton John why we're not suffering from an epidemic of censorship. [snipped quote] Read the rest. |
Report: Zarqawi Trying to Get Message to Bin Laden Fox News — Permalink WASHINGTON — Jordanian terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (search), believed responsible for a series of attacks, kidnappings and beheadings in Iraq, has been trying to communicate with Al Qaeda leader Usama bin Laden, a senior defense official tells FOX News. | |
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Steven Taylor: May it be so — Report: Zarqawi Trying to Get Message to Bin Laden [snipped quote] If true, this is a fairly big deal, as... |
KJL: ZARKAWI TO OSAMA COURIER — This is the link to the story from earlier. I've heard and found nothing futher, though, so don't know if it pans out. |
Reports That Led to Terror Alert Were Years Old, Officials Say NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Aug. 2 -Much of the information that led the authorities to raise the terror alert at several large financial institutions in the New York City and Washington areas was three or four years old, intelligence and law enforcement officials said on Monday. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: The New York Times is reporting that the information that al Qaeda may attack specific buildings in New York and Washington is three to four years old. |
Atrios: Howard Dean, He So Crazy — I'm sure Bill Hemmer, Wolf Blitzer, and Judy Woodruff will issue their apologies tomorrow. |
BACK TO REALITY New York Post — Permalink MANY Americans — many New Yorkers — have spent the past year on vacation. Now, with the news yesterday that put America on orange alert (and New York on heightened alert), we've been forced to return from our vacation earlier than we would have liked. | |
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Betsy Newmark: John Podhoretz says that the news of the terrorist plans against specific builiding in New York and Washington are a... Hugh Hewitt: John Podhoretz captures the new focus. |
Michael DeBow: I hope that large numbers of undecided voters will read John Podhoretz's op-ed today, and think seriously about the points he makes. |
Could Kerry slum it in the White House? By / Telegraph — Permalink During their triumphant 1939 tour of Canada, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth took a brief detour south of the border to visit the Roosevelts at Hyde Park. It was the first time a reigning monarch had set foot on American soil and, to mark the occasion, President and Mrs Roosevelt introduced the royal couple to a local delicacy called "hot dogs". | |
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Ed Driscoll: Just keep reading. |
Betsy Newmark: Mark Steyn looks at the failed photo op at Wendy's and wonders if the Kerrys will be slumming in the White House. |
Bush Backs Creation of Intelligence Czar By / WaPo — Permalink President Bush today accepted an independent commission's recommendation to establish an intelligence czar and a new counterterrorism center, but he differed with the panel in deciding that neither of them should work out of the White House. | |
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Kevin Drum: NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTOR...George Bush has decided to accept the 9/11 Commission's recommendation to improve... |
Daniel Drezner: George W. Bush violates the laws of bureaucratic politics — The Associated Press' Deb Reichmann reports that President... |
Targeted Firms Open Under Heavy Security By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - Financial institutions identified as targets of a terrorist plot in three cities opened for business Monday under stepped-up security and defiant words from people who said they won't be cowed by the extraordinary intelligence pointing to a potential attack. | |
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Talking Dog: Monday morning has come, and buildings specifically identified as "terrorist threat targets" (including one... not far... from... me) opened for business. Jeff Jarvis: It's real : The threat is very real, as is the fear, as is the impact on lives. My wife and I sat down last night and reconfirmed our disaster plans. |
Smash: Terror Alert — SECURITY HAS BEEN TIGHTENED around several buildings in and around New York City and Washington DC in... |
Fighting flares around Sadr home BBC — Permalink A woman was killed in clashes in Najaf after US forces surrounded the home of rebel Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. US armoured vehicles cordoned off the Zahra neighbourhood, reports said. The sounds of heavy gunfire, mortar shelling and grenade blasts followed. | |
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Jan Haugland: "Who would have thought... Update: Just as I wrote that, reports came in about US forces surrounding al-Sadr's house. |
Smash: Stay tuned... UPDATE: BBC reports that US troops have withdrawn from the area around Sadr's house, but remain in the city. |
Kerry Leads Bush in Post-Convention Poll WaPo — Permalink Democratic presidential nominee John F. Kerry emerged from his national convention last week with a small lead over President Bush in the race for the White House and improved his standing against the president on both the economy and on who is better qualified to serve as commander in chief, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News Poll. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: In a Washington Post/ABC News Poll, Kerry leads on 50% among registered voters, with Bush on 44%. |
James Martin Capozzola: Kerry Leads Bush in New Poll Polls are yawners, particularly at this time of year, but the latest one I've seen,... |
U.S. Warns of High Risk of Qaeda Attack By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 - The Bush administration on Sunday declared a high risk of terrorist attacks against financial institutions in the New York City and Washington areas after receiving what it described as alarming information that operatives of Al Qaeda had conducted detailed reconnaissance missions at certain sites. | |
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Steve M.: Today's lead story in The New York Times makes that point, but only in paragraph 19: Officials said they hoped that... Cori Dauber: Which may be why so few Democrats are raising questions about this particular alert. Howard Dean aside, of course. |
Matthew Yglesias: A bit frivolous, perhaps, and this is clearly a serious story, but besides noting that I'm kind of freaked out (and... |
Iraq Blames Zarqawi for Bombings; Turk Executed By / Reuters — Permalink BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Iraq accused al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi Monday of carrying out coordinated car bombings at churches that killed at least 11 people, saying the militants wanted to drive Christians out of the country. | |
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Greyhawk: Contrary to earlier speculation, al Qaeda chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi apparently still runs free in Iraq: "Iraq accused... Charles Johnson: Holy Warriors Murder Hostage — Al-Reuters says the mujahideen in Iraq have "executed" one of their Turkish hostages: Iraq Blames Zarqawi for Bombings; Turk Executed. |
Talking Dog: Its only human nature to elevate perceived threats to one's self, and overlook horrors elsewhere, such as Islamist... |
Another F.B.I. Employee Blows Whistle on Agency By / NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, Aug. 1 - As a veteran agent chasing home-grown terrorist suspects for the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mike German always had a knack for worming his way into places few other agents could go. | |
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Norbizness: In any event, if you wanna be considered well-informed in my house, you'd better read this s**t, and then have it... David Neiwert: Now comes a New York Times report that makes the same charge from within the agency: So in early 2002, when Mr. German... Digby: Republican Outreach — Here's an interesting story in the NY Times that links domestic militia groups with Islamic terrorists. |
Xan @Corrente: This guy, with the FBI as it happens, tried to go over a group that fits the not-so-evil profile just perfectly: people... Jeralyn Merritt: Now, there's a second FBI agent who has come forward alleging that the FBI ignored his warnings. "... in early 2002,... |
The Last Word: The Difference Between Them By / Newsweek — Permalink Aug. 9 issue - Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry claims he'll fix American intelligence and make America safer at home and more respected abroad. James P. Rubin, senior foreign-policy adviser to the campaign, sat down in Detroit with NEWSWEEK's Richard Wolffe to explain what would be different under a Kerry administration. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: REMARKABLE — The following exchange in an interview with Kerry foreign policy advisor James Rubin leaves me utterly gobsmacked: [snipped quote] (Emphasis in italics mine.) Charles Johnson: And third ... Kerry's going to give Iran nuclear fuel. Yes, really. One of the findings of the 9/11 Commission concerns Iran and its alleged support for Al Qaeda. |
KJL: KERRY'S PROMISED GIFT TO THE MULLAHS: HE'LL GIVE THEM NUCLEAR FUEL — From a Jamie Rubin interview with Newsweek: "... |
Washington and N.Y. Put on Alert WaPo — Permalink The federal government raised the terror alert level yesterday to orange for the financial services sectors in New York City, Washington and Newark, citing the discovery of remarkably detailed intelligence showing that al Qaeda operatives have been plotting for years to blow up specific buildings with car or truck bombs. | |
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Aaron @LiquidList: Politics: Grabbing Headlines — Did you hear about the latest terror warning alert? It's tough not to consider the possibilities. Hugh Hewitt: How long before the Kerry-Moore Democrats begin to claim that this is all about politics? Oh, it has already started. |
Steve M.: OK — I've read the New York Times story, the Washington Post story, the AP story, the ABC story. |
Dean sees politics in warnings NY Daily News — Permalink The nation's latest terrorism jitters had two former Democratic presidential candidates fighting yesterday over whether the Bush administration is playing politics with terrorism. | |
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Betsy Newmark: I missed wacko statements like this that betrayed the deep hatred in their party. Howard Kurtz: But the former Democratic front-runner is skeptical, reports the New York Daily News: "The nation's latest terrorism... |
Joe Gandelman: It is already under fire from some such as Howard Dean who suggested that this latest announcement, coming days after the Democratic convention, was at least partly political. |
Swiping for Marijuana By / NYT — Permalink HOW to find drugs among 525 adolescents? One way is 525 urine samples. Another is DrugWipe, a hand-held test that identifies nanogram-size (one billionth of a gram) traces of drugs left on surfaces. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: Drug Wipes and the Fourth Amendment — Julian Sanchez of Hit and Run reports on law enforcement's flavor of the month—drugwipes. |
Julian Sanchez: A New York Times piece this weekend reports on a hand-held device called DrugWipe that can detect minute residual particles of the most common illegal drugs. |
US troops surround Najaf home of Shiite militia leader AFP — Permalink NAJAF, Iraq (AFP) - US troops surrounded the home of wanted Shiite Muslim radical leader Moqtada Sadr in the central Iraqi holy city of Najaf, an AFP correspondent witnessed. US armoured vehicles, backed by Iraqi security forces, cordoned off the Al-Zahra neighbourhood, where Sadr's home is located in the eastern part of the city. | |
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Smash: Sadr Under Seige — US AND IRAQI FORCES have surrounded the Najaf residence of radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, AFP reports. |
Soccerdad: Link In a second development US troops surround Najaf home of Shiite militia leader Sadr was a lower level cleric until... |
Al Qaeda Seeks to Disrupt U.S. Economy, Experts Warn NYT — Permalink The five financial buildings in New York, Washington and Newark singled out as terrorist targets were barricaded yesterday behind fences, flanked by armed police officers and otherwise sealed up. | |
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Steve M.: New York Times The answer is obvious: Their guy is Bush. (UPDATE: Apologies for the unwitting echo of Matt Yglesias.) |
Matthew Yglesias: A recent recording showing him parroting White House spin suggests he's a Bush man: [snipped quote] Worthy of Scott McClellan. |
Bush camp solicits race of Star staffer By / Arizona Daily Star — Permalink President Bush's re-election campaign insisted on knowing the race of an Arizona Daily Star journalist assigned to photograph Vice President Dick Cheney. The Star refused to provide the information. Cheney is scheduled to appear at a rally this afternoon at the Pima County Fairgrounds. | |
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Jeralyn Merritt: President Bush, 7/30/01 NOW: "President Bush's re-election campaign insisted on knowing the race of an Arizona Daily... Norbizness: I promise to cover mental breakdowns by campaign staff manifested by the (a) administration of loyalty oaths, (b)... Magpie @PacificViews: According to the Arizona Daily Star in Tucson, officials in Dubya's re-election campaign wanted to know the race of a photographer assigned to photograph VP Dick Cheney. |
Taegan Goddard: Bush Campaign Demands To Know Race of Reporter — "President Bush's re-election campaign insisted on knowing the race of... Kevin Hayden: Profiles in Cowardice — Before permitting an Arizona reporter to interview VP Cheney, they asked the editor what her race was. Xan @Corrente: They are not supposed to get uppity and question their masters, dammit! (via Arizona Star, via Atrios) |
CLERIC HOUSE SURROUNDED Sky News — Permalink US troops have surrounded the home of wanted Shi'ite Muslim radical leader Moqtada al Sadr in the Iraqi city of Najaf, according to reports. US armoured vehicles, backed by Iraqi security forces, cordoned off the Al-Zahra neighbourhood, where Sadr's home is located in the eastern part of the city. | |
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Tim Blair: TRICK OR TREAT — US troops are getting in a little Halloween practice at the home of Moqtada al Sadr. |
KJL: AL SADR HOUSE SURROUNDED? |
What Would Machiavelli Do? By / NYT — Permalink John Kerry, tough-talking war hero, cut an impressive figure at last week's convention, maybe impressive enough to threaten the Republicans' time-honored dominance of the manliness issue - that is, national security. | |
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Mark Kleiman: A decent respect — Robert Wright reads Machiavelli, to good effect: he suggests that the BushCheney approach to foreign... Cori Dauber: This writer, however, is concerned less with the perceptions of allied nations then with the perceptions of Muslims around the world. |
Edward _: "Apparently fear wasn't enough" — That's the epitaph of President Bush's foreign policy suggested by Robert Wright... Ken Masugi: "If George W. Bush is too macho for Machiavelli, then surely John Kerry can make the case that Mr. Bush is too macho for... |
U.S. Forces Clash With Al-Sadr's Gunmen AP — Permalink NAJAF, Iraq — U.S. forces clashed Monday in the holy city of Najaf with gunmen protecting the home of radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr's. One woman was killed and three people were wounded, a hospital official said. The U.S. military had no immediate comment. | |
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Roger L. Simon: Mystery of the Day — Is this... U.S. Forces Clash With al-Sadr's Gunmen... related to yesterday's attack on the churches? |
James Joyner: U.S. Forces Clash With al-Sadr's Gunmen — AP - U.S. Forces Clash With al-Sadr's Gunmen [snipped quote] Interesting. |
Bush wants national intelligence director CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — President Bush said Monday he is asking Congress to create the position of a national intelligence director, to serve as the president's principal intelligence adviser. "We are a nation in danger," Bush said as he referred to the elevated terror levels in three regions of the country. | |
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Captain Ed: Bush Adopts The Expanded Bureaucracy Approach — George Bush announced today that he will implement the key... |
Cori Dauber: I am hugely disappointed that the President just came out in favor of (a modified version of) the two most radical... |
Financial Workers Defiant Despite Threat By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - Financial institutions identified as targets of a terrorist plot in three cities opened for business Monday under stepped-up security and defiant words from people who said they won't be cowed by the extraordinary intelligence pointing to a potential attack. | |
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Tully @Centerfield: With the latest warnings of potential attacks on specific targets within the U.S. comes this: Financial Workers Defiant... |
Captain Ed: UPDATE: The AP reports on security measures being taken on the ground and notes that workers in the area are "defiant"... |
Those Divesting Presbyterians By / TCS — Permalink The Presbyterian Church (USA)'s General Assembly recently adopted a resolution calling for divestment of denominational funds from "multinational corporations operating in Israel." Predictably, the decision generated protests, including charges of anti-Semitism. | |
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Steve Bainbridge: The Presbyterians' Decision to Divest from Israel — My latest TCS column takes the PC(USA) to task for being bad fiduciaries. |
Glenn Reynolds: STEPHEN BAINBRIDGE WRITES about moral self-dealing by pension managers at the Presbyterian Church (USA). |
Poll: No boost for Kerry after convention By / USA Today — Permalink WASHINGTON — The Democratic National Convention boosted voters' perceptions of John Kerry's leadership on critical issues, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll finds. But it failed to give him the expected bump in the head-to-head race against President Bush. | |
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Arthur Chrenkoff: In a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll, Kerry and Bush are stuck at 47% among registered voters and Bush leads Kerry among likely voters by 50% to 46%. Hugh Hewitt: The USA Today/Gallup/CNN poll shows Bush actually picking up ground during the Democrats' big week, and I think the... Steven Taylor: Poll: No boost for Kerry after convention. Indeed, this poll shows a net loss for Kerry-the first such since McGovern in 1972. |
Zachary Roth: A second poll, conducted by Gallup on Friday and Saturday, shows Kerry now trailing Bush by 4 points among likely voters... Howard Kurtz: In a USA Today/CNN poll, Kerry may even have gotten a negative bounce, if the law of physics allows that: "The... Bill Hobbs: A Warning — The Bush administration is warning of specific AL Qaeda terror threats against specific targets in New York... |
| Also: Glenn Reynolds, Rimjob, Mathew @Centerfield, Digby, Charles Johnson, Taegan Goddard, Captain Ed, Mitch Berg, Chris Bowers, The Big Trunk, James Joyner, KJL, Jeralyn Merritt | |
Alcohol sharpens your brain, say researchers By / Telegraph — Permalink It is news guaranteed to raise a cheer among those who enjoy a glass or two: drinking half a bottle of wine a day can make your brain work better, especially if you are a woman. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: . I'm rather worried that the results of this study will be abused: [snipped quote] I don't know what to think of this. Glenn Reynolds: And it appears that he was right: [snipped quote] I'm obviously not drinking enough. I'll have to remedy that. |
Jesse Walker: Smart Drugs — The Telegraph reports: [snipped quote] "Probably" negates? Surely this calls for further research. Andrew Stuttaford: OF COURSE.... From the Daily Telegraph: [snipped quote] More here. |
The mask of altruism disguising a colonial war By / Guardian — Permalink If proof were needed that Tony Blair is off the hook over Iraq, it came not during the Commons debate on the Butler report on July 21, but rather at his monthly press conference the following morning. | |
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Chris Bertram: There's an article in today's Guardian by John Laughland , warning us that the Tony Blair's humanitarian concern about... |
Marcus @HarrysPlace: Now an article in the Guardian goes one step further and informs us that if the West intervenes in Sudan there must be an ulterior motive. |
Al Qaeda Blows up Iraq's Churches on Way to Vatican DEBKAfile — Permalink Al Qaeda's assault on Iraq's Christian churches - the first attack suffered by the Christian minority since the fall of Saddam Hussein - underlined the seriousness of the threat al Qaeda's al Masri Brigades issued against Italy that very morning, Sunday, August 1 in the London Arabic publication, al Quds al-Araby. | |
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Steve Antler: You decide... DebkaFile says (1) US and Baathists are in secret negotiations (who said Bush ignores diplomacy?) and (2) the next church bombing can easily be the Vatican itself. |
Vox Day: Pro-democracy terrorists — Rainer gets it backwards: [snipped quote] The problem isn't that the terrorists and their... |
Death and Deception in Darfur By / WaPo — Permalink SOUTH DARFUR, Sudan — On the morning of July 12, hell descended on the village of Donki Dereisa. Shortly before sunrise, Fatima Ibrahim, 28, awoke to the deafening sound of exploding ordnance falling from the sky. | |
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Eugene Oregon: The Washington Post ran this op-ed over the weekend "Ibrahim told Refugees International about a week after the attack... Glenn Reynolds: MORE ON DARFUR, from the Washington Post. |
Harry @HarrysPlace: Read this report from Sudan From the ditch, Ibrahim witnessed a horrific avalanche of violence that will haunt her for life. |
WHITE HOUSE ANGER AT HOLLYWOOD ELECTION SURPRISE: PARAMOUNT PUPPET MOVIE TO MOCK TERROR WAR Drudge Report — Permalink A new film set for release from PARAMOUNT has raised the pop culture threat levels at the White House — a film which mocks the war on terror and media urgency using puppets, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned. | |
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Jeff A. Taylor: Humor is Not Funny — I had no idea the Bush White House could be isolated from popular culture, but here is some... |
Richard TPD: (Matt Drudge is already telling us how furious the White House is over the movie, so we know it must be good.) |
Post-Convention Polls Mixed on Kerry Bounce Reuters — Permalink WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New polls gave a mixed picture on whether Democratic presidential nominee Sen. John Kerry got a "bounce" from the party's convention, and a CNN-USA Today Gallup poll on Sunday even showed the Democratic ticket trailing the Republicans' among likely voters. | |
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Steven Taylor: And what do you call a negative bounce? A plop? A flat? Post-Convention Polls Mixed on Kerry Bounce. A Baby Bounce? |
C. D. Harris: Dull Candidates Make For Dull Results — It doesn't look like the convention worked out for the Democrats they way they hoped it would: Post-Convention Polls Mixed on Kerry Bounce. |
Presidential Race Remains Close; No Convention Bounce By / Gallup — Permalink PRINCETON, NJ — A new CNN/USA Today/Gallup survey, conducted on Friday and Saturday following the Democratic Convention in Boston, finds that the presidential race remains close, with President George W. Bush receiving 50% support among likely voters, and Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry 47%. | |
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Ace: BREAKING NEWS: Bush Cancels Republican National Convention — Will Give Conventional Hall and TV Time to Kerry Campaign,... Ruy Teixeira: Gallup reports, consistent with the Newsweek data, that Friday was quite a good night for Kerry. |
Nick Gillespie: More details here. Scott Elliott: Thanks! Update: The Gallup Poll wasn't released in time to be included in this week's projection. |
Transcript for August 1 MSNBC — Permalink PLEASE CREDIT ANY QUOTES OR EXCERPTS FROM THIS NBC TELEVISION PROGRAM TO "NBC NEWS' MEET THE PRESS." Guests: Sen. Zell Miller (D-Ga.), Republican convention prime-time speaker, Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.), Democratic convention prime-time speaker, Ron Brownstein, Los Angeles Times, John Harwood, The Wall Street Journal, Gwen Ifill, PBS, "Washington Week" | |
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Ann Althouse: Zell Miller turned in a sharp performance on "Meet the Press" yesterday: "Oh, the Democrats have changed. |
Oliver Willis: Bush Campaign: 9/11 Panel Aided Terrorists — Zell Miller, the senator speaking at the Republican convention and head of... |
Florida knew of voter list problems By / Miami Herald — Permalink TALLAHASSEE - Well before they abruptly discarded it, Florida election officials knew they had significant problems with a database of felons they planned to use in removing voters from the rolls. | |
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Kevin Hayden: Bad data in, bad data out — Bad Glenda Hood: [snipped quote] [snipped quote] Personally, I like my public servants infused with just a wee dose of competence. |
Mary InLosGatos: Remember that the recent Florida felons list had thousands of people on the list that should not have been on it. |
U.S. Warns of Threat to Financial Icons By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON - The federal government warned Sunday of possible terrorist attacks against "iconic" financial institutions in New York City, Washington and Newark, N.J., saying a confluence of chilling intelligence in recent days pointed to a car or truck bomb. | |
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Susan Madrak: Then I came home to read this. [snipped quote] One of my dearest friends works in a Newark skyscraper; I'm not happy at the thought of something happening to her. Talking Dog: Update: For the first time, Secretary Ridge has seen fit to provide what the specific threats are, as revealed by the intelligence "chatter": World Bank and IMF buildings in D.C. |
Jeralyn Merritt: John Kerry Reacts to Homeland Security Alert — Just in by e-mail, here is part of John Kerry's response to today's... Steve Antler: UPDATE I: The alternate initiative just mentioned is now reported as including the IMB and World Bank Buildings. |
Gov't Warns of Threats Against Buildings By / AP — Permalink WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government warned Sunday of possible terrorist attacks against "iconic" financial institutions in New York City, Washington and Newark, N.J., saying a confluence of intelligence over the weekend pointed to a car or truck bomb. | |
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Joe Taylor: Terror Alert #45302291.8 — Government warns of threats against buildings. KJL: TOM RIDGE names buildings that are believed to be targets: Citicorp Bldg in NYC, Prudential Bldg in Newark, N.J. |
James Joyner: UPDATE (1551): AP has a related story, "Gov't Warns of Threats Against Buildings." |
Rwanda inquiry into French role BBC — Permalink Rwanda is to investigate France's alleged role in the mass killing of Tutsis and moderate Hutus in 1994. The Rwandan government said it was setting up an "independent commission charged with assembling the evidence of France's involvement in the genocide". | |
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Eugene Oregon: Other Africa News — Rwanda is creating an "independent commission charged with assembling the evidence of France's involvement in the genocide." Charles Johnson: Rwanda Accuses France of Abetting Genocide — According to the government of Rwanda, one of the countries John F. Kerry... |
Sir George: France made itself a speed bump on the road to removing a genocidal Ba'athist dictator, having propped him up with... |
Official: U.S. to raise terror threat level for Washington CNN — Permalink WASHINGTON (CNN) — U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge will announce Sunday that the threat level in the nation's capital will be raised from yellow (elevated) to orange (high), a government official told CNN. Ridge was scheduled to hold a news conference at 2 p.m. EDT. | |
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Oliver Willis: Today's Terror Alert — It's certainly better to have a targeted terror alert than a blanket warning, and I find Tom... James Joyner: CNN - U.S. raises threat level at key financial sites "The United States on Sunday raised the terrorism threat level... |
Soccerdad: U.S. raises threat level at key financial sites Digby: The Cry Wolf Conundrum — So, they are raising the threat level for DC and NYC. Perhaps they are really hearing something different this time. |
Trade Group to Cut Farm Subsidies for Rich Nations By / NYT — Permalink GENEVA, July 31 - The World Trade Organization agreed Saturday that it would eventually eliminate billions of dollars of farm subsidies for rich nations in a new framework for revising global trade rules aimed at helping the world's poorest people. | |
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Robert Garcia Tagorda: Compare and Contrast — Yesterday, the World Trade Organization agreed, in the words of the New York Times, to... |
Daniel Drezner: UPDATE: Robert Tagorda provides plenty of links, including this New York Times story and the Kerry campaign's fatuous press release on the matter. |
Breaking the Silence NYT — Permalink "Go into any inner-city neighborhood," Barack Obama said in his keynote address to the Democratic National Convention, "and folks will tell you that government alone can't teach kids to learn. | |
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Richard Reeb: Seconding Obama and Cosby: Character Counts — Henry Louis Gates Jr., filling in for vacationing Thomas Friedman at the... |
Fontana Labs: Henry Louis Gates jr taking over from Ehrenreich in Thomas Friedman's space. |
Kerry Envisions No More U.S. Troops for Iraq By / Reuters — Permalink DUBLIN, Ohio (Reuters) - Democratic White House challenger John Kerry said on Sunday he did not anticipate sending more American troops to Iraq and promised a fresh start with U.S. allies "burned" by President Bush. | |
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Michael Young: On Sunday, asked about whether he would send more troops, Kerry replied: "I don't envision it. Charles Johnson: Kerry: No More Troops For Iraq — John F. Kerry says he "doesn't envision" sending any more troops to Iraq, because when... |
Pejman Yousefzadeh: SO MUCH FOR "HELP IS ON THE WAY" — Those who believed that a Kerry Presidency would somehow spell relief for American... |
A.C.L.U. to Withdraw From Charity Drive By / NYT — Permalink The American Civil Liberties Union withdrew from a federal charity drive yesterday, rejecting the $500,000 it expected to receive through it this year. The move was prompted, the civil liberties group said, by an article in The New York Times yesterday. | |
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Mary InLosGatos: Today, the ACLU withdrew from the program with several members angrily saying that they were subverting their own... |
Tom Maguire: The NY Times Gets Results — The ACLU has thrown in their cards one day after being called out by the NY Times. |
Blasts Rock Iraqi Churches Fox News — Permalink BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two car bombs rocked Baghdad in a matter of minutes on Sunday in what was apparently a coordinated attack on the city's Christian community. At least 20 people were wounded. An Iraqi security source says the attacks were the work of homicide bombers, Reuters reported. | |
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Cori Dauber: BASTARDS — Bastard sons of bitches. You know, I don't think I have anything else to say. |
Jeff Goldstein: Because Abu Ghraib, 3 — Islamic terrorists target as many as 6 Christian churches in Iraq; Tom Ridge to hold a rare... |
Finding Biases on the Bus By / NYT — Permalink AS John Kerry celebrates his nomination with a coast-to-coast bus trip (this may be the first time the word "celebrates" has appeared so close to "coast-to-coast bus trip") conservatives are complaining about his good press. | |
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Tim Blair: HOPE IS ON THE WAY ... OUT — Contrary to my earlier post, it looks as though John Kerry has in fact gone backwards:... Taegan Goddard: Bias on the Bus — During the Democratic National Convention, the New York Times conducted an informal poll of 153 political journalists to see which candidate they preferred. C. D. Harris: (8/2): Of course, he's doing far, far better in this survey: "When asked who would be a better president...,... |
Jason Van Steenwyk: The results of an informal poll of journalists conducted by the New York Times: "When asked who would be a better... Glenn Reynolds: But this can't be good news. But hey, Kerry's way ahead in this poll! Steven Taylor: I can't completely martyr myself." —Ben Affleck. Here' the backstory, from the NYT article: [snipped quote] Hat tip: Dave Wissing. |
| Also: Steve Lovelady, Andrew Stuttaford, KJL, Betsy Newmark, Ann Althouse | |
Can He Float Your Boat? By / NYT — Permalink BOSTON — So here's the race: the Skipper takes on the Sheriff. Talk about drowning in metaphor. At least Teresa Heinz Kerry kept her subliminal message simple: She wore a ketchup-red suit to introduce the second senator in her life. | |
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Matthew Yglesias: Henry Louis Gates. Both sides are right! (See, I am a good substitute Tom Friedman). Maureen Dowd. I don't care for boats. KJL: THE KERRY CAMP AS GILLIGAN'S ISLAND — Didn't they get stuck for years going nowhere? Glenn Reynolds: MAUREEN DOWD is comparing the Kerry Campaign to Gilligan's Island, with Kerry in the role of Skipper: "Given that the... |
Steven Taylor: Maureen Dowd: "The Democratic convention, which was focus-group-dial-a- metered to death, needed a dose of dramamine." Mike Hendrix: Glenn notes that the hopeless Maureen Dowd is today comparing the Kerry campaign to Gilligan's Island, and says that "Gilligan's Island" should be beyond politics. James Joyner: Maureen Dowd was, too, according to Matt Drudge: [snipped quote] UPDATE (8/1 1321): Here's the actual column: Can He Float Your Boat? |
Bush Planning August Attack Against Kerry NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, July 31 — President Bush's campaign plans to use the normally quiet month of August for a vigorous drive to undercut John Kerry by turning attention away from his record in Vietnam to what the campaign described as an undistinguished and left-leaning record in the Senate. | |
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Josh Marshall: According to the Times, this will culminate at the GOP convention where Kerry will be portrayed as "an object of humor and calculated derision." Oliver Willis: Bush's Campaign of Hate — He can't help himself. Bush can't run on his record, so he has to tear things down. Digby: The New York Times reports today that: "Mr. Bush's advisers plan to cap the month at the Republican convention in New... |
Howard Kurtz: And the Bush crowd is sending a message, eagerly scooped up by the New York Times: "President Bush's campaign plans to... Jeanne D'Arc: Four days of Kerry bashing — Interesting that after months of whining and calling every criticism of Bush unfair, the... Hugh Hewitt: The New York Times reports that President Bush plans an aggressive August campaign against John Kerry's non-record in the Senate. |
| Also: Joe Gandelman, Steven Taylor | |
Big Apple Terror? ABCNEWS — Permalink N E W Y O R K, July 31, 2004 — ABC News has learned that federal and New York City officials have received credible intelligence that al Qaeda has been plotting to carry out suicide attacks on corporations based in the city. | |
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Pejman Yousefzadeh: Well, this report tells us that sadly, that's just not the case: "ABC News has learned that federal and New York City... Michele Catalano: B) Sources: Al Qaeda Plotting to Attack New York City Corporations If you picked "A" then you most likely believe that... KJL: THE SUICIDE ATTACKS TO COME IN NYC? |
Susanna Cornett: The dangerousness of loose borders is clear: "Intelligence sources say al Qaeda plans to move non-Arab terrorists across the border with Mexico. Charles Johnson: NY Target of Suicide Attacks — Sources: Al Qaeda Again Targeting New York. (Hat tip: Ethel.) Michelle Malkin: ABC News first reported last night on an al Qaeda threat to New York City corporations. |
| Also: Steve Antler, Jeff Jarvis, Susan Madrak, Allah | |
A Baby Bounce? By / Newsweek — Permalink July 31 - Coming out of the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Sen. John Kerry now holds a seven-point lead over President George W. Bush in a three-way race with independent Ralph Nader, according to the latest NEWSWEEK poll. Three weeks ago, Kerry's lead was three points. | |
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Thomas Lang: The Newsweek web exclusive published on Saturday, July 31, revealed what it termed a "baby bump," with Kerry's support growing by 4 percent over his pre-convention number. Zachary Roth: At Donkey Rising, Ruy Teixeira takes issue with Newsweek's new poll, which the magazine presents as an attempt to measure Kerry's post-convention bounce. John Hawkins: Ahem...Bloggers (1) — The Pros (0) From Newsweek: "Coming out of the Democratic National Convention in Boston, Sen... |
Greg @BeggingToDiffer: THE MISSING BOUNCE — According to the latest polls, the Democratic Convention delivered either an unexpectedly small bounce, or none at all to John Kerry's campaign. Howard Kurtz: Nevertheless, Newsweek has a new survey (which a couple of experts I talked to think was flawed) that sees a minimal... Mathew @Centerfield: Newsweek: Kerry/Edwards 49% Bush/Cheney 42% Nader 3% Convention bounce: Kerry gained 4 points, which according to... |
| Also: Hugh Hewitt, KJL, Joe Gandelman, Digby, Barbara O'Brien, Betsy Newmark, Atrios, Oliver Willis, Captain Ed, Quiddity, The Big Trunk, Ruy Teixeira, Libertarian, James Joyner, Tim Blair, Taegan Goddard, Rimjob | |
Taliban Fighters Increase Attacks NYT — Permalink WASHINGTON, July 31 — Attacks against American troops in Afghanistan and Afghan security forces and civilians have increased steadily in the past several months, posing new hurdles for reconstruction and political stability efforts, American commanders and Afghan officials say. | |
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Norbizness: (3) Developments from the mythical and fantastical Kingdom Of Afghanistan include the European importation of enough... Cori Dauber: And, as always, your faithful correspondent has a few thoughts. |
Matthew Yglesias: Progress — In Iraq and Afghanistan. |
Why Kerry will have our support Observer — Permalink If George Bush's presidency has not convinced us America is a foreign country, last week's Democrat convention at Boston left no room for doubts. Democrats may be first ideological cousins to New Labour, but their presidential candidate, John Kerry, opened his... | |
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Captain Ed: Today he received his first newspaper endorsement; unfortunately, the newspaper is the European and far-left Observer: "Kerry insists he will be a different President. Andrew Stuttaford: A KERRY ENDORSEMENT — No real surprise but the London Observer (sister paper of the Guardian) has endorsed John Kerry. |
Mitch Berg: Ed also touches on the story, with an embarassingly bad piece from London's left-wing Observer: "I'd love to see the Kerry campaign trot that signal out on the campaign trail. Kevin Drum: A KERRY ENDORSEMENT....John Kerry has won his first newspaper endorsement: [snipped quote] OK, it's from the Observer in Great Britain, but still. |
Hunting Mr. Democrat By / NYT — Permalink The Four Seasons Hotel in Austin is a peach-colored confection, a favorite gathering spot for the Texas capital's Republican power elite. George W. Bush celebrated his Super Tuesday primary victories there in 2000. | |
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Steve M.: Two quotes from the New York Times Magazine article about Republican John Thune's Senate race against Tom Daschle: In... Betsy Newmark: The New York Times Magazine has a long piece on the South Dakota Senate race. |
Jerome Armstrong: The NYT's today, Hunting Mr. Democrat, is a must-read for anyone following the SD Senate contest, and includes the... |
SPICY HEINZ ADDS A DASH OF UNEASE By / New York Post — Permalink Botox. Billionaire. Prenup. Private plane. Eccentric. "Mama T." Sexy. Cheeky. "Shove it!" Hardly typical images for a would-be first lady, but ketchup heiress Teresa Heinz Kerry, 65, is one of a kind — as she showed last week with an all-about-me convention speech that mixed feminism, globalism and New Age lingo. | |
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John Hawkins: I hadn't seen any poll numbers on the first ladies, but Deborah Orin managed to find numbers somewhere... "Mrs. Bush... |
Betsy Newmark: Deborah Orin sums up the Democratic worries about Teresa. |
Saudi royal family lambasts Michael Moore for twisting the truth in his 9/11 film Telegraph — Permalink The Saudi royal family has launched a bitter attack on the American film-maker Michael Moore over his claims that the Bush administration secretly smuggled a number of high-ranking Saudi nationals out of the US in the immediate aftermath of the September 11 attacks. | |
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The Dark Window: Selling A War — Buried in a Telegraph (UK) article about Michael Moore and the Saudi Royal Family: Prince Turki said... |
KJL: THE ENEMY OF MY ENEMY IS STILL MY ENEMY — Saudi royal family takes on Michael Moore. |
Kerry fails to convince press BBC — Permalink Despite a strong performance at the Democratic Party's convention in Boston, US presidential challenger John Kerry has still to convince the world's press that he has a good chance of beating George W Bush in November's elections. | |
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Jan Haugland: Little to choose between — Commentators in Europe and the Middle East are heartbroken to discover that John Kerry is... |
Betsy Newmark: Lucianne links to this roundup of European press opinion on Kerry. They want their boy to do better. |
10 Questions For Tommy Franks By / Time — Permalink General Tommy Franks commanded the U.S. military during its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq before retiring last summer after 38 years in uniform. He surveys his career—and the wars he led as head of the U.S. Central Command—in a new book, American Soldier, due out this week from ReganBooks. | |
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Daniel Drezner: Mark Thompson has a Q & A with Franks in Time that suggests a, dare I say it, complex take on the Bush Administration. |
Betsy Newmark: Time has an interview with Tommy Franks. It sounds like he's angling for an invitation to the GOP convention. |
ACLU Withdraws From U.S. Charity Program By / AP — Permalink NEW YORK - The ACLU withdrew Saturday from a program that allows federal workers and military personnel to contribute to charities because it requires participating nonprofit groups to check their employees' names against a government watch list of suspected terrorists. | |
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Tom Maguire: The absurd ACLU spin is recycled by the AP. Xan @Corrente: They just threw half a million smackers in Johnny Asscrack's fat f**king face rather than bow down before his current... |
Charles Johnson: ACLU: Terrorists Welcome — The ACLU has withdrawn from a charity program, turning their backs on more than $500,000 in... |