memeorandum: Set the iPhone free! (Guardian)

8:20 AM ET, July 11, 2007

Top Items:

Brian Ross Reports / The Blotter:

Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel — Brian Ross Reports: — Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here. — The White House has convened …

E.A. Torriero / Chicago Tribune:

Homeland Security chief warns of 'Increased risk' — Chertoff bases 'gut feeling' on history, al-Qaeda statements. — Fearing complacency among the American people over possible terror threats, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff said in Chicago Tuesday that the nation faces …

Discussion: State of the Day

Katherine Shrader / Associated Press:
Officials Worry of Summer Terror Attack

Discussion: Democrats.com

Larisa Alexandrovna / At-Largely: The Devil and the Ouija Board

John Amato / Crooks and Liars:
Chertoff should be fired

Discussion: The Reaction

Updates:

Madam: Vitter a client at Canal Street brothel — U.S. Senator David Vitter visited a Canal Street brothel several times beginning in the mid-1990s, paying $300 per hour for services at the bordello after he met the madam at a fishing rodeo that included prostitutes and other politicians …

Discussion: Main and Central, Your Right Hand Thief, The Sleuth, DownWithTyranny!, Mercury Rising and Washington Times

David Corn:

A Blast from Vitter's Past — From my "Capital Games" column at www.thenation.com.... In the fall of 1998, David Vitter felt compelled to weigh in on the national debate over the possible impeachment of President Bill Clinton for lying about sex. Vitter was not yet a member of Congress; he was a Republican state representative.

Oyster / Your Right Hand Thief:
When whores violate our southern borders

Discussion: Gentilly Girl, Riehl World View, USA Today, The Democratic Daily, Unqualified Offerings, New Orleans Times-Picayune and The Blotter

Dan / Riehl World View:
A Note On Janette Maier

Discussion: skippy the bush kangaroo and Washington Times

Baseball Crank:

POLITICS: Next Week's Wire Story — News flash: not being a party man not the best way to become the party's man — After today's news, I have to look down the road to next week's headline: … It's sad, actually. John McCain is a patriot and a true American hero, and for all his flaws …

Discussion: Associated Press and Heading Right

Adam Nagourney / New York Times:
Two of McCain's Senior Advisers Leave Campaign

Discussion: The Politico, Firedoglake and DownWithTyranny!

The Politico:
McCain drain: Inside the implosion

Discussion: Carry on America and New York Times

Reuters:

Bush writes Gaddafi on prospects for improved ties — WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President George W. Bush has written to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi saying further strengthening of ties hinges on Libya's adherence to agreements under which it scrapped weapons of mass destruction programs, the White House said on Tuesday.

Discussion: The Corner and Associated Press

Jim Rutenberg / New York Times:

Former Bush Aide Will Answer Some Questions — Sara Taylor, the former White House political director, has agreed to answer some questions as a "willing and cooperative private citizen," during testimony about the United States attorney firings last year when she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.

Discussion: Daily Kos and The Next Hurrah

Gardiner Harris / New York Times:

White House Is Accused of Putting Politics Over Science — Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional committee today that top officials in the Bush administration repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.

Discussion: The Moderate Voice, The Democratic Daily, cab drollery, The Atlantic Online, Universal Health, Hullabaloo, Tennessee Guerilla Women, Daily Kos and The Reaction

White House:

President Bush Visits Cleveland, Ohio — Fact Sheet: A Day in Cleveland: President Bush Calls on Congress to Act to Fund Vital Priorities — THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, Fred. Thanks for coming. Thanks for having me. It's a smart marketing tool — you know, all the cameras. (Laughter.)

Discussion: Think Progress, Power Line, Universal Health, Blogs for Bush, ShopFloor.org and Daily Kos

Guardian:

Set the iPhone free! — Apple's iPhone is more than just the hottest gadget of the summer: it's an indicator of internet freedom, and the signals it's sending aren't good. — This summer's hottest high-tech gadget is Apple's iPhone. But along with its slick design and slicker marketing campaign …

Discussion: Wetmachine, The Coffee House, USA Today, The Huffington Post, Save the Internet Blog and Tim Worstall

Election Central:

Lieberman Launches Unprovoked Attack On Harry Reid On Right-Winger Bill Bennett's Show — What a guy. This morning, Joe Lieberman went on right-winger Bill Bennett's syndicated radio show — and in those safe conservative confines, Lieberman went out of his way to bash Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.

Discussion: DownWithTyranny!, Daily Kos, Crooks and Liars and TBogg

Ed Husain / Newsweek:

Opinion: Osama's Army of Doctors, Engineers — A one-time jihadi looks at why so many radical Islamic groups include doctors and engineers—and how their involvement threatens the religion itself. — WEB-EXCLUSIVE GUEST COMMENTARY — Britain is a nation in shock.

Discussion: Ali Eteraz, The Belmont Club and USS Neverdock

Guardian:

Pope says Protestants cannot have churches — John Hooper in Rome and Stephen Bates — Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.

Discussion: Daily Kos and ECHIDNE OF THE SNAKES

Washington Post:

In GOP, Growing Friction On Iraq — Senate Dissenters Chafe at Tactics Of Party Leaders — Facing crumbling support for the war among their own members, Senate Republican leaders yesterday sought to block bipartisan efforts to force a change in the American military mission in Iraq.

Discussion: Obsidian Wings and MyDD