Top Items:

Robert Novak Hospitalized — Robert Novak was admitted yesterday to a Boston hospital where he was diagnosed with a brain tumor. In a written statement given to his publisher, Novak said: — “On Sunday, July 27, I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. I have been admitted to Brigham …
Discussion:
Taegan Goddard's …, protein wisdom, American Power, Think Progress, The Other McCain, NewsBusters.org and TIME.com
RELATED:

Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak says he has brain tumor — Biopsy set for later today — Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak said today he has been diagnosed with a brain tumor but says that, “God willing,” he plans to be back at work soon. — Novak said he was diagnosed Sunday …
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo, Hot Air, Top of the Ticket, The LA Times President …, The Reaction, Gawker, Simply Left Behind and TMZ.com

Columnist Robert Novak has brain tumor — BOSTON - Syndicated columnist and former “Crossfire” host Robert Novak has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and is suspending his journalistic work. — Novak issued a statement Monday saying the tumor was found Sunday after he had been rushed …


Police: Accused shooter hated liberals, expected to be killed — 4-page letter outlines frustration, hatred of ‘liberal movement’ — Please download the latest version of Adobe Flash Player, or enable JavaScript for your browser to view the video player.
Discussion:
Out & About Newspaper, Confederate Yankee, On Deadline, Orcinus, INSTAPUTZ, Open Left and Wake up America
RELATED:


Police: Killer targeted liberal church — 2 people killed, seven hurt, after man opens fire in Tennessee church — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The man accused of shooting dead two people and wounding seven others at a church apparently selected the congregation because of its liberal social stance, the city's police chief said Monday.
Discussion:
Firedoglake, Shakesville, MSNBC, Pam's House Blend, The Moderate Voice, WBIR-TV, Queen of Spain Blog and pandagon.net

Neighbors: Accused shooter everyone's friend, questioned Christianity — The man accused of a mass church shooting this morning was described by his Powell neighbors as a helpful and kind man, but one who had issues with Christianity. — Jim D. Adkisson, 58, has been charged …
Discussion:
Associated Press, michellemalkin.com, CBS News, Clayton Cramer's BLOG, JONATHAN TURLEY and Sweetness & Light

Right Wing Blogosphere Completely Ignores Domestic Terrorism In Knoxville
Discussion:
Facing South

Be Afraid. Please. — Life is full of disappointments. — Early Friday, I went to the Real Clear Politics Web site, as I do every morning, for my fix of political news and commentary. I perked up when I saw the third entry on the list of that day's notable articles — “No. 44 Has Spoken.”
RELATED:

Closer Than He Should Be — In the contest for president, Barack Obama is a magnetic candidate supported by a disciplined, well-organized campaign. John McCain seems wooden, with a campaign that appears to be in shambles. Yet Obama's lead in the polls over McCain is fragile because he so far …
Discussion:
Marc Ambinder, Commentary, Gateway Pundit, No More Mister Nice Blog, Political Machine and Maggie's Farm


Justice Officials Repeatedly Broke Law on Hiring, Report Says — Former Justice Department counselor Monica M. Goodling and former chief of staff D. Kyle Sampson routinely broke the law by conducting political litmus tests on candidates for jobs as immigration judges and line prosecutors …
RELATED:

Gonzales Aides Broke Laws in Hiring, Report Concludes
Discussion:
ACSBlog

Conyers, Sánchez Consider Criminal Referral Concerning DoJ …


Go take a hike, injured vets tell nervy Cheney — WASHINGTON - Vice President Cheney's invitation to address wounded combat veterans next month has been yanked because the group felt his security demands were Draconian and unreasonable. — The veep had planned to speak to the Disabled American Veterans …


FIRST THOUGHTS: ANALYZE THIS — From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, and Domenico Montanaro — *** Analyze this: We've now crossed the 100-day mark before Election Day, and the chattering class is going to obsessed with two things this week: 1) over-analyzing the veepstakes and 2) over-analyzing any overseas bounce for Obama.
RELATED:

Two former Bush Advisers Now Advising Obama, Will Appear at Economic Meeting Today

MCCAIN: RATCHETING UP THE RHETORIC
Discussion:
New York Times, The New Republic, MyDD, TPM Election Central, Cogitamus, Campaign Diaries and The Washington Independent

Double Entendre Kisses Off MoveOn's Youth Moblization Effort — MoveOn.Org claims this is the first political ad to air on Comedy Central: — “I've been living with it for a while now.” — No, not the syph. — It's “hope.” The guy on the right is Rider Strong from “Boy Meets World.”
RELATED:

McCain Has Mole-Like Skin Removed — ABC News' Bret Hovell reports: John McCain had a small piece of mole-like skin removed from his right temple this morning at a regularly scheduled dermatological checkup in Phoenix. — “It was just a precautionary measure,” a campaign aide …
Discussion:
TIME.com
RELATED:

U.S. Deficit to Reach Record $490 Billion in 2009 — The U.S. budget deficit will widen to a record of about $490 billion next year, an administration official said, leaving a deep budget hole that will constrain the next president's tax and spending plans.
RELATED:


Bonnie Fuller on Team Obama's Tabloid Strategy — Portraying Barack and Michelle as Brangelina Is Working — It's official. The Obamas are just like us. With their latest PR move — being photographed as a family for this week's People magazine cover story titled “The Obamas At Home” …

U.S. Headed for ‘Heightened Alert’ Stage — Exclusive: Major Events on the Horizon Prompt a Surge in Anti-Terror Efforts — Government officials have been quietly stepping up counterterror efforts out of a growing concern that al Qaeda or similar organizations might try to capitalize …


The Streisand interview — “She sometimes answers questions by e-mail,” said one of Barbra Streisand's trusted confidants, when asked if the star would consent to an interview with Politico. Streisand, who occasionally posts political statements on her own website, rarely does print Q …