The New York Times documents Fred Thompson’s first visit to Iowa. It sounds like people are excited but confused:

“I’m a big fan, and I heard he was here — I was like, ‘Oh, my gosh!’ ” said Melanie Reichwald, a graduate student from Iowa City, who was among a throng of cheerful onlookers. “I like his performances. But I

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Earlier today, Karen asked where I thought things were headed with Gonzales. The truth is, it’s hard to think of anything at this point that could make him leave. He’s been abandoned by moderates on both sides of the aisle, and he’s repeatedly given some of the most astonishing and embarrassing Congressional testimony in recent …

As it happens, my last day on Swampland will be my last day as president of People For the American Way. I’m stepping down after eight years to become President Emeritus. You can read my announcement here.

I have enjoyed every moment of defending the Constitution and expanding PFAW and its related programs to better defend and promote …

The New York Times gets it exactly right in today’s editorial on the Padilla conviction:

It is hard to disagree with the jury’s guilty verdict against Jose Padilla, the accused, but never formally charged, dirty bomber. But it would be a mistake to see it as a vindication for the Bush administration’s serial abuse of the American

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Hey, you know who that whole “being in New York on 9/11 makes Giuliani TEH AWESOME” logic appeals to? None other than noted political theorist Adam Sandler. The Bushes had Toby Keith, Rudy gets “Opera Man.” It all makes sense now. Especially having seen this:

Giuliani x2

WHY must you ever be gone-y

2 more months-ah

10 more weeks-ah

we

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• When Gonzales said John Ashcroft was “lucid” and “did most of the talking,” what he really meant was that Ashcroft was “feeble, barely articulate, clearly stressed.” No perjury here! [WP]

• Giuliani’s time at Ground Zero? Twenty-nine hours. In fairness to the mayor, that many television interviews would wear anyone out. What’s …

FBI Director Robert Mueller’s notes (redacted text linked here) serve largely to confirm, contemporaneously, the accounts of that now-famous 2004 scene at then-AG John Ashcroft’s hospital bedside that he and former Deputy Attorney General James Comey offered in earlier congressional testimony. And they don’t shed any light on what …

Yesterday, a federal court of appeals in California heard oral argument in a case, Hepting v. AT&T, involving the Bush administration’s unauthorized domestic spying program. Here’s how two of the judges reacted to the arguments made by administration lawyers that no court can review the legality of the program because doing so would …

I almost posted this clip from the Daily Show in the Jumble, but decided to go with the funnier one. This clip — and interview with Cheney biographer Stephen Hayes — has its moments, but it takes a decidedly serious and person turn towards the end, when Stewart starts demanding that Hayes explain why the Bush administration attacks war …

The Family Research Council, founded by James Dobson, has announced its plans for a “three-day ‘Values Voter Summit’ this fall, complete with a presidential straw poll.” People For the American Way staff dropped in on last year’s “Values Voters Summit” where they learned, among other things, that the