Daily Briefing: A Rising Tide?
Recent good news, including the killing ofAbu Musab Al-Zarqawiand the non-indictment of Karl Rove, may liftPresident Bush'spoll numbers, allowing the White House and the GOP to get off the defensive. [ WP ; WP ]
Democrats pick Vietnam War veteran and former Reagan Navy SecretaryJames Webbto run against Sen.George Allen(R-VA). [ WP ; WP ; NYT ]
At the Take Back America conference, liberal activists boo and hiss at Sen.Hillary Rodham Clinton(D-NY), after she reiterates her opposition to a timetable for Iraq withdrawal. Sen.John Kerry(D-MA) denounces the war, to cheers and applause. [ WP ]
Rep.Patrick Kennedy(D-RI) pleads guilty to driving under the influence of prescription medication, gets a year of probation. [ WP ; NYT ]
Rep.Alan Mollohan(D-WV), currently under federal investigation, acknowledges numerous mistakes in his financial disclosure forms. [ WP ; NYT ]
Fraudulent claims for Hurricane Katrina and Rita assistance may total as much as $1.4 billion; FEMA paid for "season football tickets, a tropical vacation and even a divorce lawyer." [ WP ; NYT ; USAT ]
Tropical Storm Alberto weakens before making landfall, failing to reach hurricane strength; "a splash in the panhandle." [ WP ; NYT ; USAT ]
Core consumer prices rose against last month, making another rate hike from the Fed likely. [ WSJ ]
Family of Guantanamo prisoner questions whether he committed suicide. [ WP ]