Election Recycling: Difficult to Refute Edition
•On 9/11,Ricewas scheduled to give a speech outliningBushpolicies for missile defense, rogue nations, and Iraq's weapons of terror; no mention of al Qaeda, bin Laden, or terrorist groups. [ WP ]
• Bushvows "horrific" attacks on Americans in Iraq will not bring a withdrawal.McClellan: "The best way to honor those who have lost their lives is to continue to show resolve in the face of these cowardly, hateful acts." [WP ]
• Clarkewants his words and voice removed from MoveOn.org ad: "I'm trying hard to make this not a partisan thing but a discussion of how we stop terrorism from happening in the future keep this on a policy issue. I don't want this to become any more emotional or personal than it has already." MoveOn.org has no plans to alter the ad. [ LAT ]
•Second complaint to the FEC byBC04and the Republican Party is meant to force a quicker decision about an alleged conspiracy of soft money betweenKerryand liberal organizations such as MoveOn.org and the Media Fund. Republican lawyer saysKerry"has become the largest beneficiary of illegal soft money from wealthy special interests since the campaign finance reforms of the Watergate era." FEC staffer calls the move "ridiculous." [ WP and NYT ]
• Bush'slawyer allegedly called a GOP member of the 9/11 commission the day ofClarke'stestimony. [ WP ]
• Rice's9/11 testimony will keep focus on national security, a benefit forBush.[ WT ]
•Following 9/11 controversy, swing voters still swing. Said one, "It comes down to the guy I'm going to trust for the next four years." [ NYT ]
•For Missouri and Ohio, election hinges on economy. [ LAT and USAT ]
•Perfect timing and controversy makesClarke'sbook a bestseller. [ LAT and USAT ]
•Democrats criticize alleged use of Treasury to critiqueKerrytax plan. [ NYT and LAT ]
•Advocate ads from 527s are difficult to refute. [ WP ]
• Kerrydoesn't recall attending meeting of Vietnam Veterans Against the War that called for assassinations of Senators. [ BG ]
• Hughesbegins book tour; set to earn $15,000/month fromBC04beginning in August. [ NYT ]
• Kerrypromises to return to campaigning "faster than you can blink" after uneventful shoulder surgery; Republicans take the spotlight. [ WP and NYT ]
•House votes against the White House, for pay parity between civilian and military workers. [ WP ]
[So what's your point? Mike Blake/Reuters ]