BUSH STARTS 10-DAY VACATION: SHORTER SUMMER BREAK REFLECTS POST-KATRINA CRITICISM: President Bush arrived here Thursday evening to begin a 10-day stretch at his Prairie Chapel ranch, his longest planned period away from Washington during this summer vacation season. Bush's scheduled week and a half in Texas is a far cry from last year's working vacation, which was shaping up as the longest presidential retreat in more than three decades before it was rudely cut short by Hurricane Katrina after nearly a month. Washington Post: Bush Starts 10-Day Texas Vacation

SEN. CLINTON SAYS RUMSFELD SHOULD RESIGN: Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton on Thursday called on Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld to resign, hours after excoriating him at a public hearing over what she called "failed policy" in Iraq. "I just don't understand why we can't get new leadership that would give us a fighting chance to turn the situation around before it's too late," the New York Democrat and potential 2008 presidential contender said in an interview with The Associated Press. "I think the president should choose to accept Secretary Rumsfeld's resignation." Tennessean: Sen. Clinton says Rumsfeld should resign

GOP BID ON WAGES, ESTATE TAX IS BLOCKED: Senate Democrats blocked a Republican bid to combine a tax cut for the wealthy with a wage increase for the working poor last night, adding a volatile economic issue to this fall's congressional campaigns. GOP leaders fell three votes short of the 60 needed to cut off debate and bring the package to the Senate floor, where it was considered certain to pass on a simple-majority vote. Republicans said Democrats will pay a price in November, contending that most Americans support the bill's call for an increase in the minimum wage and deep cuts in the estate tax. Washington Post: GOP Bid On Wages, Estate Tax Is Blocked

SENATOR FAULTS BID TO CLASSIFY REPORT ON IRAQ: The Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee lashed out at the White House on Thursday, criticizing attempts by the Bush administration to keep secret parts of a report on the role Iraqi exiles played in building the case for war against Iraq. The chairman, Senator Pat Roberts of Kansas, said his committee had completed the first two parts of its investigation of prewar intelligence. But he chastised the White House for efforts to classify most of the part that examines intelligence provided to the Bush administration by the Iraqi National Congress, an exile group. New York Times: Senator Faults Bid to Classify Report on Iraq

IN CONNECTICUT RACE, BLOGGERS ARE THROWING CURVES AND SPITBALLS: Senator Joseph I. Lieberman was on a roll, skewering Ned Lamont, his wealthy antiwar opponent in Tuesday's Democratic primary in Connecticut, for owning stock in the military contractor Halliburton. But within days, Mr. Lieberman was having to explain his own investments. An online blog called Firedoglake revealed that Mr. Lieberman owned shares in mutual funds that held Halliburton stock. Other blogs latched onto the July 20 item, Lamont aides alerted reporters and soon it had found its way into local newspapers, tempering Mr. Lieberman's attack. New York Times: In Connecticut Race, Bloggers Are Throwing Curves and Spitballs

APPEALS COURT REJECTS GOP'S BID TO REPLACE TOM DELAY ON BALLOT: A federal appeals court on Thursday rejected Republican efforts to replace Tom DeLay on the ballot, effectively ruling that the party's nominee in November will either be him or nobody. The bipartisan decision was a major victory for Democrats, who believe Mr. DeLay's ethics problems make him vulnerable in the fall. Republicans said they will appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Dallas Morning News: Appeals court rejects GOP's bid to replace DeLay on ballot

HARRIS FOR SENATE ALERT: If signatures of support are what she's after, Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) has found the right guy to help her. Her new - fourth to be exact - campaign manager for her Senate bid, Bryan Rudnick, was involved in a petition controversy in Massachusetts in 2001. Roll Call: Harris for Senate Alert

BLACK POLITICIANS SEE NEW LANDSCAPE IN L.A. POLITICS: It's time to reach outside formerly 'safe' districts, veteran lawmaker Dymally and others say. In the final moments of a celebration to mark his 80th birthday, Assemblyman Mervyn M. Dymally (D-Compton) looked out over an emptying hotel ballroom and offered a thought about the future of black politics in Los Angeles. "There are no safe black districts anymore," he said. "We have to look at politics differently now." LA Times: Black Politicians See New Landscape in L.A. Politics

SCHWARZENEGGER TO PLAY PING PONG CHAMPION: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has agreed to play an 80-year-old pingpong champion who said he would donate to the Republican's re-election campaign only if he agreed to a match. "He should practice a bit," said Byng Forsberg, who has won nearly every table tennis trophy available to the senior set. "It'd be nice to have the ball go back and forth a few times." Boston Globe: Schwarzenegger to play ping pong champion

RIVAL TARS EMANUEL FOR CLOUT LIST LINKS: Forty of the more than 200 people who walked precincts gathering signatures to put Democratic U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel on this year's ballot have names that also appear on the secret clout list uncovered during the federal trial of Mayor Daley's patronage chief Robert Sorich. Chicago Sun-Times: Rival tars Emanuel for clout list links.

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U.S. PLANS FOR CUBA POWER SHIFT: After waiting nearly half a century for Fidel Castro to relinquish power, Washington is warily monitoring the provisional transition in Havana, confident it has plans in place to assist pro-democracy groups in Cuba and to head off any mass exodus from the island. As the 10th administration to square off against Mr. Castro, the Bush administration has made no secret of its contempt for the Cuban leader, establishing the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba in 2003 and then ratcheting up the pressure last year by creating the Office of Cuban Transition within the State Department. New York Times: U.S. Says It Is Prepared for Transition in Cuba

TWO BUSHES, TWO MIDEAST APPROACHES: When they first met as United States president and Israeli prime minister, George W. Bush made clear to Ariel Sharon he would not follow in the footsteps of his father. The first President Bush had been tough on Israel, especially the Israeli settlements in occupied lands that Mr. Sharon had helped develop. But over tea in the Oval Office that day in March 2001 -- six months before the Sept. 11 attacks tightened their bond -- the new president signaled a strong predisposition to support Israel. New York Times: Bush's Embrace of Israel Shows Gap With Father

A LONG WAY TO GO IN IRAQ: A flailing Iraq reconstruction effort that has been dominated for more than three years by U.S. dollars and companies is being transferred to Iraqis, leaving them the challenge of completing a long list of projects left unfinished by the Americans. While the handover is occurring gradually, it comes as U.S. money dwindles and American officials face a Sept. 30 deadline for choosing which projects to fund with the remaining $2 billion of the $21 billion rebuilding program. More than 500 planned projects have not been started, and the United States lacks a coherent plan for transferring authority to Iraqi control, a report released Tuesday concludes. Washington Post: Much Undone In Rebuilding Iraq, Audit Says

DEMS WORRIED ABOUT VOTER TURNOUT: Top Democrats are increasingly concerned that they lack an effective plan to turn out voters this fall, creating tension among party leaders and prompting House Democrats to launch a fundraising effort aimed exclusively at mobilizing Democratic partisans. At a meeting last week, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) criticized Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean for not spending enough party resources on get-out-the-vote efforts in the most competitive House and Senate races, according to congressional aides who were briefed on the exchange. Pelosi -- echoing a complaint common among Democratic lawmakers and operatives -- has warned privately that Democrats are at risk of going into the November midterm elections with a voter-mobilization plan that is underfunded and inferior to the proven turnout machine run by national Republicans. Washington Post: Democrats Scrambling To Organize Voter Turnout

9/11 PANEL DOUBTED PENTAGON'S STORY: Some staff members and commissioners of the Sept. 11 panel concluded that the Pentagon's initial story of how it reacted to the 2001 terrorist attacks may have been part of a deliberate effort to mislead the commission and the public rather than a reflection of the fog of events on that day, according to sources involved in the debate. Washington Post: 9/11 Panel Suspected Deception by Pentagon

CONN. RACE LEAVES DEMOCRATS CONFLICTED: As Senator Joseph I. Lieberman battles to retain his seat in Connecticut, some factions within the national Democratic Party are quietly preparing to campaign against the three-term senator if he loses the primary on Tuesday and runs as an independent in the general election in November, numerous Democrats said yesterday. Although Mr. Lieberman has attracted support from several of his Senate colleagues -- and former President Bill Clinton appeared with him in the state last week -- only a handful have pledged to remain loyal to him if he loses to his antiwar challenger, Ned Lamont, and mounts an independent campaign. New York Times: In Lieberman Fight, Some Faithful Feel Torn

FDA NOMINEE FACES QUESTIONS ON MORNING-AFTER PILL: Two years ago, the Food and Drug Administration indicated that only those 16 and older could safely use the morning-after birth control pill without first getting a doctor's prescription. Last year, the agency drew the line at 17. This week, the FDA proposed another change: women 18 and older. Those shifting age requirements prompted questions Tuesday for acting FDA Commissioner Andrew C. von Eschenbach, who faced skeptical Democratic lawmakers during a Senate hearing on his nomination to be the agency's permanent chief. A vote by the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee has not been scheduled and is not expected until next month at the earliest. Los Angeles Times: FDA Nominee's Future Hinges on Pill

RUSTY GOP INCUMBENTS BEEF UP CAMPAIGNS: With the political winds blowing squarely against the GOP, several senior lawmakers are facing unusually serious challenges that have forced them to dust off campaign tools that, in some cases, are a bit rusty. In California, Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-Roseville) has agreed to debate a Democratic opponent for the first time in more than a decade. Rep. Richard W. Pombo (R-Tracy) has expanded his campaign staff beyond what had been a tight inner circle -- and spent more money in the process. Los Angeles Times: House GOP Incumbents Try New Stride to Beat Midterm Challenges

EX-AIDE SAYS KATHERINE HARRIS DECEIVED STAFF: U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris received a grand jury subpoena from federal investigators and concealed the fact from top campaign advisers hired to help her deflect negative publicity, her former campaign manager has disclosed. "Yes, there was a subpoena. She didn't tell us," said Glenn Hodas, Harris' third and most recent campaign manager. He said he learned of it in June while reviewing invoices from powerhouse Washington lawyer Benjamin J. Ginsberg and confronted his boss. Tampa Tribune: Ex-Aide: Harris Hid Subpoena

INCUMBENTS SURVIVE IN KANSAS: Republican Jan Beemer got her second chance Tuesday night, and in two other Kansas House races, voters overwhelmingly favored the incumbents -- Don Myers, R-Derby, and Delia Garcia, D-Wichita. Beemer's primary victory sets up a repeat of the 2004 race she lost for the same 86th District seat, facing the same opponent, Democrat Judy Loganbill. The Wichita Eagle: Beemer wins 86th District primary; Myers and Garcia retain House seats

EVOLUTION ROLLS ON AFTER VOTE: Conservative Republicans who approved new classroom standards that call evolution into question lost control of the State Board of Education in Tuesday's primary election. A victory by pro-evolution Republican candidate Jana Shaver over conservative Republican Brad Patzer, who supported the standards treating evolution as a flawed theory, meant conservatives would at best have five of 10 seats on the board. AP on Yahoo! News: Evolution opponents lose in Kan. primary

REPRESENTATIVES UNITE TO REDRAW TEXAS MAP: Texas Reps. Henry Bonilla (R), Henry Cuellar (D) and Lamar Smith (R) have banded together to recommend a new Congressional map to a federal court, hoping to limit the fallout new district boundaries could have on their political futures. With the Supreme Court ruling in late June that the 23rd district violates the Voting Rights Act and ordering it redrawn, Bonilla has the most to lose. But the ripple effect of adjusting Bonilla's seat could be wide depending on the fix ordered by the court --and several Members could find themselves running in radically reshaped districts on Nov. 7. Roll Call: Texas Maps Get Day in Court

BATTLE OF THE BULGE: President Bush's doctors pronounced him healthy and in better shape than most men his age Tuesday, but the president himself seemed a little upset about packing on some extra pounds. Doctors treated a small precancerous lesion on his left arm but indicated it was nothing serious. They told him to use sunscreen and wear a hat. Washington Post: Bush Passes Physical, but Adds 5 Pounds