Today’s edition of quick hits.
* There’s been some confusion about Libby’s post-commutation probation. The law says probation is supposed to begin after a prison sentence ends; Bush Law says Libby should be on probation in lieu of a prison sentence. Judge Walton was unclear whether to follow actual law or the White House’s version, so today, the White House told Walton that Libby should be considered on probation, effective “immediately.”
* Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) is apparently getting a little nervous about the federal investigation into his dealings with Veco, an Alaskan oil-services company. “The worst thing about this investigation is that it does change your life in terms of employment potential,” Stevens told the AP. “It doesn’t matter what anyone says, it does shake you up. If this is still hanging around a year from November, it could cause me some trouble.”
* There are five key Democratic war-related amendments on tap in the Senate, each of which will be considered as part of the debate on the defense authorization bill, which is now being debated. Spencer Ackerman put together a terrific summary detailing each measure, including their chances for passage.
* A week after half the staff of the National Hurricane Center signed a petition calling for his ouster, NHC Director Bill Proenza has left his position. The petition said the center’s “effective functioning” is at stake as the Atlantic hurricane season heads toward its peak. Proenza is reportedly still employed with the center, but the nature of his new position is unclear.
* WSJ: “As the Bush administration pushes ahead with North Korea disarmament talks, U.S. strategists also are beginning to study possible ways to formally end more than 50 years of Cold War hostilities between Washington and Pyongyang. Senior U.S. officials say they are exploring how to implement a peace accord to officially end the 1950-53 Korean War. They say the U.S. hopes to start discussions with North Korea as soon as year end.”
* Joe Conason explains why, if the GOP were really prepared to embrace the Iraq Study Group’s recommendations, it would mark a “radical break from Bush’s policies.”
* GOP state lawmakers forced a partial government shutdown today in Pennsylvania.
* ABC: “Already stretched thin by the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Army is having a hard time finding new recruits. ABC News has learned the Army missed its recruiting goal in June for the second month in a row. It’s the first time in more than two years that the Army has missed recruiting goals for two consecutive months. The figures are especially worrisome because the summer is traditionally the peak recruiting season.”
* Right-wing attacks on the Live Earth concerts were not just wrong; they were pathetic.
* He’ll probably skate by, but the fact that Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki is facing a contentious no-confidence vote in the Iraqi parliament suggests the political stability in Iraq is getting worse, too.
* Sean Wilentz explains that Dick Cheney’s performance as a House member during the Iran-Contra scandal told us quite a bit about what was to come.
* One in four senior positions at the Department of Homeland Security are unfilled? Seriously?
* Ari Melber explains what “OpenLeft,” a new project from Matt Stoller, Chris Bowers, and Mike Lux, has in store for the political world.
* Nicholas Kristof explains how Bush has “turned away” from Darfur. “For years, Mr. Bush’s aides have discussed whether he should give a prime-time speech on Darfur to ratchet up the pressure; he still hasn’t. Laura Bush just completed a four-nation swing through Africa, but she didn’t include a visit to any of the areas affected by the Darfur crisis.”
* Colin Powell, five-and-a-half years too late, insisted that he spent two-and-a-half hours trying to talk Bush out of invading Iraq in 2003. Nice try, general.
* And finally, for a while, Crawford, Texas, was enjoying the fruits of high tourism, as visitors wanted to check out the president’s hometown. When Bush lost the nation’s trust, tourists stopped visiting. “In 2004, gross retail sales in Crawford totaled $2.6 million. They fell to $2 million in 2006, down by more than 20 percent.” Residents say that “the president’s sagging popularity is at least partly to blame for the slump in visitors.”
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.