Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The ACLU’s lawsuit on warrantless-search programs may have been booted by the 6th Circuit today, but the case isn’t necessarily dead: “We are currently reviewing all of our legal options, including taking this challenge to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime it is now more important than ever for Congress to engage in meaningful oversight.”
* Examiner: “The U.S. command in Baghdad this week ballyhooed the killing of a key al Qaeda leader but later admitted that the military had declared him dead a year ago. A military spokesman acknowledged the mistake after it was called to his attention by The Examiner. He said public affairs officers will be more careful in announcing significant kills.”
* How bad have things gotten for John McCain? ABC reported today that Ron Paul now has more cash on hand ($2.4 million) than the former GOP frontrunner ($2 million). Paul told George Stephanopoulos that his campaign is on a better trajectory than McCain’s. “I think some of the candidates are on the down-slope, and we’re on the up-slope,” Paul said.
* Who’s the next GOP senator to publicly distance themselves from the president’s war policy? The AP speculates with a list that includes Sens. Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Ted Stevens of Alaska, Pat Roberts of Kansas, Michael Enzi of Wyoming, James Inhofe of Oklahoma and Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
* Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) sounds pretty serious about this whole censure resolution idea: “When Congress returns from the 4th of July recess, I will file a Congressional resolution censuring President George W. Bush for his egregious and politically motivated commutation of Scooter Libby’s prison sentence.”
* Some news reports indicated earlier today that Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. had completed its purchase of Dow Jones & Co., owner of the Wall Street Journal. Shortly thereafter, Dow Jones denied the rumors.
* There haven’t been too many public criticisms of the Libby commutation from Republican lawmakers, so I suppose it was encouraging that Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-Neb.) called the decision “unfortunate.”
* Larry Kudlow thinks the Chinese are trying to kill us: “Is China trying to poison us, our kids, and our pets? Are Beijing’s communist hardliners waging some clever, clandestine, economic/military war against U.S. citizens? Now, before flatly dismissing the idea, consider that China freely admits a lengthy record of safety woes…. Could this be a calculated Communist strategy? Is China trying to poison our pets and our kids?”
* Shortly before the midterm elections, NBC News political director Chuck Todd predicted several times that if Dems reclaimed the majority, Bush’s “approval rating will be over 50 percent by the Fourth of July next year.” That didn’t quite work out. Will NBC follow up?
* Following up on the earlier item about impeachment polls, Ana Marie Cox notes that support for Bush impeachment is higher now than support for Clinton impeachment in 1998 (when he was, you know, impeached).
* ARG’s impeachment poll also showed that 69% of Americans disapprove of Bush commutating Libby’s prison sentence.
* Some guy on MSNBC this afternoon: Terrorism one of the “unintended consequences of universal healthcare.” These folks really need help.
* How Putin played Bush in Kennebunkport.
* Even stories about John Edwards’ health care plan have to reference his hair.
* Bill Kristol slips a little further from reality.
* And finally, today is the birthday for George W. Bush and the Dalai Lama. This has no significance whatsoever.
Anything to add? Consider this an end-of-the-day open thread.