"He's the biggest celebrity in the world," a narrator tells viewers in John McCain's latest TV ad, which features footage of paparazzi darlings Britney Spears and Paris Hilton mixed with shots of McCain's Democratic rival, Barack Obama.
"But is he ready to lead?" the narrator asks. The ad will air on national cable and in "key states," according to McCain's campaign.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) deflected questions about whether he's being considered as a possible running mate for John McCain.
"I have the greatest job in the world, being governor of the state of Florida," he said on MSNBC Wednesday when asked whether the McCain campaign has vetted him.
He later said, "I can't discuss the process."
Crist endorsed McCain during his state's crucial early primary in January, which McCain won.
The House Judiciary Committee has voted to hold former White House adviser Karl Rove in contempt of Congress for ignoring a subpoena requesting his testimony.
The 20 to 14 vote went along party lines.
Rove's testimony is sought in the committee's investigation of the politicization of the Department of Justice, specifically the prosecution of former Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman (D).
In a memo to the committee, summarizing Rove's refusal to testify, Chairman John Conyers (D-Mich.) wrote, "Mr. Rove has refused even to appear before the Committee and assert whatever privileges that he believes may apply to his testimony, relying on excessively broad and legally insufficient claims of "absolute immunity" - never recognized by any court - in declining to appear."
Ranking member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) said the vote "disregarded" the facts of Rove's involvement with the Department of Justice.
"There is no credible evidence to support a contempt resolution against Karl Rove. Every individual involved in the claimed incident
Offering an interesting solution to the nation's energy crisis, President Bush joked that a wind farm should be set up around Washington, D.C. to catch all the "hot air" coming from the nation's capital.
"I believe we're in a transition period from an era of hydrocarbons to new technologies," Bush explained during a speech at a welding plant in Euclid, Ohio Tuesday.
"Part of the mix has got to be solar and wind power," Bush said. "There's a lot of wind -- they ought to have the biggest turbine farm in Washington, D.C., where there's not only a lot of wind there's a lot of hot air."
The line was met with loud laughter and applause before Bush turned to advocating for clean coal and expanded drilling.
If Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) attends the Republican National Convention, he may be greeted by a 30-foot inflatable rat.
Ed Anderson, founder of the website DumpJoe.com, said he's readying the rat, often used by unions to call out workers who cross picket lines, for a Lieberman visit to the GOP convention in St. Paul, Minn., the Stamford Advocate reports.
Anderson said he's miffed by the decision of Lieberman, the former Democratic vice presidential nominee, to back John McCain in this year's presidential race. Lieberman has not said whether he will attend the convention in September, but his spokeswoman said he doesn't have plans to go.
"If Joe Lieberman is going to be out there, then we're going to have our say," Anderson said. "You can't do what Joe's doing. There's rules to the game."
Below is a photo of an inflatable rat, courtesy of Ann Althouse's flickr page.
Just hours after the indictment of Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) Tuesday, the campaigns of at least three Republican senators running for re-election this year said they would return donations from received from the 7-term senator.
Sen. Gordon Smith's (R-Ore.) campaign said it would give the $10,000 received from Stevens to a charity.
The campaigns of Sens. John Sununu (R-N.H.) and Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) also said it would donate the $10,000 each had received from Stevens to charity.
Democratic candidates for Senate called on incumbents to give return the money from Stevens, given through his Northern Lights Political Action Committee, after hearing the news of his indictment.
"These charges [against Stevens] cast an ethical cloud on money he raised from oil companies and others, some of which he passed on to Gordon Smith," said Oregon Democrat Jeff Merkley in a statement.
From the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona where John McCain had a piece of skin removed from his cheek Monday:
"Senator McCain visited the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, yesterday for a routine check of his dermatological health. The biopsy that was performed did not show any evidence of skin cancer. No further treatment is necessary."
Music producer Phil Spector wore a large button that read "Barack Obama rocks" Tuesday while appearing at a court hearing deciding the fate of a critical piece of evidence in his retrial for murder.
The white pin appeared on his left side and the words were written in multiple bright colors.
Spector still faces charges related to the death of actress Lana Clarkson, who was found dead in legendary music producer's house five years ago.
The hearing was set to determine whether the testimony of five women who claim Spector harassed them with guns would be included in the retrial. Spector's attorneys are hoping to bar what they call the prosecution's "most damaging evidence."
This is the second odd endorsement Obama has received that involves criminal proceedings. Last week, a convicted murderer endorsed Obama shortly before he was put to death in Mississippi.
John McCain celebrated NASA's 50th anniversary today and blasted his opponent's plan to scale back space funding in favor of education, implying Obama's plan would abandon NASA at a critical juncture, as the Space Shuttle is scheduled to retire in 2010.
"Fifty years ago today, President Eisenhower signed the bill that launched the United States on the magnificent journey to space discovery and exploration," McCain said. "In doing so, he sent a powerful message to the world that the United State would harness its creativity, inventiveness and drive to lead all others into this most distant frontier. Since that time, Presidents of both parties have remained steadfast in guaranteeing U.S. leadership in space."
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-Alaska), indicted Tuesday by a federal grand jury on charges that he failed to reports corporate gifts he received, said that he will prove that he's innocent.
Stevens, in a statement, also said that he is temporarily giving up his vice-chairmanship of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee and his positions as the ranking member of the appropriations subcommittee on defense and the Homeland Security subcommittee on disaster recovery.
Here is his full statement:
I have proudly served this nation and Alaska for over 50 years. My public service began when I served in World War II. It saddens me to learn that these charges have been brought against me. I have never knowingly submitted a false disclosure form required by law as a U.S. Senator.
In accordance with Senate Republican Conference rules, I have temporarily relinquished my vice-chairmanship and ranking positions until I am absolved of these charges.
The impact of these charges on my family disturbs me greatly.
I am innocent of these charges and intend to prove that.
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