(2002 White House Photo)

The New York Times presents some excerpts from "Dead Certain", a new book on President Bush that hits the stands Tuesday. Author Robert Draper (grandson of Leon Jaworski) got Bush to cooperate with his effort and had several long interviews with him.

On his plans after the White House:

“I’ll give some speeches, just to replenish the ol’ coffers.”

....“We’ll have a nice place in Dallas,” where he will be running what he called “a fantastic Freedom Institute” promoting democracy around the world.

On Iraq:

“I’m playing for October-November.” That is when he hopes the Iraq troop increase will finally show enough results to help him achieve the central goal of his remaining time in office: “To get us in a position where the presidential candidates will be comfortable about sustaining a presence,” and, he said later, “stay longer.”

The Washington Post, in its article about the book, reports that it was (now)Chief Justice John Roberts who suggested Harriet Miers for the Supreme Court. Rove was opposed but nobody listened to him, and Harriet didn't want the job but Bush and the first lady talked her into it. [Update: A later version of the WaPo article includes a dennial from Roberts that he recommended Miers to Bush.

On getting rid of Rumsfeld:

Raw Story reports that Sen. Arlen Specter said on Fox News Sunday that Sen. Larry Craig should use the time between now and Sept. 30 to withdraw his plea and fight the case and not resign as planned.

Specter notes that Craig didn't resign, only stated his intention to step down.

"I'd still like to see Senator Craig fight this case. "He left himself some daylight Chris, when he said that he intends to resign in 30 days. I'd like to see Larry Craig go back to court, seek to withdraw his guilty plea and fight the case.

"I've had some experience in these kinds of matters since my days as Philadelphia district attorney, and on the evidence Senator Craig wouldn't be convicted of anything, and he's got his life on the line and 27 years in the House and the Senate and I'd like to see him fight the case 'cause I think he could be vindicated."

RS also provides the video.

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Apologies to Atrios, via Joe Sudbay, President Bush asks:

[T]he fundamental question is, is the world better off as a result of [Bush's] leadership?”

After picking myself off the floor after reading the ridiculous question from Bush, I answer "are you freaking out of your mind?" The leadership of a newborn would have been better than Bush's. Worst President in history.

Sen. Larry Craig has retained Washington lawyer Billy Martin to determine his options in his Minnesota disorderly conduct case.

Martin most recently represented NFL player Michael Vick in his dog-fighting case. He also represented Monica Lewinsky's mother in her grand jury appearance.

Martin says:

Martin said, "The arrest of any citizen raises very serious constitutional questions, especially when that citizen says that he is innocent and pled guilty in an attempt to avoid public embarrassment.

Senator Craig, like every other American citizen, deserves the full protection of our laws. He has the right to pursue any and all legal remedies available as he begins the process of trying to clear his good name."

Update: Transcript is here while Crooks and Liars has the video.

Update: 12:30 pm. He's walking to the podium, his wife and family are with him. The Governor is present too.

First and foremost, let me thank my family for being with me (family claps loudly.) For any public official to be standing with Larry Craig at this point in time is a humbling experience.

He's grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Idaho. He's proud of his record and accomplishments. He chose to serve because he loves Idaho.

To Idahoans, his staff and family: I apologize for what I have caused. I'm deeply sorry. I have little control over what people choose to believe.

To pursue my legal options as I continue to serve Idaho would be too distracting. There are many challenges facing Idaho now and the people deserve someone who can devote 100%.

With sadness and deep regret I will resign Sept. 30th. (Big cheers.) He hopes to allow a smooth and orderly transition of his staff.

I apologize for being unable to serve out a term to which I have been elected.

He and his wife are humbled by the tremendous outpouring of support he's received from everyone (lists different groups of people.)

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Bump and Update: Norman Hsu has made his $2 million bond.

Update: The Justice Dept. will investigate Mr. Hsu's fundraising activity. Guess DOJ isn't that broke after all.

******
Original Post:
Norman Hsu Surrenders, Held on $2 Million Bail

Democratic contributor and bundler Norman Hsu has turned himself in on the California Arrest Warrant. Bond is $2 million (the amount on the outstanding warrant) and a hearing will be held Sept. 5 at which the Judge may reduce it to $1 million.

I won't be surprised if he bonds out today on the $2 million. Then again, maybe he'd rather do a holiday weekend in jail than fork over an extra mil.

He went to court with his California attorney and his publicist. He's got a great lawyer, James Brosnahan. Brosnahan's last high profile client was "American Taliban" John Walker Lindh.

More of Hsu's political donations are being returned:

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The Idaho Statesman reports that Sen. Larry Craig will make an announcement about his future Saturday.

Idaho's Governor has already decided on his successor:

Gov. Butch Otter already appears to have settled on a successor: Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, according to several Republicans familiar with internal deliberations.

Update: CNN reports he will resign, effective September 30th.

Today was Karl Rove's last day at the White House. He got all choked up.

With Larry Craig going tomorrow, I suspect this song will be in my head all weekend -- Patty Smythe and Scandal, "Goodbye to You."

White House spokesman Tony Snow will leave September 14. Dana Perino will replace him.

CNN reports Sen. Larry Craig may resign today.

Fox News reports:

The Republican National Committee has warned Sen. Larry Craig privately that if he does not resign, the party will not provide him financial support in the upcoming election and it will recruit a Republican opponent to run against him.

Tuesday, Barack Obama's spokesperson said the Senator would not give up the donations received from Norman Hsu.

... spokesman Jen Psaki said Obama, who has criticized Clinton for taking contributions that could undermine her independence, had no plans to return Hsu's donations.

Today, he's had a change of heart.

A spokesman for Senator Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat who is a rival of Mrs. Clinton for the party’s presidential nomination, said Mr. Obama intended to give away $7,000 that Mr. Hsu contributed to his committees.

No one seems to know where Mr. Hsu really lives. I figured since he's a naturalized citizen, he must be registered to vote. But the only voter registration record I could find for a Norman Hsu was in Delaware. There's also a Norman Hsu in Cleveland. (I'm excluding the Norman Hsu who's been on the city council in Hacienda Heights, CA because it doesn't appear to be the same person.)

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MSNBC has obtained Sen. Larry Craig's post arrest interview. You can listen to the audio and read the transcript(pdf).

Shorter version: He never confessed.

I'll be discussing whether he can withdraw his guilty plea and other issues in the case on Dan Abrams' MSNBC show tonight, 9pm ET. [Update: video of the segment on plea withdrawal is here.]

Update: Sen. Craig pleaded guilty by mail, not in person. So there is no oral advisement. Check out his petition to plead guilty he submitted by mail. It seems to me to be missing a very important component: advisement of the right to counsel.

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