What Caught My Eye Today

Politics - President Bush accused Democratic lawmakers of being unable to live up to their duties, citing Congress' inability to pass legislation to fund the federal government. The White House has said the failure of a broad immigration overhaul was proof that Democratic-controlled Capitol Hill cannot take on major issues. The main reason the immigration measure died, however, was staunch opposition from Bush's own base — conservatives. The president could not turn around members of his own party despite weeks of intense effort. Twelve annual spending bills dole out approximately one-third of the federal budget. They must be passed each year by Congress, before the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year. Democratic leaders say they are behind because an emergency spending measure funding the war in Iraq came first. They also had to pass an omnibus measure cleaning up last year's appropriations mess. Then, the Republicans who then controlled Congress failed to pass into law a single spending bill for domestic agencies save the Homeland Security Department — a situation that brought little complaint from Bush. As they say, Mr. President, it takes two to dance. You cannot, in all seriousness, blame this soley on Democrats. Oh wait a minute, you just did, didn't you?

Iraq - A suicide truck bomber blasted a Shiite town north of Baghdad on Saturday, killing more than 100 people, police said, in a sign Sunni insurgents are pulling away from a U.S. offensive around the capital to attack where security is thinner. The marketplace devastation underlined a hard reality in Iraq: There are not enough forces to protect everywhere. U.S. troops, already increased by 28,000 this year, are focused on bringing calm to Baghdad, while the Iraqi military and police remain overstretched and undertrained. You have to wonder how this shift in violence from Baghdad, to pretty much everyplace else in Iraq, is going to weigh on the progress report to Congress later this summer on the effectiveness of the troop surge that began earlier this year.

Spain - Six massive bulls charged down the packed streets of Pamplona on Saturday during the first run of the San Fermin Festival, which combines the half-ton animals with damp cobblestones and revelers steeped in adrenaline and alcohol. Injuries are usually common as the crowds strive to keep ahead of the bulls in the narrow streets. But only seven people were treated for minor injuries this year. It is customary for many revelers, particularly foreigners, to spend much of the night before a bull run drinking red wine or sangria. So like normal, sober people don't try to outrun stampeding bulls? Imagine that.

Pope - Pope Benedict XVI gave his permission to Roman Catholic priests to celebrate the Latin Mass without the approval of a local bishop, so long as a "stable group of faithful" requests it. The 16th-century mass is traditionally delivered by a priest in Latin with his back to the congregation throughout the service. Under reforms approved by the 1962-1965 Second Vatican Council, the Latin Mass was widely sidelined. Although Latin was not scrapped outright, the reforms called for a new mass to be said in local languages, for the priest to face the congregation and for the use of lay readers. Benedict's move is widely seen as an attempt to reach out to an ultra-traditionalist and schismatic group, the Society of St. Pius X, and bring it back into the Vatican's fold. Of course, he didn't exactly score any point with Jews. This particular rite contains a prayer that is read on Good Friday calling for the conversion of Jews. It would appear that Benedict doesn't exactly place getting along with the other kids in the sandbox very high on his list of priorities. Sound like any other world leader you know?

Tennis - Venus Williams won her fourth Wimbledon's singles title in 8 years. You go, girlfriend. Over on the men's draw, Roger Federer will duke it out with Rafael Nadal for the men's title. That should be an entertaining match. In the words of Celebrity Deathmatch referee, Mills Lane...Let's get it on.

Cycling - The Tour de France kicked off its 94th race with the Prologue stage through the streets of London. the 7.9km time trial was won by Swiss rider Fabian Cancellara in 8 minutes 50 seconds. Andreas Kloeden of Germany was 13 seconds behind in second place, followed by George Hincapie of the United States, 23 seconds behind the leader. In case you were wondering, 7.9km in under 9 minutes is wicked fast. Dude averaged over 54km per hour. For you American blokes, that almost 34 miles per hour. Having been on the streets of London myself, that's smokin'.