Perino: Bush Did Not Call Himself "The Commander Guy"
White House Deputy Press Secretary Dana Perino told the press corps yesterday that President Bush did not refer to himself as "The Commander Guy," as has been quoted. According to the White House's revised transcript of his speech on Wednesday, the President actually said: "The question is, who ought to make that decision? The Congress or the commanders? And as you know, my position is clear — I'm a commander guy." Perino then told the press corps, "And I'm sure none of you will be tempted to misuse it in the future."

Newsweek: Bush Approval At All-Time Low, GOP In Bad Shape
A new poll from Newsweek has President Bush's approval rating at an all-time low of 28%, with a disapproval rating of 64%. The last time a President scored that low was Jimmy Carter's 28% in a Gallup poll in the middle of 1979. Sixty-two percent of respondents said the President's recent actions in Iraq "show he is stubborn and unwilling to admit his mistakes." Only 24% of registered-voter respondents called themselves Republicans, compared to 36% Democrats and 37% Independents‚ with the growth in Independents likely coming from losses in the GOP column. And even including leaners, only 37% of registered voters are inclined towards the GOP, compared to 52% for the Democrats.

Rudy Favored By Gay Republicans
The Associated Press reports that Rudy Giuliani was the favorite candidate attendees at Friday's convention of the Log Cabin Republicans, a group of gay working within the GOP — although the group is not expected to make any formal endorsement during the primaries. Some were concerned, however, that Giuliani would tack too far to the social right in order to win the nomination. "Mainstream Republican voters and moderate voters are going to vote for you. Don't tilt to the right," said Log Cabin co-founder Frank Ricchiazzi, who wore an "I Love Rudy" button.

Fred Thompson: We Must Continue In Iraq
The Los Angeles Times reports that Fred Thompson told the annual Lincoln Club of Orange County dinner that the United States needs to stay in Iraq as a barrier to further destabilization in the region. "I don't think it's any question that if we leave Iraq before there is some semblance of stability brought about in that nation ... that the world is going to be a more dangerous place," Thompson said.

Student Arrested For Alleged Plot Against Hillary
A 19-year old student at Louisiana State University has been arrested for allegedly planning to assassinate Hillary Clinton during today's visit to Baton Rouge for the National Conference of Black Mayors convention. The Smoking Gun has the details.

Report: Tommy Thompson Opposed Anti-Gay Language In 2000 GOP Platform
CNN notes that Tommy Thompson, who has apologized and said it was an accident when he supported anti-gay discrimination at Thursday's debate, worked in 2000 to take anti-gay language out of the Republican platform. At the time, Thompson called such language in the platform "vitriolic rhetoric that has plagued us in the past." This pro-gay history could potentially give credence to his statement that he misunderstood what the question was about.