We're familiar with the NeoCons and their approach to foreign policy already, but the 'pragmatists?' I'm not sure which is of greater interest: that the NeoCons are trying to lay claim to McCain's candidacy, or that their ideological opponents within the Republican Party have demarcated themselves as a codified group. It isn't quite the Jets and the Sharks, but it is indicative of what's going on in the GOP.

Canceling 900 flights to meet mandatory inspection requirements is not ideal, but in most cases it would seem like the giant aviation business equivalent of filing your taxes. You have to do it, but once you take care of it, you're done.

This is a bummer but it is something we should all hear, so I'm just going to give you the stinger: "International Monetary Fund shows U.S. sliding into recession and pulling down economic growth around the world."

"Pelosi and the House Rules" would make a pretty good band name, but it makes an even better descriptor for how the Speaker of the House flexed some muscle against President Bush.

Toady General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are making appearances before the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs Committees, the House equivalents of the Senate panels they took questions from yesterday. Their assurances of progress in Iraq are being met with skepticism similar to what they experienced yesterday. You can check it all out via C-SPAN.

Shelley Sekula Gibbs, she of the famous immediate congressional staff mutiny, was defeated in the runoff for the Republican nomination in the 22nd District. CQPolitics posits, and not with any lack of merit, that the Republican establishment was eager to line up behind Pete Olson, a former aide to both Senators John Cornyn and Phil Gramm. Olson will face incumbent Democrat Nick Lampson in November.

The Chron lists some of the other interesting races from yesterday's runoffs and how they turned out over here.

Senator Carl Levin:

``What you've given to your chain of command is a plan which has no end to it,'' Levin said. He asked Petraeus when he would be in position to recommend further troop cuts, once the 45-day evaluation period ends in September.

``It could be right then, or it could be longer,'' [General Petraeus] said. He declined to be pinned down, saying he would recommend further cuts when conditions were right.

This is just weird. Josh Marshall says it sounds like a loyalty oath, but I'll take it one step further and say that it feels like an ideological blank check to classify any future action Petraeus takes as movements in a just war. Or it could just be a craven way to trick people into signing up for Cornyn's email blast / fundraising list. You decide.

General David Petraeus is testifying before Congress today along with Ambassador Ryan Crocker on political and military progress in Iraq. The line from the prepared remarks appears to be that Petraeus will ask for more time and money and will recommend against withdrawing troops for 45 days after July for further assessment. Through two hearings today, Petraeus and Crocker will receive questions from Senators John McCain, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama, all three remaining presidential candidates.