Hayden: Spying has become political football  —  CIA nominee complains of constant scrutiny of intelligence gatherers  —  WASHINGTON - CIA nominee Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden complained Thursday that intelligence-gathering has become "football in American political discourse."

Feingold, Specter Clash Over Gay Marriage  —  WASHINGTON - A Senate committee approved a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage Thursday, after a shouting match that ended when one Democrat strode out and the Republican chairman bid him "good riddance."  —  "I don't need to be lectured by you.

Breaking: Ahmadinejad to send a Letter to the Pope  —  As nearly every single character in the Star Wars universe says, "I have a bad feeling about this." … He also invited Bush to become a Muslim.  And you would be wise to interpret the word "invite" to have a whiff of the mob inviting you to dinner at the end of a pier.

Whaaat???:  Illegal Immigration Edition  —  Seriously, if you could see me now, I'm very Yosemite Sam.  Very stampy and tantrumy and incoherent.  —  Just a few minutes ago, on the floor of the United States Senate, senators debated an amendment to the McCain immigration bill.

G.O.P. Conservatives Topple Veteran State Lawmakers in Pennsylvania  —  WASHINGTON, May 17 — A revolt among Pennsylvania conservatives gained national attention on Wednesday after challengers toppled at least 12 state lawmakers they deemed insufficiently committed to small government and fiscal restraint.

In TWN News: Michael Hayden, Bobby Ray Inman, and Richard Armitage  —  (Former NSA Director Bobby Inman speaking at George H.W. Bush Presidential Library)  —  Michael Hayden's CIA Director confirmation hearings start today in the Senate Intelligence Committee at 9:30 a.m.  —  I'll be listening.

Out of Touch  —  What the president's immigration speech and "The DaVinci Code" have in common.  —  What was missing in the president's approach the other night was the expression, or suggestion, of context.  The context was a crisis that had gone unanswered as it has built …

"Fairy Tales"  —  The (lack of) intelligence underpinning Bush's Iraq policy  —  During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Saddam Hussein's Information Minister became the butt of a million jokes for predicting that American soldiers were being routed, even as U.S. troops were quickly closing in on Baghdad.

Sensenbrenner: Bush Turned Back on Bill  —  WASHINGTON - Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner, who has pushed a tough border security bill through the House, accused President Bush on Wednesday of abandoning the legislation after asking for many of its provisions.  —  "He basically turned his back on provisions …

Nutroots video: Kos makes TV political ad debut  —  **Watch the video remix.  Geraghty calls it "perhaps the most surreal campaign ad I've ever seen."  Me, I've seen this movie before; the line "the call's coming from inside the house" figures prominently.

Have A Heart  —  This has to be just about the nastiest piece of direct mail we've ever seen.  —  A candidate for State Assembly in the central valley region of CA, Bill Conrad (R) is apparently running on the platform that his opponent won't survive his term because he had a heart transplant.

Egypt: where's the media?  —  Protests continue to roil Egypt, with tense standoffs between security forces and protestors, and 200-300 protestors (mostly Muslim Brothers) arrested.  The bad news: repression was fierce.  Ayman Nour's sentence to five years in jail was reaffirmed …

Ramesh Ponnuru On The Daily Show (Video)  —  Ramesh Ponnuru made an appearance on The Daily Show tonight to promote his new and must-read book The Party Of Death.  For the most part, John Stewart talked and Ramesh listened.  And should come as no surprise that the audience was less than receptive to anything Ramesh had to say.

Troop Cuts Uncertain, Rumsfeld Testifies  —  Pentagon Chief Hopeful About 2006 Reduction in Iraq but 'Can't Promise It'  —  Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said he cannot guarantee that there will be substantial withdrawals of U.S. troops from Iraq this year, and warned instead …

A Job Americans Won't Do, Even at $34 an Hour  —  Some landscape firms rebut claims that higher pay, not immigration reform, is needed.  —  Cyndi Smallwood is looking for a few strong men for her landscaping company.  Guys with no fear of a hot sun, who can shovel dirt all day long.