U.S. Focused on Obtaining Long-Distance Phone Data, Company Officials Indicate  —  Government efforts to obtain data from the nation's largest phone companies for a national security database appear to have focused on long-distance carriers, not local ones, statements by company officials indicate.

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.

Iran Rejects European Nuclear Incentives  —  TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's president mocked a package of incentives to suspend uranium enrichment, saying Wednesday they were like giving up gold for chocolate — defiance that appeared certain to complicate U.S. efforts to curb Tehran's nuclear ambitions.

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 …

No Rush to Impeachment  —  As Republicans have become increasingly nervous about whether they will be able to maintain control of the House in the midterm elections, they have resorted to the straw-man strategy of identifying a parade of horrors to come if Democrats gain the majority.

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 …

JOHN MURTHA HANGS THE MARINES  —  Expose the Left has the video of Rep. Murtha's verdict first, trial later condemnation of the US Marines.  Here's the partial transcript: … The investigation into the incident at Haditha is not complete.  Knight Ridder reports: … NBC News: … Hugh Hewitt:

New Ads Funded by Big Oil Portray Global Warming Science as Smear Campaign Against Carbon Dioxide  —  Yesterday, the Competitive Enterprise Institute - a front group funded by ExxonMobil and other big oil companies - launched two advertisements in response to Al Gore's new movie, An Inconvenient Truth.

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.

"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.

And if It's a Boy, Will It Be Lleh?  —  Chances are you don't have any friends named Nevaeh.  Chances are today's toddlers will.  —  In 1999, there were only eight newborn American girls named Nevaeh.  Last year, it was the 70th-most-popular name for baby girls, ahead of Sara, Vanessa and Amanda.

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.

Who Isn't A 'Values Voter'?  —  An aggressively annoying new phrase in America's political lexicon is "values voters."  It is used proudly by social conservatives, and carelessly by the media to denote such conservatives.  —  This phrase diminishes our understanding of politics.