Why I Spoke Up  —  When I was selected as a student speaker for the New School commencement about two months ago I had no idea that I'd end up on CNN and in Maureen Dowd's column in the New York Times, among other places, when it was all over.  One day after the big event I'm still reeling …

Religious Liberals Gain New Visibility  —  The religious left is back.  —  Long overshadowed by the Christian right, religious liberals across a wide swath of denominations are engaged today in their most intensive bout of political organizing and alliance-building since the civil rights …

In House Races, More G.O.P. Seats Look Vulnerable  —  James Votruba, left, president of Northern Kentucky University, and President Bush appearing Friday with Representative Geoff Davis, a Republican of Kentucky, who once seemed headed for an easy victory.  But he and others in the party now appear to be facing stronger challenges.

Iraqis Form Government, With Crucial Posts Vacant  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq, May 20— Iraqi leaders on Saturday approved a full-term government here for the first time since the fall of Saddam Hussein more than three years ago, but one that appeared to lack the cohesion needed to quell the sectarian and guerrilla violence engulfing the country.

Iran's draft law on dress has many worried  —  TEHRAN, Iran — A draft law aimed at encouraging Islamic dress raised fears Saturday that Iran's hard-line government plans to re-impose veils and head-to-toe overcoats on women who have shirked the restrictions for years, letting hair show and wearing jeans and shapely outfits.

Despite Pledge, Taxes Increase for Teenagers  —  The $69 billion tax cut bill that President Bush signed this week tripled tax rates for teenagers with college savings funds, despite Mr. Bush's 1999 pledge to veto any tax increase.  —  Under the new law, teenagers age 14 to 17 with investment income …

The Code Before 'Da Vinci'  —  Confronted with "The Da Vinci Code," the motion picture version of Dan Brown's best-selling update on the ripe tropes of 19th-century Know-Nothingism (the Vatican as conspiracy central, the priesthood as perverse hit men), a previous generation of American Catholics …

Military Prison's Closure Is Urged  —  UNITED NATIONS, May 19 — A U.N. anti-torture panel Friday called on the United States to close its prison for terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to expressly ban controversial interrogation techniques, and to halt the transfer of detainees to countries with a history of abuse and torture.

Baghdad's Lionel Richie Obsession  —  American Pop Star Is an Iraq Obsession  —  May 19, 2006 — I have been to Iraq nine times since the American invasion three years ago, for a total of about 10 solid months.  (My wife is counting.)  During that time, I have seen bombs and blood …

F.B.I. Searches Congressman's Office in Ethics Inquiry  —  WASHINGTON, May 20 — The F.B.I. raided the Congressional offices of Representative William J. Jefferson, Democrat of Louisiana, on Saturday night as part of a corruption investigation focused on the lawmaker and on a Kentucky businessman …

North American Union to Replace USA?  —  President Bush is pursuing a globalist agenda to create a North American Union, effectively erasing our borders with both Mexico and Canada.  This was the hidden agenda behind the Bush administration's true open borders policy.

Nagin Wins Re-Election as Big Easy Mayor  —  NEW ORLEANS - Mayor Ray Nagin, whose shoot-from-the-hip style was both praised and scorned after Hurricane Katrina, narrowly won re-election over Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu on Saturday in the race to oversee one of the biggest rebuilding projects in U.S. history.

Gaza Blast Stokes Hamas-Fatah Tensions  —  GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - An apparent attempt to assassinate Gaza's intelligence chief with a bomb planted at his headquarters Saturday heightened tensions between President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah faction and the Islamic militant group Hamas.

For soldiers, gratitude and praise from an Iraqi mayor  —  COLORADO SPRINGS - An Iraqi mayor stood before troops lined up on the lawn at Fort Carson on Friday morning and said only two words in English.  —  But those two words brought the crowd to its feet.  —  "Thank you."

It's Mad Max Time  —  May 20, 2006: Eastern Chad is now home for over 250,000 refugees, most of them in camps run by the UN and associated NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations).  About 20 percent of the refugees are Chadians, fleeing the increasing violence between Chadian security forces and various rebel factions.

Why Gay Activists Must Read Mary Cheney's Book  —  I just finished Mary Cheney's book Now It's My Turn: A Daughter's Chronicle of Political Life and recommend it as the most important book addressing a gay topic of the year, if not the past few years.  Indeed, it is must-read book for anyone …

Seeking United Latin America, Venezuela's Chávez Is a Divider  —  BOGOTÁ, Colombia, May 19 — As Venezuela's president, Hugo Chávez, insinuates himself deeper in the politics of his region, something of a backlash is building among his neighbors.

Blaine to Village Voice: CardMart is "un-American"!  —  I knew the Village Voice intended to run a column about the Diana York Blaine affair.  (Doctor Diana York Blaine is a Lecturer of Writing and Gender Studies here at USC.  All our posts about her are conveniently located in The Blaine Chronicles.)

DO YOU THINK THIS IS FUNNY?  —  Pat yourselves on the backs, you tolerant liberal bastards.  —  This is hardly  —  the first  —  time  —  liberals  —  have  —  made Asian whore ping-pong ball jokes about me.  —  But Wonkette has now mainstreamed it.  And I'm sick of it.