Senate rejects Iraq redeployment motions  —  Both Democratic proposals easily defeated  —  Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., trying to convince his colleagues to approve his Iraq troop redeployment resolution, failed by a vote of 86-13.  The resolution of fellow Democrat, Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., faired better, but still lost, 60-39.

The real Jack Murtha  —  Rep. John Murtha is thinking big thoughts.  Since coming out for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq last year, he has accused Marines of murder "in cold blood" before a preliminary investigation is even complete; accused the military of a cover up over the same incident …

Ex-Bush aide convicted in D.C. corruption case  —  Safavian found guilty on 4 counts of obstruction, making false statements  —  WASHINGTON - A jury Tuesday convicted a former Bush administration official of four counts of lying and obstructing justice in the first trial to be held in connection …

If Necessary, Strike and Destroy  —  North Korea Cannot Be Allowed to Test This Missile  —  North Korean technicians are reportedly in the final stages of fueling a long-range ballistic missile that some experts estimate can deliver a deadly payload to the United States.

The Persistence of Stupid  —  So this morning I crank up the laptop and cruise over to Memeorandum to see what blog folks are talking about today, and what do I see but a big headline —  And I'm thinkin', wow, that's gonna crank up the righties.  And sure enough, a bunch of 'em are pumpin …

Legislate Learning English?  If Only It Were So Easy  —  PRESIDENT BUSH'S plan to give longstanding illegal immigrants a path to citizenship would require them to learn English as a sign that they accept American culture.  The conservative base of the Republican Party considers any policy …

Army takes older recruits  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Army, aiming to make its recruiting goals amid the Iraq war, raised its maximum enlistment age by another two years on Wednesday, while the Army Reserve predicted it will miss its recruiting target for a second straight year.

Cantwell's lead over McGavick nearly gone  —  Latest poll shows senator losing ground to challenger  —  Dwindling voter support for U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell's re-election bid has put her in a statistical toss-up with her Republican opponent, according to a new poll announced Wednesday.

Close Guantanamo?  —  THE MILITARY detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has become the focus of global protests against U.S. human rights violations during the war on terrorism.  Images of the hooded, jumpsuited prisoners who were brought there in 2002 still pervade the world's media …

Thinking Outside The Blog  —  Judging from the amount of publicity they gleaned, the liberal bloggers who gathered in Las Vegas recently for the first annual YearlyKos convention represent the cutting edge of thinking in the Democratic Party.  —  But the blogs I have scanned are heavier …

Net Neutrality: Crunch Time  —  It's time to hit the phones, everyone.  I am told that the Senate Commerce Committee will be doing bill mark-up today, and that the net neutrality vote will be pushed off until probably Tuesday.  —  And that we are one vote short at the moment for killing the Stevens bill in the Committee.

State adds weblogs to off-limits sites for state employees  —  FRANKFORT, Ky. - State employees will no longer be able to access a political weblog that has criticized Gov. Ernie Fletcher and other Kentucky politicians.  —  But Mark Nickolas, operator of the bluegrassreport site …

Report: Boutique fuels do not raise gas prices  —  A draft Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report contradicts President Bush's suggestion that boutique fuels, designed to cut pollution from cars and trucks, have contributed to higher gasoline prices.  —  While they could complicate …