POWDER PUFF SPOOKS KEITH  —  MSNBC loudmouth Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened his home mail yesterday.  The acerbic host of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was terrified when he opened a suspicious-looking letter with a California postmark and a batch of white powder poured out.

The Big Question Democrats Are Ducking  —  No matter how you slice it, the National Intelligence Estimate warning that the Iraq war has spawned more terrorism is big trouble for President Bush and his party in this election year.  It goes to the heart of Bush's argument for invading Iraq, which was that it would make America safer.

Ailes: `An assault on all journalists'  —  NEW YORK - Fox News chief Roger Ailes says former President Clinton's response to Chris Wallace's question about going after Osama bin Laden represents "an assault on all journalists."  —  Ailes said Clinton had a "wild overreaction" in the interview, broadcast on "Fox News Sunday."

The 'Moderate Republican' Scam  —  Sen. Lincoln Chafee, Republican of Rhode Island, is seeking reelection in his heavily Democratic state by insisting he's not really a Republican, or at least not part of the gang responsible for the decade's debacles.  He didn't even vote for George W. Bush in 2004, he protests.

Most Iraqis Favor Immediate U.S. Pullout, Polls Show  —  A strong majority of Iraqis want U.S.-led military forces to immediately withdraw from the country, saying their swift departure would make Iraq more secure and decrease sectarian violence, according to new polls by the State Department and independent researchers.

New Report That Senator Uttered Slurs  —  Another acquaintance of Senator George Allen said Tuesday that she heard him use a racial slur in 1976, contradicting a statement he made Monday in an effort to tamp down similar accusations.  —  Mr. Allen's campaign manager, Dick Wadhams …

Students held hostage in Bailey  —  A gunman took five people hostage, and is still holding at least two of them at a Park County school.  Several shots have been fired.  —  Lance Clem, spokesman for the Colorado State Patrol, said it is unclear if anyone was injured at Platte Canyon High School in Bailey.

The Choice: A Longer Life or More Stuff  —  The most authoritative report on the cost of health insurance came out yesterday, and it's sure to cause some new outrage.  —  The average cost of a family insurance plan that Americans get through their jobs has risen another 7.7 percent this year …

How Should We Respond to Climate Change?  —  Tom France, of the National Wildlife Federation, organized a conference, "The Climate Challenge: Strategies for Montana's Future."  FREE cosponsored last weekend's Helena meeting.  This effort was described as "a collaborative conference implementing …

7-Eleven dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo  —  DALLAS - Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier at more than 2,100 locations and switching to its own brand of fuel.  —  The retailer said Wednesday it will purchase fuel from several distributors …

Neuro Wine in Old Bottles  —  In the September 18 edition of The New Yorker magazine, writer John Cassidy leads a fascinatin­g tour through parts of the new field of neuroeconomics, the study of the neurological underpinnings of economic decision-making.

Source: Twin Cities Win GOP Convention  —  Republicans have chosen the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul _ in the politically pivotal Midwest _ for the 2008 presidential convention, GOP officials said Wednesday.  —  The selection was expected to be announced later in the day …

How Partisan Is Too Partisan?  —  That's the question we tried to tackle at the Pajamas Media event last night at the National Press Club.  The gist of my remarks was that it is a very difficult, if not impossible question to answer.  Indeed, I came to the conclusion that it's probably best …

The Prospect announces changes  —  Michael Tomasky to step down as editor, will stay on as editor-at large.  —  Michael Tomasky is stepping down as editor of The American Prospect to pursue writing projects.  Tomasky, 45, has led the editorial staff at the Prospect for three years and will finish work on the November issue.