AP's Reid Story Doesn't Add Up  —  Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) "collected a $1.1 million windfall on a Las Vegas land sale even though he hadn't personally owned the property for three years," the AP reports.  —  Except that's wrong.  Reid made a $700,000 profit on the sale, not $1.1 million.

Exclusive: Book says Bush just using Christians  —  'Tempting Faith' author David Kuo worked for Bush from 2001 to 2003  —  More than five years after President Bush created the Office of Faith-Based Initiatives, the former second-in-command of that office is going public with an insider's tell …

Bush Stands Firm on Policies  —  President Defends Strategies for Iraq, North Korea  —  Despite setbacks on North Korea and Iraq, President Bush vowed yesterday to stick with his policies on both crises, praising Chinese condemnation of North Korea's apparent nuclear test and citing progress …

Avoiding Political Embarrassment the Columbia University Way  —  How do you avoid political embarrassment at Columbia University these days?  —  Disinvite invited guests to a talk sure to interest conservatives and other hawks in the larger NYC community.  —  Why, we wonder …

Hastert Aides Interest Ethics Panel  —  Staff Members' Knowledge of Foley's Actions With Former Pages in Question  —  With House Speaker J. Dennis Hastert denying personal knowledge of former representative Mark Foley's activities, investigators for the House ethics committee are bearing …

NUREMBERG-STYLE TRIALS PROPOSED FOR GLOBAL WARMING SKEPTICS  —  CONTACT: MARC MORANO ( marc_morano@epw.senate.gov ), MATT DEMPSEY ( matthew_dempsey@epw.senate.gov )  —  A U.S. based environmental magazine that both former Vice President Al Gore (http://gristmill.grist.org/print/ 2006/9/19/11408/1106? …

Baker's Panel Rules Out Iraq Victory  —  WASHINGTON — A commission formed to assess the Iraq war and recommend a new course has ruled out the prospect of victory for America, according to draft policy options shared with The New York Sun by commission officials.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF GLORIOUS NUCLEAR ACHIEVEMENT TO GANGSTER STOOGES OF BLOGOSPHERE  —  In the back yard of scientific researchings behind the Great Storage Shed of the People, Iowahawk scientists successfully conducted above-ground nuclear missile test explosions under secure and many malt liquor conditions …

Muslims offended by 5th Avenue Apple store  —  A Middle East research organization reports that Apple's flagship retail store on 5th Avenue in midtown Manhattan (between 58th and 59th) is offensive to Muslims.  The report cites an Islamic Web site urging Muslims to spread the word in hope that …

Fraud alleged in St. Louis voter sign-up  —  ST. LOUIS - Election officials say hundreds of potentially bogus registration cards, including ones for dead and underage people, were submitted by a branch of a national group that has been criticized in the past for similar offenses.

Insurers Get an Earful From Senator  —  Sometimes, political connections come in handy.  Ask Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi.  —  Mr. Lott, a Republican and former majority leader, is one of thousands of homeowners on the Gulf Coast who have been fighting with their insurers over payments for damage in Hurricane Katrina.

GOP Leaders Seek Probe of Berger Papers  —  A group of House Republicans called Wednesday for a congressional investigation into the improper handling of classified documents by President Clinton's national security adviser, Sandy Berger.  —  Berger admitted last year that he deliberately …

Report Criticizes Ex-ATF Chief  —  Justice Dept. Inspector General Says Truscott Violated Ethics Rules  —  The former director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives violated ethics rules by requiring 20 employees to help his teenage nephew prepare a high school video project …

High Court in Britain Loosens Strict Libel Law  —  Britain's highest court ruled Wednesday for the first time that journalists have the right to publish allegations about public figures, as long as their reporting is responsible and in the public interest.  —  The ruling, a unanimous judgment …

REDISTRICTING: FACT AND FICTION....Is gerrymandering responsible for the fact that it's virtually impossible nowadays to defeat an incumbent in the House of Representatives?  Reporters and pundits seem to accept this without question, but academic research suggests otherwise.