US plans last big push in Iraq  —  Strategy document calls for extra 20,000 troops, aid for Iraqi army and regional summit  —  President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning …

Rep. John Murtha defends his ethics  —  "Hardball" host Chris Matthews asks Murtha about leadership, Iraq, ethics … Host of 'Hardball'  —  In his first interview since reportedly calling a Democratic bill on lobbying and ethics "total crap," Rep. John Murtha told "Hardball" …

What Trent Lott Brings to the Party  —  Analysis: The election of the once disgraced politician as the number two Senate Republican may mean that the G.O.P. has no intention of getting along too well with the new party in power  —  To some observers, the choice of Trent Lott as the new number …

O. J. Simpson Writes a Book He'll Discuss on Fox TV  —  O. J. Simpson, who was acquitted 11 years ago in the 1994 death of his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald L. Goldman has written a book and will appear on television telling "how he would have committed the murders …

Sectarian Strife in Iraq Imperils Entire Region, Analysts Warn  —  BAGHDAD — While American commanders have suggested that civil war is possible in Iraq, many leaders, experts and ordinary people in Baghdad and around the Middle East say it is already underway, and that the real worry ahead …

Larry King Admits He's Never Used The Internet: 'Do You Punch Little Buttons and Things?'  »  —  Last night CNN's Larry King confessed to Roseanne Barr that he's never used the Internet.  King expressed doubt that the Internet was a viable political medium because "there's 80 billion things on it."

Election signals decline of old school liberalism  —  It's more glacial shift than radical revolution, but change is afoot in the Democratic Party. … In a low point in Democratic Party history, Pennsylvania Gov. Bob Casey was banned from speaking at the 1992 Democratic Convention for being opposed to abortion rights.

Soldier pleads guilty in Iraq rape and killings  —  FORT CAMPBELL, Kentucky (AP) — One of four U.S. soldiers accused of raping and killing a 14-year-old Iraqi girl and killing her family, pleaded guilty Wednesday in a Kentucky military court.  —  Spc. James P. Barker also agreed to testify …

Afghan women seek death by fire  —  Increasing numbers of Afghan women are committing suicide by setting fire to themselves to escape difficult lives, according to NGOs based in the country.  —  They say women forced into marriage or suffering chronic abuse are killing themselves out of desperation.

Some grumble over choice of Martinez to head GOP  —  Sen. Mel Martinez was tapped for the top job at the Republican National Committee, spurring complaints from conservatives who fear he will push for relaxed immigration laws.  —  lclark@MiamiHerald.com  —  WASHINGTON - A week after Republicans …

McCain Explores 2008....  Sen. John McCain will formally open his 2008 presidential exploratory committee by tomorrow a.m., an adviser said today.  —  The committee has already built a website — http://www.exploremccain.com/ — and it will stream live a speech McCain plans to give tomorrow about the future of the Republican Party.

The True Center  —  Yesterday I asked David Sirota and Matt Stoller what they thought Chuck Schumer meant when he used the word "centrist."  We were soon on our feet, shouting and jamming our fingers at each other but not long in concluding that neither we, nor Chuck himself probably had any idea what he was talking about.

Does idolizing Malkin turn you into a terrorist?  —  Apparently Freeper Chad Castagana, the man who sent the phony anthrax letters to Olbermann, Pelosi and others—worshipped Malkin and Coulter.  What a surprise.  Countdown takes a look....  Video-WMP Video-QT