Tell Democrats to Freeze Out Fox News  —  The Nevada Democratic Party is working with Fox News Channel to host a debate with all the Democratic Party presidential candidates in August.  This is, to put it mildly, insane.  Fox News is a partisan Republican propaganda outlet, not a news station …

Iraqi insurgents use 2nd 'dirty' bomb  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Insurgents exploded a truck carrying chlorine gas canisters Wednesday — the second such "dirty" chemical attack in two days — while a U.S. official said ground fire apparently forced the downing of a Black Hawk helicopter.

PELOSI CALLS BUSH TO COMPLAIN OF CHENEY'S COMMENTS ON DEMOCRATS' IRAQ STRATEGY  —  WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday phoned President Bush to air her complaints over Vice President Dick Cheney's comments that the Congressional Democrats' plan for Iraq would "validate the Al Qaeda strategy."

Falling On Geffen Ears  —  Hillary Clinton's campaign apparently didn't take too kindly to the harsh rhetoric from L.A. music mogul David Geffen, courtesy of today's Maureen Dowd.  Geffen, who is backing Barack Obama, called Bill Clinton "reckless" and clearly is still upset that Clinton …

Iranian official offers glimpse from within: A desire for U.S. ally … TEHRAN, Iran (CNN) — As I sat down recently with a senior Iranian government official, he urgently waved a column by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times in my face, one about how the United States and Iran need to engage each other.

Romney running as turnaround expert  —  epublican Mitt Romney will get an early start on the 2008 presidential race today when he rolls out television ads in New Hampshire and several other key states.  —  According to a transcript, the 60-second ad presents Romney as a masterly businessman who …

National Guard May Undertake Iraq Duty Early  —  The Pentagon is planning to send more than 14,000 National Guard troops back to Iraq next year, shortening their time between deployments to meet the demands of President Bush's buildup, Defense Department officials said Wednesday.

Pentagon Faults Leadership for Walter Reed  —  Officials Say They Learned of Serious Problems From Post Exposé  —  Top Pentagon officials today blamed a breakdown in leadership for problems with outpatient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and vowed to take quick corrective action.

Bread Scarce in Zimbabwe as Mugabe Holds Party  —  President Robert G. Mugabe of Zimbabwe turned 83 on Wednesday to the strains of the song "God Bless President Mugabe" on state-controlled radio, along with an interview on state television, a 16-page paean to his rule in Harare's daily newspaper …

Say What?  —  FOUR BEWILDERING REMARKS FROM THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION.  —  The world might be less stressful if the president of the most powerful nation didn't so frequently convey the impression that he has no idea what's going on.  —  Here are three recent examples of his bewildering remarks, plus one from his secretary of state.

The Life and Times of Milton Friedman  —  Remembering the 20th century's most influential libertarian.  —  When Milton Friedman stepped forward on December 10, 1976, to receive the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences from the King of Sweden, he needed bodyguards.

Liveblogging the Carson City AFSCME Forum  —  In the interest of as clear disclosure as possible, my trip to Nevada has been sponsored by AFSCME.  —  I'm now in the Carson City Community Center for the first Democratic presidential forum ahead of the Nevada caucuses.

Tougher Tactics Deter Migrants at U.S. Border  —  SAN LUIS RÍO COLORADO, Mexico — For 10 years, Eduardo Valenzuela has been crossing the border illegally near Yuma, Ariz., trekking over desert scrub and hopping a freight train to get back to his job with a construction company in Phoenix.

What's It All About, Alfie?  —  There is a tendency in the blogosphere to camp out in the weeds when covering the CIA leak case, and we forget that most people's eyes glaze over when we start talking about what CIA briefer was copied on what memo on which day.