Waxman to Rice: Step Back  —  Here's the latest volley in the ongoing battle between Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  —  Waxman, the chairman of the House committee on oversight, wrote to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice today to complain …

Paris Hilton is sentenced to 45 days in jail  —  Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton today was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating her probation in a reckless-driving case.  —  A Los Angeles judge handed down the sentence after prosecutors contended in a two-hour hearing that Hilton …

22% Believe Bush Knew About 9/11 Attacks in Advance  —  Democrats in America are evenly divided on the question of whether George W. Bush knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks in advance.  Thirty-five percent (35%) of Democrats believe he did know, 39% say he did not know, and 26% are not sure.

Sarkozy No Favorite in Paris Suburbs  —  Harsh Comments During 2005 Riots Still Anger Many in Minority Areas  —  After an 11-year-old boy was killed here two years ago in crossfire between rival gangs, Nicolas Sarkozy, then France's interior minister, came to the underclass neighborhood …

REAL CHILD OF HELL:  —  Behold!  Mitt Romney rides a pale horse.  From last night's debate: … Bin Laden is a singular figure, but, you know, fair enough; there will be a successor to bin Laden.  But where might Romney be going with this? … Mitt Romney's War: the total conflation of all Islamist movements.

Bush, Democrats and Iraq  —  What happens next?  —  The House on Wednesday failed to override President Bush's veto of a $124.2 billion war-funding measure that included a firm time line for withdrawing troops from Iraq.  —  The House's 222-203 vote fell 62 votes short of the two-thirds majority required.

'D.C. Madam' Client Ready to Testify About Sex  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  One of the prominent Washington men named as an escort service customer of the so-called "D.C. Madam" is apparently ready to testify he had sex with a woman or women from the madam's now-infamous Pamela Martin and Associates.

Two months before fatal drug raid, Atlanta cops encountered another elderly woman with a gun  —  Two months and a day before Kathryn Johnston, there was Frances Thompson.  —  The 80-year-old Thompson was in her bedroom the afternoon of Sept. 20, when she heard a terrible crash and shouting.

I Guess the Word "Immediately" Has a Different Meaning When Used by Old Media  —  The L.A. Times asks: Will Fred Thompson's racist role have political repercussions? … The paper mulls over the meaning of this — and looks to conservative blogs! … Which conservative blogs?  I'm so glad you asked!

HUFFINGTON POST WIRES  —  WASHINGTON — The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms.  —  Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general …

Bush Warns of Vetoes Over Abortion Issue  —  President Bush told Congressional leaders Thursday that he would veto any legislation that weakened federal policies or laws on abortion.  —  In a two-page letter sent to the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid …

Iraqis: Don't Abandon Us  —  Perhaps the debate over whether to persevere in Iraq has become too brittle to accept anyone else's opinion, but the foreign minister of Iraq gives it a game try.  In today's Washington Post, Hoshyar Zebari implores Americans and the world not to abandon Iraq to the terrorists and sectarian lunatics.