CBS News Asks Batiste To Step Down As Consultant  —  Last night, retired Army Maj. Gen. John Batiste appeared on MSNBC's "Countdown With Keith Olbermann."  Batiste has been a CBS News consultant, but last night it was disclosed that he has been asked to leave that position due to his participation in an ad criticizing President Bush.

Mort Kondracke's Plan B for Iraq: Ethnic cleansing by Shiites  —  More specifically, U.S. complicity in Shiite ethnic cleansing.  Redeploy to Kurdistan if need be, he says, and let the Shiites do what they have to do to put down the insurgency.  And if that means ethnic cleansing, hey — an 80% solution is better than none.

An Open Declaration of War Against The House Republican Leadership  —  There is only one thing you need to do.  Call John Boehner at (202) 225-4000 and tell him the House GOP will get no support until Ken Calvert is off Appropriations.  —  Dear Readers of RedState,

The Assassination of Journalists - Protected by States Secrets  —  I wrote about this two years ago: … <snip> … We now learn that both Keogh and O'Connor have been found guilty: … So, two government officials acting out of their conscience to expose President Bush's plans to bomb journalists are found guilty.

Bloggers could be dead link for Clinton  —  As Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) campaigns for the Democratic presidential nomination, her biggest opposition may not come from primary rivals or Republican challengers, but rather from the leftist blog community that often views her as a political punching bag.

What Is The Post Opinion Section For?  —  One specific issue some of the delicate flowers raised was the question of why progressive bloggers are so mean to Fred Hiatt.  And, indeed, a decent point was raised: Progressive bloggers are quick to impute specific motives to Hiatt and we're often leaping …

FBI agent steps into Coulter voting case  —  Conservative pundit Ann Coulter has been cleared of allegations that she falsified her Palm Beach County voter's registration and voted illegally — this, after a high-level FBI agent made unsolicited phone calls to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office to vouch for Coulter.

Goodling Granted Immunity in DOJ Probe  —  A federal judge approved an immunity deal Friday allowing former Justice Department aide Monica Goodling to testify before Congress about the firing of eight federal prosecutors.  —  Goodling, who served as the department's White House liaison …

Bush and Democrats in Accord on Trade Deals  —  The Bush administration reached agreement on Thursday with the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and other Democrats to attach environmental and worker protections in several pending trade accords, clearing the way for early passage of some pacts and improving prospects for others.

FBI probes Nevada governor for corruption  —  Did Jim Gibbons accept cash and gifts in exchange for defense contracts?  —  Then-Congressman Jim Gibbons, seated, toasts with Dennis Montgomery during a March 2005 cruise.  Montgomery has now accused Gibbons of accepting cash on the trip.

Poll: Congress' Approval Same As Bush  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - People think the Democratic-led Congress is doing just as dreary a job as President Bush, following four months of bitter political standoffs that have seen little progress on Iraq and a host of domestic issues.

US Health Care Saves More Lives Than Socialized Medicine  —  A new study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden shows that the American health care system outperforms the socialized systems in Europe in getting new medicines to cancer patients.  The difference saves lives …

Romney Works to Put Skeptics' Doubts to Rest  —  Bart Pals, a county chairman for Mitt Romney's presidential campaign, had been given talking points to use when he introduced the former Massachusetts governor at an event in northern Iowa on Wednesday.  —  But Mr. Pals chose to depart …

IRAQ WAR: LOSING OR LOST?  —  Thanks to Washington Post blogger Dan Froomkin for tipping me off to this exchange from yesterday's press briefing by presidential press secretary Tony Snow that leads indirectly to some fundamental questions regarding public opinion and the Iraq War: … Is Snow right?

'Vote for Romney is vote for Satan'  —  Christian leader follows up Sharpton attack on Mormons  —  While some evangelical Christians are defending the presidential candidacy of Mormon Mitt Romney from an attack by Al Sharpton, another prominent pastor is going further in his condemnation …

A beautiful mosaic of anti-blogger hatred  —  Various prominent personages share their visceral contempt for blogs:  —  John Yoo at an April 18 Civil Liberties debate (via blogger Roger Ailes): … As Ailes says: "Yoo wishes they never existed because, unlike illegally-detained prisoners …

Bush aides berate GOP members  —  Top Bush administration officials lashed out at a pair of House Republicans at the White House yesterday after details about a contentious meeting between President Bush and GOP legislators were leaked to the media earlier this week.