Samarra Mosque bombing suspects identified; reports of violence  —  Samarra provincial police force members detained as unconfirmed reports of attacks on mosques, shrines surface  —  The Iraqi police have made arrests in this morning's twin bombings of the al-Askaria mosque's remaining minarets.

The Progressive Case for a Libby Pardon  —  All the views expressed in this post are those of the author and not of any client of his firm.  —  Until a very short while ago, few had heard of Scooter Libby.  Today, still not a celebrity with the larger public, he carries on his shoulders …

The Summer War has Begun  —  A few days ago Iran's president said the Lebanese and the Palestinians had pressed a "countdown button" to bring an end to Israel.  —  And so they have.  —  Debka reports … Syria made good on its hit list.  Syrian proxies assassinated Anti-Syrian MP Walid Eido on Wednesday.

Music Video Has a 'Crush on Obama'  —  Risqué YouTube Song Takes Obama Campaign by Surprise  —  An amusing, risqué music video, featuring a nubile young woman breathlessly singing her love for presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., appeared on the Web this week.

Ex-Justice Dept. lawyer can't recall his role in controversial policies  —  WASHINGTON - Another former Justice Department lawyer went before Congress on Wednesday with few answers for his Democratic interrogators and a spotty memory.  —  Hans von Spakovsky, who's seeking a full six-year term …

Specter to White House: Let's Make a Deal  —  Here's Senate Judiciary Committee ranking member Arlen Specter (R-PA) on the floor of the Senate today making an offer to the White House for a compromise:  —  The standing offer from the White House is that congressional investigators interview White House aides …

Iran moves to execute porn stars … TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's parliament on Wednesday voted in favor of a bill that could lead to death penalty for persons convicted of working in the production of pornographic movies.  —  With a 148-5 vote in favor and four abstentions …

Vatican cardinal calls on Catholics to stop funding Amnesty  —  A senior Vatican cardinal said yesterday that Catholics should stop donating to human rights group Amnesty International because of its new policy advocating abortion rights for women if they had been raped, were a victim of incest or faced health risks.

Research shows Hilton prison time longer than most  —  Paris Hilton will end up serving more time behind bars than the vast majority of inmates sent to Los Angeles County jail for similar offenses, according to a Los Angeles Times analysis of jail records.  —  Whether Hilton received special treatment …

Iraq surge a failure, top Democrats tell Bush  —  Top US congressional Democrats bluntly told President George W. Bush Wednesday that his Iraq troop "surge" policy was a failure.  —  Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the president …

DoD braces for a fight with Pelosi  —  Pentagon officials are bracing for a fight with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over her desire to allow lawmakers' adult children to tag along on taxpayer-funded travel for free.  —  Pelosi wants them to be able to fill the role of lawmakers' spouses …

Poll: Voters Want Smaller Steps to Immigration Reform With Focus on Enforcement  —  Just 20% of American voters want Congress to try and pass the immigration reform bill that failed in the Senate last week.  A Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that 51% would like their legislators to …

GOP issues rules to avoid Macaca moments  —  The Macaca moment has morphed into an official learning tool for the Republican establishment.  —  It's right there, on pages 18 and 22 of an Internet guide from the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee that its chairman, Sen. John Ensign …

Bleak Mood Drags Down Support for Bush, Congress  —  An increasingly gloomy political environment has soured Americans on President Bush and Congress, scrambled the Republicans' 2008 field, and strengthened Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton's lead, according to a new Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll.

Rush Limbaugh in hurricane info tempest  —  S. Florida county may drop radio station as official storm broadcast site  —  FORT LAUDERDALE — If it truly wants to be Broward County's official hurricane radio station, here's what WIOD (610 AM) needs to do:  —  Fire Rush Limbaugh.