Libby Loses Liberty  —  Walton: As a prelude to my ruling, the fact that I've written lengthy decisions does not suggest I think an issue is close.  We are expected to give significant consideration to what we do.  My effort is to try to get it right, so this is why I tke my time so length does …

No Drop in Iraq Violence Seen Since Troop Buildup  —  Three months into the new U.S. military strategy that has sent tens of thousands of additional troops into Iraq, overall levels of violence in the country have not decreased, as attacks have shifted away from Baghdad and Anbar …

Hamas Moves Close to Full Control of Gaza  —  The Palestinian president, Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, faced the further collapse of his power in Gaza today as fierce clashes continued and Hamas fighters took over the headquarters of Fatah's Preventive Security forces and the military intelligence building in Gaza City.

Reid labels military leader 'incompetent'  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called Marine Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "incompetent" during an interview Tuesday with a group of liberal bloggers, a comment that was never reported.

Angelina Jolie's Freedom of Press, on Her Terms  —  Odds 'n' Ends  —  Angelina Jolie's Freedom of Press, on Her Terms  —  Angelina Jolie's true colors came out Wednesday as she promoted a film about freedom of the press and then tried to censor all her interviews.

Legislators vote to defeat same-sex marriage ban  —  A proposed constitutional ban on same-sex marriage was defeated today by a joint session of the Legislature by a vote of 45 to 151, eliminating any chance of getting it on the ballot in November 2008.  At least 50 votes were needed to advance the measure.

Edwards to Detail Health Care Plan  —  Presidential Candidate John Edwards to Announce Details of Health Care Overhaul Plan  —  Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards wants to reduce the cost of U.S. health care by removing patents for breakthrough drugs and requiring health insurance companies …

Faced with law-breaking Bush official, GOP plays race card  —  Doan for her part admitted that she didn't believe she was being targeted because she was a black woman.  —  "I believe this hearing has a completely different agenda that even I probably am not aware of and not experienced about, I think this is a political thing.

DOJ Investigates if Gonzales Tried to Influence Aide's Testimony  —  The Justice Department is investigating whether Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales sought to influence the testimony of a departing senior aide during a March meeting in Gonzales's office, according to correspondence released today.

The Political Brain  —  I'm genuinely not a big fan of advice books for Democrats.  Most of them strike me as very little beyond a complicated rationale for why the author's personal position is the only ideology that could construct a crushing majority in this country.

Freedom, not climate, is at risk  —  We are living in strange times.  One exceptionally warm winter is enough - irrespective of the fact that in the course of the 20th century the global temperature increased only by .6 per cent - for the environmentalists and their followers to suggest radical measures …

All Hillary, all positive, all the time  —  Not long ago, a campaign had a couple of options for getting out word of a big endorsement: a press release to political reporters, or maybe a calculated leak to a big local paper.  —  But Wednesday morning, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign broke …

McCain buys anti-Romney URL  —  In another sign of John McCain's plan to assault former Mitt Romney over his alleged flip-flops, the Arizona senator's campaign has purchased the website "www.mittvsfact.com" and will launch it in the coming weeks as a compendium of what they say are the former governor's differing stances.

The Inside Story On What's Happening With The Senate Immigration Bill  —  Yesterday, a GOP aide, who is one of my sources in the Senate, gave me the rundown on what's happening with the Senate immigration bill (this is the same person who I talked to last week about the bill).

Time for Action On Energy  —  I just wanted to drop by The Democratic Daily to give all of you an update on the energy bill.  To no one's surprise, the Republicans are throwing sand in the gears and trying to block any meaningful progress.  The energy bill, as it stands, is not nearly strong enough …