Iran Strategy Stirs Debate at White House  —  A year after President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced a new strategy toward Iran, a behind-the-scenes debate has broken out within the administration over whether the approach has any hope of reining in Iran's nuclear program …

Prosecutor in Duke Rape Case Found Guilty of Ethics Breaches  —  A disciplinary hearing panel found Michael B. Nifong, the Durham County district attorney, guilty today of ethical violations arising from his pretrial statements and handling of DNA evidence while pressing a false accusation …

Palestinians Flee to Israel  —  According to the international left and the paleo-right, Israel is a fascist apartheid state, a brutal occupier, universally despised by the oppressed Palestinian people.  —  So where do the oppressed Palestinians look for sanctuary, when the terrorist government …

Iraq Contractors Face Growing Parallel War  —  As Security Work Increases, So Do Casualties  —  BAGHDAD — Private security companies, funded by billions of dollars in U.S. military and State Department contracts, are fighting insurgents on a widening scale in Iraq, enduring daily attacks …

Hispanic Leaders Blast Schwarzenegger's Advice to Turn Off Spanish TV  —  Some Hispanic leaders lashed out Friday at California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's advice that immigrants should "turn off the Spanish television set" to better learn how to speak English.

An Also-Ran in the GOP Polls, Ron Paul Is Huge on the Web  —  On Technorati, which offers a real-time glimpse of the blogosphere, the most frequently searched term this week was "YouTube."  —  Then comes "Ron Paul."  —  The presence of the obscure Republican congressman from Texas on a list …

Polished and Upbeat, Romney Tries to Connect  —  WEST DES MOINES, Iowa — Mitt Romney loves the word "great."  As in, "Have a great day," "Things are going great," "I'm feeling great."  Mr. Romney, the former governor of Massachusetts, also looks great, sounds great and smells great, like shaving cream.

Hannity's new BFF is Tim Russert...  Tim Russert appeared on H&C the other night and repeated Roger Ailes talking points on the Democratic Party's refusal to debate on the propaganda network.  —  Download (2001) |  Play (1553) Download (1275) |  Play (914) … Roger Ailes:

Justice Dept. Official To Quit  —  A fifth senior Justice Department official announced his resignation yesterday in the wake of the controversy over the firings of nine U.S. attorneys last year.  —  Michael J. Elston, chief of staff to Deputy Attorney General Paul J. McNulty …

A Sacred River Left in Peril by Global Warming  —  VARANASI, India — With her eyes sealed, Ramedi cupped the murky water of the Ganges River in her hands, lifted them toward the sun, and prayed for her husband, her 15 grandchildren and her bad hip.  She, like India's other 800 million Hindus …

The group blog of The American Prospect  —  SHADOW GOVERNMENT IN WAITING.  The Bush administration had the American Enterprise Institute as its ideological brain trust and frequent employment agency.  The next White House will likely have the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) …

Lieberman Smacks Harry Reid, Again  —  Here's Joe on the Ray and Diane show from yesterday morning (mp3), in just his latest attack on Democrats - and Harry Reid in particular: … This isn't the first time Joe has gone after Reid by reinforcing a right-wing attack.  Take this, from April:

Inability to meet "grand challenges" of physics likely to hurt US competitiveness  —  The National Academies of Science produces regular reports on the state of scientific research in the US.  Their latest effort along these lines has just been released, and the academy has put the spotlight …