Democrats Refocus Message on Iraq After Military Gains  —  Democratic leaders in Congress had planned to use August recess to raise the heat on Republicans to break with President Bush on the Iraq war.  Instead, Democrats have been forced to recalibrate their own message in the face …

Most US adults in the dark about world politics  —  Two-thirds of US adults admit to being in the dark about political issues outside the United States, and only a third are well-versed in US politics, the results of a poll published Tuesday showed.  —  Candidates in the US presidential primaries …

Sub-Standard  —  IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE that, not so long ago, neoconservative foreign policy thinking overflowed with ideas and idealism.  The descent has been steep, and nowhere is it more apparent than in the pages of The Weekly Standard—particularly in William Kristol's editorials …

Field Poll shows Californians lean toward dividing electoral votes  —  (08-21) 04:00 PDT Sacramento —  California voters are inclined to support a proposed ballot initiative that would change how the Golden State allocates its electoral votes in presidential campaigns …

Boy, 5, doused in gas, set on fire by masked men  —  Editor's note: CNN agreed not to use the full names of the mother and son in this article due to concern for their safety.  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — Five-year-old Youssif is scarred for life, his once beautiful smile turned …

BRUNO: STONE HAS RESIGNED (UPDATED)  —  That was fast.  —  In a just-released statement, Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno called the Roger Stone phone call flap "a distraction from the real issues - the abuse of government power, political espionage and a cover-up of information," …

Citizen sacrifices life to thwart suicide bomber  —  Multi-National Corps - Iraq  —  Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory  —  APO AE 09342  —  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  RELEASE No. 20070821-05  —  Citizen sacrifices life to thwart suicide bomber  —  Multi-National Division - Center PAO

The Ghosts of Anbar, Part 1 of 4  —  The Ghosts of Anbar  —  Part One: The Paradox of Counterinsurgency … To know a man, follow his tracks.  —  Anbar Province  —  June, 2007  —  Iraq and this part of the world are complicated in the way, and by the way, that dysfunction always is "complicated."

Step One in The Bush Dog Campaign: Creating a Public Record  —  I'm hearing more and more frequently a sense of rage with the Democratic leadership in Congress.  From failing to stop the war to expanding Bush's wiretapping authority, the swing vote of conservative Democrats in the House …