Krugman vs. Krugman  —  In liberal Democratic circles, the debate over Social Security has taken a dangerous "don't worry, be happy" turn.  —  The argument has two equally dishonest components.  The first is to deny that Social Security faces a daunting financing problem …

Publisher Of McClellan Book: Scottie Won't Implicate Bush For Lying About Plamegate, After All  —  Oh, this is just lovely.  The publisher of the forthcoming book by former White House flack Scott McClellan is now walking back the idea that the book will finger President Bush …

She's No Morgenthau  —  Most of the time, Barack Obama seems like he's boxing in the wrong weight class.  But Monday in Fort Dodge, Iowa, he delivered an unscripted jab that was a beaut.  —  At a news conference, the Illinois senator was asked about Hillary Clinton's attack on his qualifications.

Huckabee Makes Crucial Gains Among GOP Base  —  GOP Underdog Says Caucus Momentum Will Propel Campaign to Party Nomination  —  Propelled by little more than his message and political skills, Republican presidential contender former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has vaulted into a statistical dead heat …

Military Charity Responds To O'Reilly: 'If You Really Want To Help U.S. Troops, Set The Record Straight'  —  Last week, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  After his trip, he sharply criticized the United Service Organizations (USO) for not sending more celebrities to the country.

Technology To The Rescue  —  Upon close reading, it really does seem as if the basic moral quandary in stem-cell research has now been overcome.  That moral quandary was real, and it is a mark of a certain non-religious fundamentalism that some enthusiasts for the research refused …

The Tragedy of the Commons  —  Every year around this time, schoolchildren are taught about that wonderful day when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared the fruits of the harvest.  "Isn't sharing wonderful?" say the teachers.  —  They miss the point.  —  Because of sharing, the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen.

Victim's father rips Mass. 'stupidity'  —  Convicted killer freed despite assault rap  —  The father of a Washington woman slaughtered along with her new husband - allegedly at the hands of a convicted Bay State killer - said his daughter's accused murderer never should have been released from prison here.

Joe Klein: Both factually false and stuck in the 1980s  —  For the sake of its own credibility, Time Magazine needs immediately to prohibit Joe Klein from uttering another word about the eavesdropping and FISA controversy.  He simply doesn't know what he's talking about and he publishes demonstrably false statements.

Military Says Bonus Letter Was A 'Mistake'  —  A KDKA investigation is getting national attention and results for a wounded soldier from Mt. Lebanon and perhaps thousands of others.  —  The Army ordered Jordan Fox to return thousands of dollars in bonus money because his injuries prevented him from completing his tour.

Ruling Will Cripple Probes Of Lawmakers, U.S. Says  —  A little-noticed aspect of an appellate court decision could sharply limit investigations of members of Congress and hamper ongoing corruption probes, the Justice Department said this week in a motion seeking an emergency stay of the ruling.

Top conservative slams Rudy on abortion  —  As the Republican presidential primaries approach early next year, a chorus of voices for former Mayor Rudy Giuliani is consistently telling the public that he would appoint "strict constructionist" judges to the federal bench.

LAWYERS, GUNS & WASHINGTON  —  DC GUN BAN A TOUGH TEST FOR COURT  —  BY deciding yesterday to hear the District of Columbia's appeal of the federal court ruling that overturned DC's gun ban, the Supreme Court has ensured that gun control and gun rights will play a major role in the coming election …

Democratic 2008 presidential race tightens: Reuters poll  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The 2008 Democratic presidential race has tightened, with Barack Obama gaining on front-runner Hillary Clinton six weeks before the first contest, according to a national Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.