For McCain, Self-Confidence on Ethics Poses Its Own Risk  —  WASHINGTON — Early in Senator John McCain's first run for the White House eight years ago, waves of anxiety swept through his small circle of advisers.  —  A female lobbyist had been turning up with him at fund-raisers, in his offices and aboard a client's corporate jet.

MSNBC and Me  —  On Tuesday night, after an important and historic victory in the Wisconsin Presidential Primary by Senator Barack Obama, I appeared on the MSNBC post-election program.  “Hardball” host Chris Matthews (who is, it turns out, as ferocious as they say), began grilling me on Senator Obama's legislative record.

Use of Private Care Tests British Health System  —  LONDON — Created 60 years ago as a cornerstone of the British welfare state, the National Health Service is devoted to the principle of free medical care for everyone.  But recently it has been wrestling with a problem its founders never anticipated …

Democrats Obama, Clinton star in high-stakes Austin debate  —  Austin gets an unexpected turn as the center of the American political universe tonight as Sens. Barack Obama of Illinois and Hillary Clinton of New York face each other in debate on the University of Texas campus (7 p.m., CNN).

Navy Missile Hits Spy Satellite  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - A missile launched from a Navy ship successfully struck a dying U.S. spy satellite passing 130 miles over the Pacific on Wednesday, a defense official said.  Full details were not immediately available.  —  It happened just after 10:30 p.m. EST.

Teamsters Endorse Obama, Offering a Blue-Collar Lift  —  In a surprising boost for Senator Barack Obama, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters endorsed him on Wednesday, giving him new momentum among a group where he is eager to shore up support: blue-collar men.

TIA Passenger Had Box Cutter In Hollowed-Out Book  —  A security officer at Tampa International Airport found a box cutter hidden in a hollowed-out book on Sunday.  —  TAMPA — A 21-year-old Clearwater man was arrested at Tampa International Airport this weekend after security personnel found …

Playing the ‘Fair’ Card  —  Judging from complaints by her minions, Hillary Clinton considers it unfair that Barack Obama has been wafted close to the pinnacle of politics by an updraft from the continent-wide swoon of millions of Democrats and much of the media brought on by his Delphic utterances such as “we are the change.”