What Bush hath wrought  —  FEW AMERICANS, whatever their political persuasion, will mourn George W. Bush's departure from office.  Democrats and Republicans alike are counting the days until the inauguration of a new president will wipe the slate clean.  —  Yet in crucial respects, the Bush era will not end Jan. 20, 2009.

McCain Campaign Accuses Obama Camp Of Coordinating With Webb To Attack McCain  —  Now the McCain campaign is accusing the Obama campaign of coordinating with Jim Webb to “attack” McCain's war service.  —  On MSNBC last night, Webb told McCain that he should “calm down” …

McCain Officially Endorses California Marriage Ban  —  The Log Cabin Republicans have confirmed that Sen. John McCain has switched from holding a neutral position on California's anti-gay marriage measure to supporting it.  —  John McCain's position on California's marriage amendment …

Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs  —  ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Reaching out to religious voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama called for expanding President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and — in a move sure to cause controversy …

Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat  —  A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims.  —  Tayside Police's new non-emergency phone number …

Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts  —  A former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb.  —  The onetime undercover agent …

Americans Worry McCain Would Be Too Similar to Bush  —  About half are concerned Obama would go too far in changing Bush policies  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A recent USA Today/Gallup poll finds about two in three Americans concerned that John McCain would pursue policies as president that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued.

Iran must avoid ‘provocative’ nuclear talk: Khamaenei aide  —  TEHRAN (AFP) A top advisor to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned on Tuesday against “provocative” remarks on Tehran's nuclear crisis which tend to be associated with President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

Obama's Money Class  —  Barack Obama sells the Democratic Party short.  He talks about his fund-raising success as if his donors were part of a spontaneous movement of small-money enthusiasts who cohered around himself.  In fact, Democrats have spent years building their donor network.

Clay Felker, Magazine Pioneer, Dies at 82  —  Clay Felker, a visionary editor who was widely credited with inventing the formula for the modern magazine, giving it energetic expression in a glossy weekly named for and devoted to the boisterous city that fascinated him — New York — died today at his home in Manhattan.

Obama's real patriotism problem  —  He sees an America in which the cup is half-empty.  Is his America the same one most Americans think of as they wave flags and celebrate the Fourth of July?  —  Barack Obama has a patriotism problem that even Monday's flag-waving trip to Independence, Mo., can't squelch.

The South Will Fall Again  —  THE interim between the primaries and the parties' nominating conventions is, according to ancient writ, a fertile period for presidential campaigns to talk about how they plan to expand the political map in the fall.  This year is no different.

Now A McCain Surrogate Demeans Wes Clark's Service  —  The McCain campaign, keeping up the pressure over Wes Clark's comments, is holding its second conference call on this topic in two days — but now the story has taken a new turn, with a McCain surrogate demeaning Clark's service.

Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace Report: Barack Obama aligned himself with welfare reform on Monday, launching a television ad which touts the way the overhaul “slashed the rolls by 80 percent.”  Obama leaves out, however, that he was against the …

Evidence Faulted in Detainee Case  —  In the first case to review the government's secret evidence for holding a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a federal appeals court found that accusations against a Muslim from western China held for more than six years were based on bare and unverifiable claims.