Democrats Struggle To Seize Opportunity  —  News about GOP political corruption, inept hurricane response and chaos in Iraq has lifted Democrats' hopes of winning control of Congress this fall.  But seizing the opportunity has not been easy, as they found when they tried to unveil an agenda of their own.

IRAQ: THE UNTOLD TRUTHS  —  AMONG the many positive stories you aren't being told about Iraq, the media ignored another big one last week: In the wake of the terrorist bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra, it was the Iraqi army that kept the peace in the streets.

SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE....Ed Kilgore responds to my angry post about the DLC's wonkish 7-point healthcare plan with this: … Here's my guess: in private, I'll bet all of these gentlemen do acknowledge that a simple single-payer national healthcare plan is the best policy.

Wal-Mart Enlists Bloggers in Its P.R. Campaign  —  Brian Pickrell, a blogger, recently posted a note on his Web site attacking state legislation that would force Wal-Mart Stores to spend more on employee health insurance.  "All across the country, newspaper editorial boards …

Judicious Double Standards  —  Back behind my high school one day, we all assembled to watch a fistfight.  To my immense pleasure, a bully was being bested by his victim.  Then the bully's friend stepped in and ended matters with a swift kick to the other guy's midsection.

Bush Weaves Rug Story Into Many an Occasion  —  President Uses His Oval Office Floor Covering as a Metaphor for Optimism and Leadership  —  Nothing says power like the Oval Office.  The paintings of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.  The bust of Dwight D. Eisenhower.  The desk used by both Roosevelts.

One of These Things Is Not Like the Others  —  Retired Army Maj. Gen. William L. Nash: … Anthony Cordesman: … Current US Ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad: … Official Presidential and DoD outlook, via Chairman of the JCOS, Gen. Peter Pace:

Unchristened Embryos, Destination: Hell  —  I brought up one of my favorite forced birth conundrums the other day, guaranteed to make wingnut "life begins at conception" heads explode.  If a fire breaks out in a fertility clinic and you can only save a petri dish with five blastulae or a two-year old child, which do you save?

House Conservatives Prepare Austere Alternative Budget  —  WASHINGTON, March 6 — With Congress heading into a politically perilous budget season, influential House conservatives plan this week to propose an austere alternative spending plan that would pare more than $650 billion over five years …

Election - Year Politics Shadow Ports Issue  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Democrats are using the uproar over an Arab company's planned takeover of some U.S. port operations to paint Republicans as faltering on the GOP's signature issue — national security — and accuse them of ignoring port safety in the past.

The Today Show Becomes Matt Lauer's Geography Class  —  I honestly think MSM has given up on any attempt at objectivity.  They know their game is up, so they figure, "Why hide it?"  —  Such is the case this morning with Matt Lauer's rendition of an unbiased Katie Couric interview.

8,000 desert during Iraq war  —  At least 8,000 members of the all-volunteer U.S. military have deserted since the Iraq war began, Pentagon records show, although the overall desertion rate has plunged since the Sept. 11 attacks in 2001.  —  Since fall 2003, 4,387 Army soldiers …

Bombings in India Raise Fear of Sectarian Violence  —  NEW DELHI, March 7 — A series of apparently coordinated bombs went off in the ancient Hindu holy city of Benares in eastern India this evening, raising the specter of sectarian violence.  —  The first bomb exploded at the Sankat Mochan temple shortly …

Press Briefing by Scott McClellan  —  MR. MCCLELLAN: Let me begin with an announcement on the President's schedule.  The President will welcome President Toledo of Peru to the White House on March 10th.  The visit will be an opportunity for the President to underscore his appreciation …

Driver at UNC Cites Vengeance for Muslims  —  CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 6 — A University of North Carolina graduate from Iran, accused of running down nine people on campus to avenge the treatment of Muslims, said at a hearing Monday that he was "thankful for the opportunity to spread the will of Allah."