G.O.P. Plan Would Allow Spying Without Warrants  —  WASHINGTON, March 8 — The plan by Senate Republicans to step up oversight of the National Security Agency's domestic surveillance program would also give legislative sanction for the first time to long-term eavesdropping on Americans without …

Senator Resumes Lobbyist Huddles  —  After saying in January that he would end his regular meetings with lobbyists, Sen. Rick Santorum (Pa.), the third-ranking GOP leader in the Senate, has continued to meet with many of the same lobbyists at the same time and on the same day of the week.

An Iran Strategy  —  In January, Liberal Oasis criticized Sen. Hilllary Clinton's approach on Iran's nuclear program.  —  Clinton was seeking to outhawk the Bushies, accusing them of "outsourcing it to others and standing on the sidelines".  —  That was dumb from the get-go.

Boy in a Bubble  —  What George Clooney doesn't know about life.  —  Memo to: The Academy  —  From: Just another viewer  —  Re: Advice, as if you wanted more  —  I cannot remember a time when, in the days after the Academy Awards show, it was not criticized, and even blasted.

Against CanadaCare  —  As Matt alludes to here, international comparisons are a little tricky.  But he's wrong to defend Canada's health care system.  Now, it is true that Americans spend way more on health care, per capita, than other countries do.  Taking the Canada example, our neighbors up north spend $2,535 per citizen.

Negative Perception Of Islam Increasing  —  Poll Numbers in U.S. Higher Than in 2001  —  As the war in Iraq grinds into its fourth year, a growing proportion of Americans are expressing unfavorable views of Islam, and a majority now say that Muslims are disproportionately prone to violence …

The Three Stooges  —  Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, and Howard Dean.  —  According to the latest CBS News poll, George W. Bush's approval rating hit a personal worst of 34 percent in February, making him the most unpopular president since Nixon during Watergate.

Bush: Congress 'Shortchanged' New Orleans  —  Touring Gulf Coast, President Calls for Restoration of $1.5 Billion for Levee Repairs  —  NEW ORLEANS, March 8 — President Bush, on a Gulf Coast inspection tour that included his first visit to this city's storm-shattered Lower Ninth Ward …

Suspect: Church fires started as 'joke'  —  Three Birmingham college students arrested, charged  —  BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (CNN) — Three Birmingham college students were arrested and charged Wednesday in connection with a string of Alabama church fires that is described in court papers as a joke that "got out of hand," authorities said.

Costly Gestures  —  South Dakota has enacted a ban on abortion except to save a woman's life.  Pro-choice forces in the state have not decided whether to try to repeal the law by referendum or to file a lawsuit in federal court.  If the latter, the court will surely strike the law …

Gallup: More Than Half of Americans Reject Evolution, Back Bible  —  NEW YORK A Gallup report released today reveals that more than half of all Americans, rejecting evolution theory and scientific evidence, agree with the statement, "God created man exactly how Bible describes it."

Minding the Gap  —  Who's getting ahead, who's falling behind, and why?  —  They are questions that grip us in fits and starts.  Author Douglas Coupland worried in his 1991 novel "Generation X" about "Brazilification," or the widening gulf between rich and poor and the disappearance of the middle class …

PortGate: Republicans Turn on President Bush — And What Will It Cost Us?  —  We make a prediction.  —  The AP's Liz Zidoti is eager to report: "In an election-year repudiation of President Bush, a House panel dominated by Republicans voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to block a Dubai-owned firm …