Democrats slash Feingold move on censure, as Feingold says party 'cowering'  —  While mainstream media outlets have pounced on the fact that Democrats blocked an effort by one of their own to censure President Bush over his warrantless wiretapping program, RAW STORY has found that Senate Democratic offices are fuming.

Myths of Iraq  —  During a recent visit to Baghdad, I saw an enormous failure.  On the part of our media.  The reality in the streets, day after day, bore little resemblance to the sensational claims of civil war and disaster in the headlines.  —  No one with first-hand experience of Iraq …

Palestinians Surrender After 10-Hour Siege  —  JERICHO, West Bank - Israeli soldiers using helicopters, tanks and bulldozers burst into a Palestinian jail Tuesday to seize militants wanted for the assassination of a Cabinet minister, triggering a 10-hour standoff that ended when the prisoners gave themselves up.

Recruiting "top drawer blacks" for the GOP  —  Adele Fergusen  —  Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal  —  Dear Mrs. Fergusen,  —  I think you answered your own question about why black people aren't flocking to the Republican Party.  If, as you point out, slavery was a godsend to them …

Bush delegates most issues, focuses only on Iraq, '06 campaign  —  President Bush has decided to stay out of the lion's share of decisions made by his administration.  —  Sources close to the administration said that over the last year, Mr. Bush has chosen to focus on two issues …

I'm Not Sick of Atrios or Digby: Building a Team Means Religious and Secular Liberals Hearing Each Other Out  —  I love Atrios, but he's not exactly politically savvy when it comes to the concerns of religious moderates and liberals—the fastest growing part of the Democratic Party base.

Mike Wallace Retiring From '60 Minutes'  —  When asked in an interview last April if he would ever consider retiring from "60 Minutes," Mike Wallace said that he planned to do so only "when my toes turn up."  —  "Well," Mr. Wallace said, amending that statement in an interview today, "they're just beginning to curl a trifle."

Vanity Fair on Woodward: Schlock and Awe  —  Yesterday I looked at Marie Brenner's laughably biased attempt to rehab her good friend Judy Miller's reputation in the April Vanity Fair.  —  Today, it's her equally laughable whitewashing of Bob Woodward's role in Plamegate.

Study Links Ambien Use to Unconscious Food Forays  —  The sleeping pill Ambien seems to unlock a primitive desire to eat in some patients, according to emerging medical case studies that describe how the drug's users sometimes sleepwalk into their kitchens, claw through their refrigerators …

YOUR INNER WARRIOR: SUITING UP FOR BATTLE  —  Lust stalks you like a beast, attacking at every opportunity, attempting to poison your life with its self-centered cravings.  It's a teen guy's No. 1 battle.  Guys who are victorious have learned to face present and future temptations head-on.

U.S. Spending Billions to Stop Iraq IEDs  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United States is pouring billions more dollars and fresh platoons of experts into its campaign to "defeat IEDs," the roadside bombs President Bush describes as threat No. 1 to Iraq's future.  —  The American military even plans …

Tehran elite turning on extremist presidency  —  TEHRAN — Iran's clerical and business establishments, deeply concerned by what they see as reckless spending and needlessly aggressive foreign policies, are increasingly turning against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

New Panel to Investigate Iraq War Policy  —  WASHINGTON - Ten prominent Americans, including former Secretary of State James A. Baker III, are forming a bipartisan group to assess the Bush administration's policies in Iraq and political and economic developments in the troubled country.

News Release: U.S. International Transactions  —  Available for this release: Full Release: PDF (85 kb), Tables: XLS (55 kb), Quarterly Highlights (42 kb), Annual Highlights (53 kb)  —  In order to view the PDF files on this page, the free Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed.  —  Note:

FRIST DARES DEMS: MORE CENSURE TALK  —  Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist plans to push Democrats for a vote of censure against President Bush!  —  After facing down Senator Russ Feingold's censure bill on Monday and seeing Democrats of all ranks fold, Frist thinks it's time to call Democrats …

Web Magazine Raises Doubts Over a Symbol of Abu Ghraib  —  The online magazine Salon is challenging the identity of a man profiled by The New York Times in a front-page article on Saturday who says he is the iconic hooded figure in a published photograph who was abused by Americans at Abu Ghraib prison in 2003 and 2004.

Federal aid programs expand at record rate  —  A sweeping expansion of social programs since 2000 has sparked a record increase in the number of Americans receiving federal government benefits such as college aid, food stamps and health care.  —  A USA TODAY analysis of 25 major government programs found …