The Feingold Resolution and the Sound of Silence  —  Democratic senators, filing in for their weekly caucus lunch yesterday, looked as if they'd seen a ghost.  —  "I haven't read it," demurred Barack Obama (Ill.).  —  "I just don't have enough information," protested Ben Nelson (Neb.).

A Stumble a Day ...  Every second-term presidency tends to get tired and falter a bit.  But these days, when so many big things are going so very wrong, smaller errors seem like an echo of overall ineptitude.  And since President Bush has convinced Americans that we live in a permanent state …

College paper's editor fired over Mohammed cartoons  —  CHAMPAIGN, Illinois (AP) — An editor who chose to publish caricatures of Prophet Mohammed in the University of Illinois' student-run newspaper last month has been fired, the paper's publisher announced Tuesday.

The Conservative Case Against John McCain In 2008  —  There is no Republican up on Capitol Hill more disliked by his own GOP brethren than John McCain.  That's why, despite the size of his fan club in the mainstream media, McCain seems rather unlikely to capture the party's nomination for President in 2008.

A Continent Splits Apart  —  Normally new rivers, seas and mountains are born in slow motion.  The Afar Triangle near the Horn of Africa is another story.  A new ocean is forming there with staggering speed — at least by geological standards.  Africa will eventually lose its horn.

FBI Took Photos of Antiwar Activists in 2002  —  An FBI agent in Pittsburgh photographed members of an antiwar activist group in 2002, according to documents released yesterday by the American Civil Liberties Union, which said the disclosure marks the latest incident in which the FBI has monitored left-leaning groups.

Powerful Voices Within Tehran Criticize Iran's Nuclear Policy  —  TEHRAN, March 14 — Just weeks ago, the Iranian government's combative approach toward building a nuclear program produced rare public displays of unity here.  Now, while the top leaders remain resolute in their course …

Senate G.O.P. Blocks Tight Budget Rule  —  WASHINGTON, March 14 — Senate Republicans on Tuesday narrowly defeated an effort to impose budget rules that would make it harder to increase spending or cut taxes, a move that critics said that showed Republicans were posturing in their calls for greater fiscal restraint.

Times Brushes Up On Hillary Races With New Beat Star  —  How can you tell how seriously to take Hillary Clinton's Presidential aspirations?  Gamblers have the London bookmakers, who gave the junior Senator from New York 5-to-1 odds as soon as the 2004 election ended—better …

Top U.S. Military Official: No Evidence of Iran Involvement in Iraq  —  Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff, said today he has no evidence the Iranian government has been sending military equipment and personnel into neighboring Iraq.

What Kind of Hater Are You?  —  Consider the portraits that Republicans and Democrats paint of each other.  They explain much of the loathing in our politics.  —  Democrats see Republicans as a collection of pampered rich people who selfishly seek to cut their own taxes …