Pachyderms in the Mist: Red America and the MSM  —  This is a blog for the majority of Americans.  —  Since the election of 1992, the extreme political left has fought a losing battle.  Their views on the economy, marriage, abortion, guns, the death penalty, health care, welfare, taxes …

Bush Defends Decisions on Iraq War  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush said Tuesday the decision about when to withdraw all U.S. troops from Iraq will fall to future presidents and Iraqi leaders, suggesting that U.S. involvement will continue at least through 2008.

How It's Looking  —  EDITOR'S NOTE: In a energetic lunchtime address and Q&A Monday in Cleveland, President Bush spoke about progress in Iraq and a "strategy for victory" there.  —  To mark the three-year anniversary this week of the Coalition going into Iraq, National Review Online gathered …

Press Conference of the President  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  Yesterday I delivered a — the second in a series of speeches on the situation in Iraq.  I spoke about the violence that the Iraqi people had faced since last month's bombing of the Golden Mosque in Samarra.

WOMEN AND ISLAM  —  One of the things that probably get lost in all the demographic projections for Europe - which by the way are subject to some credible criticisms - is the fact that they most likely do not take account of native Europeans becoming Muslim.

The Cheney-led Civil War-Deniers  —  (Markos Moulitsas Zuniga when in US Army, 1989-1992)  —  Former National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft said on January 6, 2005 that we may be seeing "incipient civil war" in Iraq.  —  David Frum misquotes Scowcroft and wrestles with TWN …

The Stone Face of Zarqawi  —  Iraq is no "distraction" from al Qaeda.  —  In February 2004, our Kurdish comrades in northern Iraq intercepted a courier who was bearing a long message from Abu Musab al-Zarqawi to his religious guru Osama bin Laden.  The letter contained a deranged analysis …

Cheney at Fund-Raiser, but Not With the Candidate  —  NEWARK, March 20 — In the biggest campaign fund-raiser yet on behalf of State Senator Thomas H. Kean Jr., Vice President Dick Cheney traveled to New Jersey on Monday and praised Mr. Kean as someone with "the experience …

How to spot a baby conservative  —  Remember the whiny, insecure kid in nursery school, the one who always thought everyone was out to get him, and was always running to the teacher with complaints?  Chances are he grew up to be a conservative.  —  At least, he did if he was one of 95 kids …

Archbishop: stop teaching creationism  —  Williams backs science over Bible  —  The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, has stepped into the controversy between religious fundamentalists and scientists by saying that he does not believe that creationism - the Bible-based account …

The GOP's Shrinking Middle  —  Members of Congress retire all the time, but some retirements are leading indicators of the direction of our politics.  Rep. Sherwood Boehlert's announcement last week to call it quits matters, and in a depressing way.  —  The affable 69-year-old New York Republican …

FBI, you've got mail — NOT!  —  FBI official says budget doesn't cover accounts for all agents  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Budget constraints are forcing some FBI agents to operate without e-mail accounts, according to the agency's top official in New York.  —  "As ridiculous as this might sound …

Poll: Burns struggling in race  —  HELENA - If U.S. Sen. Conrad Burns drops out of the race, either Republican Rep. Denny Rehberg or former Gov. Marc Racicot would instantly hold big leads over the top two Democrats against whom Burns is struggling, a poll released Monday shows.

I'm boss, Hil tells Bill  —  Senator's word is now 'final,' says the ex-Prez  —  WASHINGTON - After being surprised by her husband's role in the Dubai ports deal, Sen. Hillary Clinton has insisted that Bill Clinton give her "final say" over what he says and does, well-placed sources said.

G.O.P. Makes Its Pitch to Firefighters' Union  —  WASHINGTON, March 20 — With the election season heating up, the Bush administration and the Republican Party used a good deal of energy and charm on Monday to woo a group that has long been part of the Democrats' base: organized labor.

Swing Is Still King At the Polls  —  We hear it every day: America is divided into two camps — red and blue — and the key to elections is just energizing the base.  —  But in fact, while the base is critical, it's not the whole picture.  Behind all the rhetoric, the reality is that swing is still king.