04/20/06 FOX Poll: Gloomy Economic Views; Bush Approval at New Low  —  NEW YORK — More Americans disapprove than approve of how George W. Bush, Donald Rumsfeld and Congress are doing their jobs, while a majority approves of Condoleezza Rice.  President Bush's approval hits a record low …

On Anonymity in Blogland  —  Some years ago, the New Yorker ran an amusing cartoon about one of the supposed virtues of the Internet, its anonymity.  It showed two dogs in front a computer.  One was saying to the other (I am working from memory), "On the Internet, no one knows you're a dog."

Woman arrested for speaking freely right after Bush call for "freedom...to speak freely" — and CNN calls it "a blemish" on Hu visit  —  Usually watching CNN with one eye as we blog from our undisclosed location doesn't give us much new fodder, except for the occasional "stuck landing gear" crisis.

Bush Counsel May Be Next in White House Shake-Up  —  WASHINGTON, April 20 — Joshua B. Bolten, the new White House chief of staff, has raised the possibility of moving Harriet E. Miers from her job as President Bush's counsel as part of a continuing shake-up of the West Wing …

Grand Jury Hears Evidence Against Rove  —  Just as the news broke Wednesday about Scott McClellan resigning as White House press secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff Karl Rove shedding some of his policy duties, Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald met with the grand jury hearing evidence …

Tech student charged with supporting terror group  —  Another Atlanta area man arrested in Bangladesh  —  A 21-year-old Georgia Tech student taken into federal custody last month has been charged with giving "material support" to a terrorist organization, according to a federal indictment unsealed Thursday.

Introducing the Purple Party  —  Depressed about the Democrats?  Revolted by the Republicans?  You're not alone.  Here in New York (with its Republican mayor and Democratic voters), a third way is being plotted.  Follow the purple-brick road.  —  B  —  efore I was old enough to vote …

Seeing red over 'green scare'  —  MEET AL GORE, scaremonger.  In 2004, Gore denounced President Bush for "playing on our fears."  Today, he is at the forefront of a "green scare" about global warming intended to terrify Americans into submitting to his environmental policies.

Wait — Don't Open That Wallet!  —  Kos tells us that despite the fact that the Sierra Club only gives Lincoln Chafee a 20% approval rating for his voting record, they are endorsing him.  Presumably because he "bucks his party" (and if he's ever done so in a meaningful way where it wasn't all for show …

Phony doctor gives free breast exams  —  MIAMI (Reuters) - A 76-year-old man claiming to be a doctor went door-to-door in a Florida neighborhood offering free breast exams, and was charged with sexually assaulting two women who accepted the offer, police said on Thursday.

TALKING TO IRAN....What should we do about Iran?  I have a suggestion, but first I need to relate a story that's gotten suprisingly little attention from the press.  Perhaps they're too bored to pick up on it.  —  It started on May 6, 2003, shortly after George Bush declared "Mission Accomplished" in Iraq.

'NYT' Sunday Preview: Madeleine Albright Can Leg-Press 400 Pounds  —  NEW YORK In an interview in the The New York Times Magazine that will appear this coming Sunday, Madeleine Albright reveals, among other things, that even at 68, she works out three times a week "and I can leg-press up to 400 pounds."

Immigration arrests 9 bosses along with 1,000 workers  —  Strategy to focus more on companies that employ illegal workers  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Federal immigration authorities arrested nine people linked to the firm IFCO Systems and rounded up more than 1,000 illegal immigrants in multistate raids …

Al-Jafari to Give Up Nomination for Iraqi Prime Minister  —  BAGHDAD, April 20 — Iraq's prime minister will give up his nomination for a new term as head of the country's new government, a senior member of his Shiite party announced, only a few hours before a long-delayed parliament meeting scheduled …

F.D.A. Dismisses Medical Benefit From Marijuana  —  WASHINGTON, April 20 — The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday that "no sound scientific studies" supported the medical use of marijuana, contradicting a 1999 review by a panel of highly regarded scientists.

A Crisis Almost Without Equal  —  Republicans and Democrats alike are starting to face the prospect of what it means to have George W. Bush as their commander in chief for another 33 months — in a time of war, terrorism, and nuclear intrigue.  How can the press contribute to confronting the crisis?