Hatch: Court Briefed on Bush Surveillance  —  WASHINGTON - Two judges on the secretive court that approves warrants for intelligence surveillance were told of the broad monitoring programs that have raised recent controversy, a Republican senator said Tuesday, connecting a court to knowledge …

DHS Does About-Face In Backing Use of National Guard to Seal Border  —  In December of 2005, Fox News talking head Bill O'Reilly floated an unlikely — even brash — idea to the Homeland Security secretary to seal off the porous southwest border.  —  "Why don't you put the National Guard …

Divide Remains as Bush Pushes Immigration Plan  —  WASHINGTON, May 16 — President Bush pushed ahead on Tuesday with his effort to bring Republicans in the House and the Senate together on a plan to reduce illegal immigration.  But he ran into renewed resistance from conservatives …

Conservative Battle Fatique?  The "What If" Issue  —  More bad news for the GOP in today's edition of The Washington Post as 56 percent of the respondents to the latest Post/ABC News survey say they prefer Democrats in control of Congress.  —  There is a distinct, though not quite as deep …

'Da Vinci Code' Misses the Mark for Critics  —  CANNES, France - "The Da Vinci Code" drew lukewarm praise, shrugs of indifference, some jeering laughter and a few derisive jabs Tuesday from arguably the world's toughest movie crowd: critics at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Care And Maintenance of the Aquarium  —  The Washington Post honors the recently passed Mother's Day by a most interesting article on the health of the newborn: … Are you prepared for this, ladies between the ages of fifteen and fifty-five?  You are now in the state of pre-pregnancy!

Update  —  I am sorry that I have been MIA all day.  I had a doctor appt. out of town that had been scheduled for months and then enjoyed a visit from my mom who came to help lift the spirits of my little fever girl.  Anyway, it has been kinda nice to be away from the computer all day …

At White House Briefing, Polish Replaces Testiness  —  Tony Snow said he didn't want to "hug the tar baby," and then he did just that by using the expression in his first televised White House press briefing yesterday.  —  The tar-covered doll that Br'er Fox used to ensnare Br'er Rabbit …

Disinvited  —  The EEOC cancels a meeting rather than listen to criticism.  —  Last month, I received an invitation to testify before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission about affirmative action and diversity in U.S. companies.  The testimony was scheduled for today …

Venezuela may sell U.S. jets to Iran, others  —  CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela's military is considering the possibility of selling its fleet of U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets to another country, perhaps Iran, a Venezuelan military official said Tuesday.

The Problem Of Mecca  —  Mecca has always been our locus.  Islam was incomplete until Mecca embraced it.  Muhammad willed himself to live only as long as Mecca was not his.  For forteen hundred years we have gone to Mecca in search of God, in fulfillment of duty.

Senate readies vote on $70B tax cut  —  MAY. 11 1:13 P.M. ET President Bush and his GOP allies on Capitol Hill anticipated a long-sought election year victory Thursday as senators debated a bill awarding tax relief to investors and 15 million taxpayers with above-average incomes.

We Will All Win, Eventually  —  Today, in just three divisions (precincts) available to me, Kevin and I pulled over 100 votes.  With only 27-01, 27-02, and 27-23 reporting, we have reached roughly 110 votes.  And that is only three divisions (precincts).  We won, and we won huge.

Tackling a Handful of Immigration Myths, Misnomers and Red Herrings  —  There's no topic hotter in the body politic right now than immigration.  —  Everywhere you turn, especially in the blogosphere, somebody has an opinion.  So, since illegal immigration is the topic du jour …

The Parent Trap  —  Not long ago we worried about baby booms and overpopulation.  Now some people are worrying about a "Global Baby Bust."  Writing in Foreign Affairs, Phillip Longman says it's mostly because of economics: … He's clearly right about the economics.

Foster Quotes Eminem at Penn Graduation  —  PHILADELPHIA - You can add rapping to the list of Jodie Foster's talents.  The Oscar-winning actress spoke Monday at the University of Pennsylvania's commencement ceremonies, ending her address with the chorus of Eminem's "Lose Yourself" from …

Aksa Brigades threatens US, Europe  —  The Aksa Martyrs Brigades, the armed wing of Fatah, on Monday threatened to strike at US and European interests in response to international sanctions on the Palestinian Authority.  —  The threat, the first of its kind, came as PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas …

U.S. Secretly Backing Warlords in Somalia  —  More than a decade after U.S. troops withdrew from Somalia following a disastrous military intervention, officials of Somalia's interim government and some U.S. analysts of Africa policy say the United States has returned to the African country …

Judge Strikes Down Ga. Ban on Gay Marriage  —  ATLANTA - A judge has struck down Georgia's ban on same-sex marriages, saying a measure overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2004 violated a provision of the state constitution that limits ballot questions to a single subject.