Hillary lashes out at Ann Coulter  —  WASHINGTON - New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton lashed out at Ann Coulter for a "vicious, mean-spirited attack" on a group of outspoken 9/11 widows, whom the right-wing television pundit described as "self-obsessed" and enjoying their husbands' deaths.

Official of U.N. Says Americans Undermine It With Criticism  —  UNITED NATIONS, June 6 — Secretary General Kofi Annan's deputy assailed the United States on Tuesday for withholding support from the United Nations, encouraging its harshest detractors and undermining an institution that he said Washington needed more than it would admit.

Narrow Victory by G.O.P. Signals Fall Problems  —  SAN DIEGO, June 7 — The victory that Republicans squeezed out in a high-profile race to fill a Congressional vacancy here eased party anxieties Wednesday but signaled future difficulties as they confront tougher Democratic challenges in increasingly contested districts this fall.

Gay Marriage Amendment Fails in U.S. Senate  —  The Senate, as expected, defeated a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage today in a procedural vote that fell far short of the number required to amend the Constitution.  —  The 49-48 vote on a motion to end debate …

Bush Emphasizes English, Assimilation for Immigrants  —  OMAHA, June 7 — Continuing his campaign to build support for comprehensive immigration legislation, President Bush on Wednesday emphasized that illegal immigrants who want to stay here should learn English and demonstrate that they are committed …

Self-Loathing and the Denial of Terrorism  —  You're an enlightened world citizen.  Your T-shirt says "9/11 was an inside job."  You're pretty sure we're living in a fascist state, that President Bush taps the Dixie Chicks' phones, Christian abortion clinic bombers outnumber jihadis …

Media Death Watch in action on purported kidnapped Canadian soldier  —  Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan: Earlier this week, Glenn Reynolds reproduced an informal email from Afghanistan, which included an anecdote about the Canadian media maintaining the "Death Watch" (their own words) at Kandahar Airfield.

Louisiana Governor Plans to Sign Anti-Abortion Law  —  BATON ROUGE, La., June 6 — Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco's office said Tuesday that she would shortly sign into law a strict ban on abortion that would permit abortion only in the case where a woman's life was threatened by pregnancy.

Media Danse Macabre  —  The Marine incident, and its aftermath, at Haditha tells us much more about the media than it does about the Marines.  And what it tells us ought to outrage us to the core.  —  On every radio and television show I appeared on last week (and all I observed) …

Officer at Fort Lewis calls Iraq war illegal, refuses order to go  —  In a rare case of officer dissent, a Fort Lewis Army lieutenant has refused orders to head out to Iraq this month to lead troops in what he believes is an illegal war of occupation.  —  1st Lt. Ehren Watada's Stryker brigade …

DeLay's Parting Advice: Ignore the Press, Stand on Principle  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay urged colleagues Wednesday to "stand on principle" and ignore the media in a farewell speech to fellow House Republicans at their weekly private meeting.

Of Clerks and Perks  —  Why Supreme Court justices have more free time than ever—and why it should be taken away  —  T here are few jobs as powerful as that of Supreme Court justice—and few jobs as cushy.  Many powerful people don't have time for extracurricular traveling, speaking …

Data Theft Affected Most in Military  —  Social Security numbers and other personal information for as many as 2.2 million U.S. military personnel — including nearly 80 percent of the active-duty force — were among the data stolen from the home of a Department of Veterans Affairs analyst last month …