EXCLUSIVE: No Deal for Karl Rove  —  Sometimes people just don't know when to cry "uncle."  I do.  I asked Robert Luskin this morning if Karl Rove has made a deal with Fitzgerald.  His response: … Which is exactly what Luskin told me weeks ago.  It's over, folks.  Karl Rove will not be charged with a crime.

President Bush Visits Troops in Iraq  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.  Thank you for the warm welcome.  Thought I'd stop in to say "hello."  (Laughter and applause.)  I bring greetings from a grateful nation.  (Applause.)  I thank you for your sacrifice, I thank you for your service, I thank you for making history.

'Kill Iraqis marine song' probe  —  The US marines have launched a probe into a video posted on the internet that apparently shows a serving marine singing about killing Iraqi civilians.  —  A spokesman described the video as "clearly inappropriate" and contrary to the standards of the marines.

Bush May Meet Vow To Halve The Deficit Three Years Early  —  Aided by surging tax receipts, President Bush may make good on his pledge to cut the deficit in half in 2006 — three years early.  —  Tax revenues are running $176 billion, or 12.9%, over last year, the Treasury Department said Monday.

Hastert Deals Blow to Immigration Bill  —  Hopes for a quick compromise on immigration were dealt a blow Tuesday after House Speaker Dennis Hastert said he wanted to take a "long look" at a Senate bill offering possible citizenship to millions of illegal immigrants.

Lieberman Ally Advises: Run As An Independent  —  A prominent ally of U.S. Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman urged Monday that Lieberman run for re-election as an independent and not trust his career to left-leaning Democratic primary voters in August.  —  John F. Droney Jr., a former Democratic state chairman …

Panel: Churchill should be fired  —  Ward Churchill, the professor who called some of the World Trade Center victims "little Eichmanns," should be fired because of "repeated and deliberate" infractions of scholarship rules, a University of Colorado committee said today.

Do mention the war  —  Tomorrow, the Democratic leaders of the House and Senate (that would be Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Harry Reid & Co.) are going to formally introduce what they call "a new direction for America."  —  We don't know the specifics, although it sounds like a low-grade version …

Letters policy  —  Here is the policy that Editorial Board editors use in selecting letters to the editor for publication in The Arizona Republic:  —  1. Letters must be signed.  All letters must be verified prior to publication.  We don't publish unsigned letters.  —  2. Clarity, conciseness of language.

U.S. court tosses lawsuit over "In God We Trust"  —  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. district court judge on Monday dismissed a lawsuit brought by a California atheist against the U.S. government for its use of the phrase "In God We Trust" on its coins and currency.

Webb Wins Democratic Nomination In Virginia  —  Ex-Republican to Face Allen for U.S. Senate  —  Virginia Democrats yesterday chose Vietnam War hero James Webb to challenge Sen. George Allen (R), siding with their party's national leadership, which had declared the former Republican …

A Bush Aide's Blunt Words  —  New Adviser Pulled No Punches in His Magazine Pieces  —  Bill Clinton is a "virtuoso deceiver" and Hillary Rodham Clinton a "true chameleon" guilty of "self-serving behavior, comparative radicalism, and dubious personal morality."  —  Al Gore is a "mad dog" known to "foam at the mouth."

Help the Family of an LAPD Officer Paralyzed in the Line of Duty  —  As regular readers know, I generally do not actively solicit donations or hold pledge drives.  But I'd like to ask you to consider making a donation today — not to me, but to the family of an LAPD officer who has been shot and paralyzed.