Senate Rejects Call for Iraq Withdrawal  —  WASHINGTON, June 15 — The Senate overwhelmingly rejected a call this afternoon for withdrawal of most American combat troops from Iraq by the end of the year as debates in both houses of Congress mixed high emotion with calculated maneuvering.In the House …

Maliki Aide Who Discussed Amnesty Leaves Job  —  Premier Disavows Remarks; Egyptian Seen Replacing Zarqawi  —  BAGHDAD, June 15 — Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's office on Thursday accepted the resignation of an aide who had told a reporter that Maliki was considering a limited amnesty …

Rep. Jefferson loses Democratic caucus vote  —  Black Caucus leader cites racial unfairness  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — With members of the Congressional Black Caucus crying double standard, House Democrats met behind closed doors Thursday and voted to strip Rep. William Jefferson of his seat on the Ways and Means Committee.

Sacrificing Our Troops on the Altar of Republican Politics  —  Leave it to the Porcine Draft Dodger—Karl Rove—to impugn the character of combat veterans.  Can't blame him for trotting out the same playbook that worked so well in 2004 against the candidacy of John Kerry.  If it worked once it should work again.

Ann Coulter Identifies John Murtha as a Target for Murder  —  I posted an extended guest entry on Crooks and Liars earlier today explaining why I think Ann Coulter should not be ignored by the online community.  Since Coulter-fatigue is setting in, I'm posting the entire essay below to reiterate …

Court Backs No-Knock Search  —  A divided Supreme Court ruled today that evidence can be used against a defendant even when seized in violation of a long-standing rule requiring a knock on the door before executing a search warrant.  —  The 5-4 decision, written by Justice Antonin Scalia …

Zarqawi Replacement: Trained Professional  —  Alexis Debat Reports:  —  The mystery man identified by U.S. authorities as the successor to Abu Musab al Zarqawi is an Egyptian with close ties to Osama bin Laden's No. 2 man, Jordanian intelligence officials tell ABC News.

Iran would 'use nuclear defense'  —  TEHERAN, Iran  —  Iran's defense minister on Thursday vowed that his country would "use nuclear defense as a potential" if "threatened by any power."  —  Speaking following a meeting with his Syrian counterpart Hassan Ali Turkmani in Teheran on Thursday …

Marshall Wittmann: Donkey or Ass?  —  I read your post with interest this morning (via Greg Sargent).  As a leading light in the Democratic Party and the DLC we need you now, Marshall.  More than ever.  You're absolutely right — nobody should listen to us "puerile bloggers and assorted lefties."

Great Moments in Senate Fashion  —  Rick Santorum (R-PA) pulls off the tricky Great-Gatsby-meets-My-Little- Pony look.

U.S. 'Stagflation' Worries Mount  —  Inflation data and a possible Fed rate hike stir fears of prices rising amid a languishing economy.  —  With inflation heating up amid the prospect of another interest rate hike from the Federal Reserve, some economists said Wednesday they were beginning …

Netroots Survey Results, Part One  —  Cross Psoted on Dailykos, where it could use a rec or two  —  This is the survey you paid for—the first survey conducted under BlogPac's new management.  The results were already released at Yearly Kos, and parts of them have appeared in multiple news outlets.

'06 Race Focuses on the Suburbs, Inner and Outer  —  BELLEVUE, Wash., June 15 — In searching for any advantage in this year's Congressional elections, the two parties are focusing with increased intensity on those cul de sac jungles of tenuous political loyalties, the suburbs and exurbs.