Cheney Assails Press on Report on Bank Data  —  WASHINGTON, June 23 — Vice President Dick Cheney on Friday vigorously defended a secret program that examines banking records of Americans and others in a vast international database, and harshly criticized the news media for disclosing …

F.B.I. Killed Plot in Talking Stage, a Top Aide Says  —  WASHINGTON, June 23 — A plot to topple the Sears Tower in Chicago and attack the F.B.I. headquarters in Miami was "more aspirational than operational," a top bureau official said Friday, a day after seven Florida men were arrested on terrorism charges.

Lieberman, Lamont differ on Iraq  —  (East Hartford-WTNH, June 23, 2006 6:00 PM) _ The man looking to force Sen. Joseph Lieberman out of his job is using the war in Iraq as the catalyst.  But Lieberman says his Democratic primary opponent Ned Lamont is waffling over ending the war in Iraq.

A MESSAGE FROM TNR'S LIEBERMAN-LOVING NEOCON OWNER:  —  Forgive me.  But I never read Daily Kos until today.  Well, now that I've read it, the first thought that came to me is how illiterate Kos is, just plain illiterate.  There has been other not-with-a-pick-axe-but-with-a- bludgeon left-wing journalism …

Clinton Says GOP Blindly Follows Bush  —  She Calls an Open Debate on the Iraq War More Important Than Party Unity  —  One day after suffering a pair of defeats on the Senate floor, Democratic leaders argued yesterday that their internal divisions over Iraq will help push the country toward …

THE ORIGINS OF BLOGOFASCISM:  —  At the end of my post yesterday, I wrote, "The blogosphere's fanaticism is, in many ways, the triumph of a lack of focus."  It just so happens that on his blog today, none other than Andrew Sullivan, hardly an ideological soulmate of mine, quotes Santayana …

MORE BLABBERMOUTH POSTERS  —  An Army of Photoshoppers, to borrow Instapundit's phrase, is unleashing on the MSM blabbermouths and their leaky sources.  Thanks for these fabulous entries, readers.  Maybe someone in the MSM will get the message.  Keep 'em coming...  PTG:  —  HA affiliate Sanctuary Bryan:

Mineta to Quit As Transportation Secretary  —  Norman Mineta, the Only Democrat in President Bush's Cabinet, to Resign As Transportation Secy.  —  WASHINGTON Jun 23, 2006 (AP)— Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, the only Democrat in President Bush's Cabinet, will step down next month.

The Doves Who Become Hawks Once Out Of Office  —  Kare11 reports that former Vice President Walter Mondale says that he supports a pre-emptive strike against the North Korean missile site. … Kare rightfully notes: … I find this to be highly interesting: suddenly former Democrats are becoming so-called hawks.

Young People Should Respect their Elder Liars  —  I didn't want to just let this article from Richard Morin titled 'Jon Stewart, Enemy of Democracy' (or 'Comedy Poisoning Democracy') go unanswered (via Alternet).  Here's Morin's argument. … Ugh, there are so many bad leaps of logic here.

Television producer Aaron Spelling dies  —  LOS ANGELES, California (AP) — Aaron Spelling, a onetime movie bit player who created a massive number of hit series, from the vintage "Charlie's Angels" and "Dynasty" to "Beverly Hills 90210" and "Melrose Place," died Friday, his publicist said.  He was 83.