The War's Left Front  —  The Daily Kos thinks the politics of Iraq will help him shape the Democratic Party.  —  July 3-10, 2006 issue - Markos Moulitsas Zuniga is sitting on his back porch in Berkeley, Calif., listening to the hummingbirds and explaining his plans to seize control of the Democratic Party.

War's Iraqi Death Toll Tops 50,000  —  Higher than the U.S. estimate but thought to be undercounted, the tally is equivalent to 570,000 Americans killed in three years.  —  BAGHDAD — At least 50,000 Iraqis have died violently since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, according to statistics …

U.S. Troop Cuts By Fall 2006 May Be In The Offing  —  A New York Times report that is likely to be an officially-originated leak says a top general is in effect planning the initial states of a withdrawal timetable for Iraq at a time when Republicans are accusing Democrats of advocating …

Feds' sting videotaped oaths to terrorists  —  They thought they were joining al Qaeda, but they were not.  They were led by a ''Moses-like figure'' who carried a cane through Liberty City and wore a cape or sometimes a bathrobe.  They allegedly sought to sow death and terror, and they ended up in leg irons.

The Right: The Next Big Thing?  —  Conservative pundit Hugh Hewitt marries the power of talk radio with the reach of the 'netroots.' Watch out, Kos.  —  July 3-10, 2006 issue - Hugh Hewitt is a master of multitasking.  Week after week, the sanguine, persistent pundit hosts his "center-right" …

Khobar Towers  —  The Clinton administration left many stones unturnd.  —  Ten years ago today, acting under direct orders from senior Iranian government leaders, the Saudi Hezbollah detonated a 25,000-pound TNT bomb that killed 19 U.S. airmen in their dormitory at Khobar Towers in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.

Another Kennedy Living Dangerously  —  ONE of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s family mementos is a boyhood photo of himself in the Oval Office with his uncle President John F. Kennedy.  Then 9, Mr. Kennedy — who is still known as Bobby — had just given the president a spotted salamander in a small vase.

Who's This 'We,' Non-Soldier Boy?  —  REPRESENTATIVE Patrick McHenry, a 30-year-old Republican from North Carolina, rose during the recent debate over Iraq in Congress and declared that the struggle against "Islamic extremists" was his generation's great challenge.

Aaron Spelling, 83; Prolific TV Hitmaker  —  Aaron Spelling, 83, who produced a staggering number of commercial television hits over four decades and whose hallmarks were glamour, violence and sexy escapism, died Friday in Los Angeles.  —  He died at home after suffering a stroke June 18, his publicist said.

Iraq PM unveils unity proposals  —  Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has presented a national reconciliation plan to parliament aimed at stemming sectarian tensions and violence.  —  The 24-point plan offers an amnesty to some insurgents, but not those from groups who have targeted Iraqi civilians, such as al-Qaeda.

Troubles Linger in Regulation of Medicare Customer Service  —  WASHINGTON, June 24 — After enthusiastically promoting Medicare drug plans for three years, the Bush administration is having difficulty regulating these same plans to ensure they comply with federal standards for marketing, customer service and consumer protection.

Bush's Immigration Plan Stalled as House G.O.P. Grew More Anxious  —  WASHINGTON, June 24 — For the White House, the Congressional picnic last week seemed like the perfect setting to mend strained relations with Republican allies on Capitol Hill: President Bush and his advisers eating taquitos …

Peretz: Palestinian terrorists will pay a 'painful price'  —  Defense Minister Amir Peretz, with Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz at his side, told reporters Sunday evening said that Israel "will do all" to return kidnapped IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Shalit, 19, from Mitzpeh Hila in the Galilee …

For Good or Ill, Boom in Ethanol Reshapes Economy of Heartland  —  Dozens of factories that turn corn into the gasoline substitute ethanol are sprouting up across the nation, from Tennessee to Kansas, and California, often in places hundreds of miles away from where corn is grown.

Nonprofit Groups Funneled Money For Abramoff  —  Newly released documents in the Jack Abramoff investigation shed light on how the lobbyist secretly routed his clients' funds through tax-exempt organizations with the acquiescence of those in charge, including prominent conservative activist Grover Norquist.

A close-knit circle of money, power  —  Contractor adds layer to Rep. Lewis' sphere  —  WASHINGTON - When defense contractor Nicholas Karangelen launched a political action committee directed by the stepdaughter of the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, he added another dimension …