Lieberman draws mixed reaction  —  HARTFORD, Conn. - Some voters asked U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman where they could sign a petition that would let him run for a fourth term in November as an independent, but a few others heckled him, calling him a traitor to the Democratic Party.

ENRON'S KEN LAY DIES: 'HIS HEART SIMPLY GAVE OUT'  —  Convicted Enron Corp. founder Ken Lay, who was found guilty of helping perpetuate one of the most sprawling business frauds in U.S. history, has died of a massive coronary.  He was 64.  —  Nicknamed "Kenny Boy'' by President Bush …

U.N. Council to Address Tests by North Korea  —  The United Nations Security Council met in emergency session this morning to respond to North Korea's test-firing of seven missiles, as Japan and South Korea imposed economic penalties and nations around the world denounced the launchings.

Limbaugh will not be charged over Viagra  —  WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - Rush Limbaugh will not face charges in Palm Beach County for the bottle of Viagra found in his luggage that was prescribed in his doctor's name, prosecutors said Wednesday.  —  Charges could have nullified …

Global Warming's Real Inconvenient Truth  —  "Global warming may or may not be the great environmental crisis of the next century, but — regardless of whether it is or isn't — we won't do much about it.  We will (I am sure) argue ferociously over it and may even, as a nation, make some fairly solemn-sounding commitments to avoid it.

Iraq considers arming insurgents  —  BAGHDAD — Iraq's government is studying a request from some local insurgent leaders to supply them with weapons so they can turn on the heavily armed foreign fighters who were once their allies, according to two Iraqi lawmakers.

Update: Company to Probe Coulter Plagiarism Charges  —  I heard back from Universal Press Syndicate's Kathie Kerr.  Her company distributes Ann Coulter's column to over 100 newspapers around the country — columns which, according to recent news, may have contained plagiarized material.

Maverick Mambo  —  McCain positioning himself for '08 is becoming quite an interesting pas de deux.  It appears to me that he's decided to kiss up the religious right and run against K Street, using his campaign finance reform cred.  And he's prepared to do battle with Grover Norquist to that end.

SWIFT Deposits  —  According to Treasury and Justice Department officials familiar with the briefings their senior leadership undertook with editors and reporters from the New York Times and Los Angeles Times, the media outlets were told that their reports on the SWIFT financial tracking system presented risks …

About our 'dictator'  —  IN MANY QUARTERS it has long been taken for granted that George W. Bush is an aspiring dictator, ravenous for power and all too willing to shred the constitutional checks and balances that restrain presidential authority.  Of course this kind of paranoia is routine in the ideological fever swamps .

IDF kills Hamas operative in attack on PA police  —  IDF forces shelled PA police positions on the northern Gaza beach early Thursday, Palestinian witnesses said, killing one and wounding seven officers from the Palestinian coastal police, four seriously.  —  Hospital officials identified the dead man as Hussam Hijazi, 24.

Jewish Family "Forced to Move" Over School Lawsuit  —  "Stop the ACLU Coalition" Publicised Home Address, Phone Number … Back in 2004, the Center for Reclaiming America for Christ (based at Dr D. James Kennedy's Coral Ridge Ministries) praised the efforts of a school board in Delaware …

N.J. Budget Crisis Shuts Down Casinos and Parks  —  TRENTON, July 5 — The budget deadlock in New Jersey continued today, with Gov. Jon S. Corzine accusing legislators of putting politics above good government in an address to a joint session of the Legislature.

Democrats Not Eager to Emulate Texas's Redistricting  —  Democrats cried foul three years ago when Texas Republicans rammed through a highly partisan redistricting to gain an advantage in several House races.  Now, a recent Supreme Court ruling that blessed the Texas plan gives Democrats a chance to show that turnabout is fair play.