Judge's ruling keeps DeLay on ballot  —  AUSTIN - A federal judge ruled today that Republicans cannot replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay on the ballot for the 22nd Congressional District race.  —  U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks, a Republican appointee, ruled that DeLay must appear …

WHAT MURTHA REALLY SAID  —  Previously we noted a controversial speech by Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) at a town hall meeting in Miami, FL, June 24, 2006.  Elizabeth Baier, the reporter on the story, was forced by her editors at the Sun-Sentinel to do a hatchet job (or it was done for her) …

Enron founder, facing prison, dies in Aspen  —  What he couldn't do in the courtroom, former Enron Chairman Ken Lay may finally be able to achieve in death — avoid a criminal record.  —  Lay, 64, who died of a heart attack in Aspen, Colo., early Wednesday morning, will likely have his case vacated …

N.Y. Court Says Lawmakers Should Consider Gay Marriage  —  The New York Court of Appeals ruled this morning that the state Constitution does not guarantee a right to marriage for same-sex couples, and that state lawmakers, not the courts, are better suited to consider the issue.

THE END OF DEMOCRACY PROMOTION....Marc Lynch, after running down the evidence that the Bush administration has "effectively given up on democracy promotion" in the Arab world, makes the following observation: … But that's really just a single piece of a broader, and even more remarkable turn of events …

ARE THE BLOGGERS DISPLACING THE UNIONS?:  —  Garance Franke-Ruta has a smart post over at Tapped about the emerging split between the Netroots and some traditionally Democratic-leaning interest groups, like unions and environmentalists.  Based on two recent articles in The Hill …

Why Economists Like Immigration  —  With members of the House and Senate sparring over immigration reform, it is worth summarizing why most economists are sympathetic with the more welcoming approach of the Senate bill.  —  The study of economics leaves a person with two strong impulses.

Debate Headquarters [47]  —  Track the Discussion Online: Can't get enough?  Check out some of the blogs following the debate tonight.  —  LamontBlog (unoffocial) |  Firedoglake |  MyDD |  Atrios |  Connecticut Local Politics |  Blog for America  —  Rapid Response: Rebut misleading answers …

N.J. Gov., Lawmakers Reach Deal on Budget  —  TRENTON, N.J. — New Jersey's governor and lawmakers reached a deal Thursday on a new state budget, six days into a state government shutdown that shuttered casinos and threw more than 80,000 people out of work.  —  Gov. Jon S. Corzine …

Suicide: Not Painless  —  Michelle Malkin has responded to my post on UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Denice Denton's suicide.  Quick recap: Malkin called Denton a "capitulationist chancellor" after Denton failed to expel or punish students who angrily protested and kicked military recruiters off campus.

Fallen Soldier Gets a Bronze Star but No Pagan Star  —  At the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in the small town of Fernley, Nev., there is a wall of brass plaques for local heroes.  But one space is blank.  There is no memorial for Sgt. Patrick D. Stewart.  —  That's because Stewart was a Wiccan …

Bloggers battle old-school media for political clout  —  Online journals gaining greater influence, scrutiny  —  WASHINGTON — When a writer for The New Republic, the 92-year-old doyen of elite Washington opinion journals, accused the nation's most prominent political blogger of using …

IDF soldier, 21 Palestinians killed in IDF raid in north Gaza  —  An Israel Defense Forces soldier was killed Thursday afternoon during an Israel Defense Forces operation in the northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.  —  First Lieutenent Yehuda Bessal was seriously wounded when shot …

Mexican See-Saw Tips Towards Calderón  —  Trailing by 100th of a Percent, Obrador Stirs Fears of Violence  —  MEXICO CITY, July 5 — It took all night, but Felipe Calderón is back on top in Mexico's see-saw of a presidential race.  —  Calderón, a free-trade booster …

King won't decide first question till cameras roll  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — CNN's Larry King has interviewed every president since Richard Nixon.  Tonight at 9 p.m. ET he conducts his second interview with President George W. Bush since his election in 2000.  —  The interview will be broadcast from the White House.

Army charges officer for refusing to fight in Iraq  —  SEATTLE (Reuters) - The U.S. Army filed three charges on Wednesday against an officer who refused to fight in Iraq due to objections over the legality of the war.  —  First Lt. Ehren Watada, who supporters say is the first commissioned U.S. officer …

Reports conflict about Zubeydi's fate  —  Conflicting reports emerged on Thursday night about the fate of the the Al-Aksa Martyrs Brigades West Bank commander Zakariya Zubeydi, after Border Police's undercover elite Yamas unit, surrounded the home where Zubeydi was believed to be holed up in together with a number of other wanted men.

Ann and Barbara  —  (Update: I'm hearing that Boxer might be going a little wobbly on her decision to stump for Joe.  If she were to issue a statement today saying she is not coming to Connecticut, that would just be a wonderful thing and she would be deserving of all praise for supporting women's rights with her decision.