Purely foolish Democrats  —  Sen. Joe Lieberman's irritating, but his enemies in the party are worse.  —  NED LAMONT'S challenge to Sen. Joe Lieberman in next month's Connecticut primary has blossomed into a full-scale Democratic civil war.  What's at stake is the legitimacy of partisanship.

Hatemania!  Goldstein's stalker wants right-wingers' heads cracked (Update: PW hit with another DOS)  —  Quoting another brave, plain-speaking truthteller.  In fairness, they don't seem too adamant about bludgeoning; the main thing is having us put down like "rabid animals," so presumably injections would be okay.

Hoekstra's Threat  —  I had a feeling there was something more—a lot more—to the Lichtblau-Shane story reporting a surveillance program that Peter Hoekstra hadn't been briefed on.  Only I wasn't sharp enough to do what texas dem did—look for the letter referenced in the article.

Contender Alleges Mexico Vote Was Rigged  —  Populist's Plan for Legal Challenge Ignites Boisterous Crowd at Massive Rally in Capital  —  MEXICO CITY, July 8 — Downtown Mexico City swelled Saturday with the accumulated frustration and rage of the poor, who were stoked into a sign-waving …

Police Abuses in Iraq Detailed  —  Confidential documents cover more than 400 investigations.  Brutality, bribery and cooperation with militia fighters are common, a report says.  —  BAGHDAD — Brutality and corruption are rampant in Iraq's police force, with abuses including the rape of female prisoners …

What's an Iraqi Life Worth?  —  In Iraq, lives differ in value — and so do deaths.  In this disparity lies an important reason why the United States has botched this war.  —  Last November in Haditha , a squad of Marines, outraged at the loss of a comrade, is said to have run amok …

The Immigration Equation  —  The day I met George Borjas, cloistered in his office at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard while graduate students from Russia, India, China and maybe Mexico mingled in the school cafe, sipping coffee and chattering away in all their tongues …

SECRET WAR VS. EVIL KIM  —  TARGETING NUKES  —  July 9, 2006 — SEOUL, South Korea - A program of covert action against nuclear and missile traffic to North Korea and Iran is to be intensified after last week's missile tests by the North Korean regime.  —  Intelligence agencies …

An Unlikely GOP Comeback Kid?  —  Indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay plans to run for his old seat  —  Could Tom DeLay be headed back to the House?  —  A source close to the ex-Congressman tells TIME that DeLay is planning an aggressive campaign to retake the House seat he quit …

Recent Arrests in Terror Plots Yield Debate on Pre-emptive Action by Government  —  WASHINGTON, July 8 — In Miami last month and now in New York, terror cases have unfolded in which suspects have been apprehended before they lined up the intended weapons and the necessary financing or figured …

One Hug at a Time  —  John Edwards is back-with a retooled résumé and a lot of love for Iowans.  —  July 17, 2006 issue - It's Friday night in Iowa and an old politician is trying some new tricks.  John Edwards is back-back, with the familiar deep drawl, dark tan and honeyed hair.

Hollyweirdo of the week - and a salute to old-style masculinity (SUN AM UPDATE)  —  The ST Hollyweirdo of the week award goes to actor Ethan Hawke, who, in light of the war in Iraq (which he opposes) and seeing the President in a cowboy hat and boots, urges men onward to a 'new kind' of masculine identity: