Security around pope beefed up  —  Italian media report security around Benedict XVI tightened following harsh responses to his remarks on Islam; pope expected to deliver weekly sermon from his summer home on Sunday, but it remains unclear whether he will address international uproar

Save Yourself, Blame Bush  —  I can't help but feel sorry for my old Republican friends in Congress who are fighting for their political lives.  After all, it must be tough explaining to voters at their local Baptist church's Keep Congress Conservative Day that it was their party that took …

Want to talk about breasts?  —  It's an all-breast weekend in the blogosphere, since Jessica In The Pushup Bra displayed her impressive 34Cs — this is a preliminary estimate, pending further observation — at the Clinton bloggers lunch.  —  Jessica's breasts annoyed Ann Althouse and amused Glenn Reynolds.

Major Problems At Polls Feared  —  Some Officials Say Voting Law Changes And New Technology Will Cause Trouble  —  An overhaul in how states and localities record votes and administer elections since the Florida recount battle six years ago has created conditions that could trigger a repeat …

Losing Our Will to Win  —  The Islamic terrorists or as President Bush calls them — Islamic fascists — are continuing their ruthless bombing campaign in Iraq and Afghanistan.  The casualty numbers are staggering.  —  Nearly every day in Iraq alone, 50 or more civilians are found tortured …

Na Na Ney Ney Goodbye  —  Bob Ney became the first lawmaker to admit corruption in connection with Jack Abramoff yesterday, pleading guilty to conspiracy and false statements regarding gifts he received.  Ney came up with a new excuse for his abrupt fall as he entered his plea:

Iraq Stumbling in Bid to Purge Its Rogue Police  —  Shiite militiamen and criminals entrenched throughout Iraq's police and internal security forces are blocking recent efforts by some Iraqi leaders and the American military to root them out, a step critical to winning the trust …

What Would the Democrats Do?  —  Some Democrats in the center of the war debate: Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, James Webb of Virginia, Ned Lamont of Connecticut, Senator John Kerry, Patricia Madrid of New Mexico and Senator Joseph Biden Jr.  —  FOR Democrats in Congress and those hoping to join them …

Iranian-born woman to be space tourist  —  DALLAS — Since long before leaving her native Iran as a teenager in 1984, Anousheh Ansari stared at the stars and dreamed of traveling closer to them.  Now at age 40, after an improbable journey that's included learning a new language …

UN should stick to defending Lebanon from Israel: Hezbollah  —  TYRE, Lebanon (AFP) - A top Hezbollah leader said the Shiite group would have no problems with UN peacekeepers as long as they limit their work to defending Lebanon against Israel and do not pursue other agendas.

Cardin fires campaign staffer over racial comments against Steele … Rep. Benjamin Cardin has fired a campaign staffer who wrote racially charged comments on an Internet blog against his opponent, Republican Lt. Gov. Michael Steele, who is black, Cardin's campaign confirmed Saturday.

John Yoo's Falsehoods  —  Back to the stage returns the utterly discredited John Yoo as he pens one of the most audaciously mendacious columns seen on the Op-Ed page of the New York Times this side of David Brooks.  The man is truly shameless: … The Administration has gone to war?

How 3 G.O.P. Veterans Stalled Bush Detainee Bill  —  Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham cornered their partner, Senator John W. Warner, on the Senate floor late Wednesday afternoon.  —  Mr. Warner, the courtly Virginian who is chairman of the Armed Services Committee …