The Big Question Democrats Are Ducking  —  No matter how you slice it, the National Intelligence Estimate warning that the Iraq war has spawned more terrorism is big trouble for President Bush and his party in this election year.  It goes to the heart of Bush's argument for invading Iraq, which was that it would make America safer.

Bush Blamed More Than Clinton for Failure to Capture Bin Laden  —  Views are predictably partisan; independents mostly blame Bush  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The recent firestorm over former President Bill Clinton's culpability for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks was fueled on Tuesday when Secretary …

POWDER PUFF SPOOKS KEITH  —  MSNBC loudmouth Keith Olbermann flipped out when he opened his home mail yesterday.  The acerbic host of "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" was terrified when he opened a suspicious-looking letter with a California postmark and a batch of white powder poured out.

Most Iraqis Favor Immediate U.S. Pullout, Polls Show  —  A strong majority of Iraqis want U.S.-led military forces to immediately withdraw from the country, saying their swift departure would make Iraq more secure and decrease sectarian violence, according to new polls by the State Department and independent researchers.

How Partisan Is Too Partisan?  —  That's the question we tried to tackle at the Pajamas Media event last night at the National Press Club.  The gist of my remarks was that it is a very difficult, if not impossible question to answer.  Indeed, I came to the conclusion that it's probably best …

OperaRage: Idomeneo and Islam  —  The first thing to remember when reading about the cancellation of Mozart's Idomeneo in Germany and the opera house Deutsche Oper's kowtowing to Islamic bullies is that jihadists hate Western art and music.  —  They hate love songs.  —  They hate Muslim female pop stars.

New Report That Senator Uttered Slurs  —  Another acquaintance of Senator George Allen said Tuesday that she heard him use a racial slur in 1976, contradicting a statement he made Monday in an effort to tamp down similar accusations.  —  Mr. Allen's campaign manager, Dick Wadhams …

7-Eleven dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo  —  DALLAS - Convenience store operator 7-Eleven Inc. is dropping Venezuela-backed Citgo as its gasoline supplier at more than 2,100 locations and switching to its own brand of fuel.  —  The retailer said Wednesday it will purchase fuel from several distributors …

Spineless Democrats Deserve to Lose  —  From the New York Times: … I'm afraid it's already too late for that, Senator Reid.  —  I am puzzled by and ashamed of the Democrats' moral cowardice on this bill.  The latest version of the bill blesses detainee abuse and looks the other way on forms …

New Campaign Ads Have a Theme: Don't Be Nice  —  Clockwise from top, Connecticut: Representative Rob Simmons, a Republican, points out his challenger's lack of service.  New Mexico: A Democratic spot details campaign contributions to Representative Heather A. Wilson.

States, Counties Begin to Enforce Immigration Law  —  CHARLOTTE — Police here operated for years under what amounts to a "don't ask, don't tell" policy toward illegal immigrants.  —  As elsewhere in the United States, law enforcement officers did not check the immigration status of people …

Source: Twin Cities Win GOP Convention  —  Republicans have chosen the Twin Cities of Minneapolis-St. Paul _ in the politically pivotal Midwest _ for the 2008 presidential convention, GOP officials said Wednesday.  —  The selection was expected to be announced later in the day …

Third Night of Ramadan Rioting in Capital of Europe  —  It looks as if immigrants youths want to turn nightly rioting during the Islamic holy month of ramadan into an annual tradition.  Around 8:30pm last night violence erupted again in Brussels, the capital of Europe.

Press downplays Iraq during campaign season.  Again.  —  MSNBC turbo talker Chris Matthews no doubt rattled some glasses amidst the Beltway cocktail circuit last week when he seemed to call out the press corps for turning its back on Iraq.  "It is not on the tube," said Matthews incredulously of the ongoing conflict.

Press Briefing by Homeland Security Advisor Frances Fragos Townsend  —  Office of the Director of National Intelligence  —  MS. TOWNSEND: Good evening, everybody.  Given the leak this weekend of classified information regarding the National Intelligence Estimate dated April 2006 and entitled …