Book Says Bush Ignored Urgent Warning on Iraq  —  The White House ignored an urgent warning in September 2003 from a top Iraq adviser who said that thousands of additional American troops were desperately needed to quell the insurgency there, according to a new book by Bob Woodward, the Washington Post reporter and author.

Beltway Democrats are seriously flawed, but the election is still critically important  —  (updated below)  —  Now that the torture and detention bill will become law, it is necessary to focus on the political implications of what happened yesterday and, more broadly, what has been done …

Senator Joseph Lieberman, Independent Democrat: The PajamasMedia Video  —  "The fastest growing political party in America is no party, which is to say, that the fastest growing group of voters are unaffiliated with either party.  That's a market statement on the two major parties."

VA-Sen: Say Hello to Spitgate  —  First it was Macacagate.  Then it was Deerheadgate, and, uh, Rugbygate.  The slow drip of questions surrounding George Allen's racist past have turned into an all-out deluge this week with witness after witness stepping out of the woodwork and revealing more incidents of Allen's legacy of racism.

Malkin Derangement Syndrome  —  I have blogged before about the obsessed UNC professor Eric Muller.  —  He and his friends at Wonkette have sunk to a new low (Guess insulting me with ping-pong ball jokes wasn't enough).  As a response to my column this week on Charlotte Church …

Oberstar Fails The Pork Test  —  The House has considered a new Coast Guard appropriation (HR 5681), but they did so under a suspension of the rules.  This parliamentary manuever allows Representatives to undermine the new rule just created that forces them to identify their earmarks in the Congressional Record.

Squirrels Go On Attack At South Bay Park  —  MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — An aggressive squirrel pounced on a 4-year-old boy in an attack last week in Cuesta Park in Mountain View, Calif.  —  The attack happened as the boy's mother unwrapped a muffin during a picnic.  —  SLIDESHOW: Squirrel Attacks Child

Senate passes bill on terror detainee trials  —  Bush backs legislation, had gone to Congress to lobby for it  —  WASHINGTON - The Senate on Thursday endorsed President Bush's plans to prosecute and interrogate terror suspects, all but sealing congressional approval for legislation …

House Approves Warrantless Wiretap Law  —  WASHINGTON — The House approved a bill Thursday that would grant legal status to President Bush's warrantless wiretapping program with new restrictions.  Republicans called it a test before the election of whether Democrats want to fight or coddle terrorists.

UN, Israeli tanks in brief face-off in south Lebanon  —  MARWAHEEN, Lebanon (AFP) - UN and Israeli tanks have been involved in a brief face-off on a road in southern Lebanon where the Israeli army has been setting up checkpoints.  —  Four French Leclerc tanks with UN peacekeepers moved …

Wildlife Waste Is Major Water Polluter, Studies Say  —  Does a bear leave its waste in the woods?  —  Of course.  So do geese, deer, muskrats, raccoons and other wild animals.  And now, such states as Virginia and Maryland have determined that this plays a significant role in water pollution.

BREATHTAKING....You have to give the hawks credit.  Here is Robert Kaplan on why George Bush will have trouble getting support for a war with Iran: … That's a helluva triple gainer, isn't it?  The problem, apparently, lies not in the actual fact that Bush has prosecuted the Iraq war …

Media Anarchy Has Its Downside  —  We got freedom but lost standards.  —  We are talking past each other, the left and right in America.  I suppose we always did, but I'm noticing it more.  We have different intellectual styles (rather too emotive, arguably too linear), start with different assumptions, and recognize different data.

Students Start Petition To Remove UNH Professor For 9/11 Views  —  Professor Says Government May Have Had Knowledge Of Attacks  —  DURHAM, N.H. — A small group of students has started a petition to remove a University of New Hampshire professor who believes that Bush administration officials planned …

Abramoff Put White House Contacts at 400  —  Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff and his colleagues billed their clients for more than 400 contacts with White House officials between 2001 and 2004, according to a report released yesterday by the House Government Reform Committee.