Voters Increase Support for Stem Cell Research After Viewing Michael J. Fox Ad  —  Republicans' Support for Republican House Candidates Declines  —  FLEMINGTON, N.J.—(BUSINESS WIRE)—A new national study revealed that American voters' support for stem cell research increased after they viewed …

Outrage as Muslim cleric likens women to 'uncovered meat'  —  A Muslim cleric's claim that women who do not wear the veil are like 'uncovered meat' who attract sexual predators sparked outrage around Australia yesterday.  —  Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali, the nation's most senior Muslim cleric …

What Osama Wants  —  THE French saying, often attributed to Talleyrand, that "this is worse than a crime, it's a blunder," could easily describe America's invasion of Iraq.  But for the United States to pull entirely out of that country right now, as is being demanded by a growing chorus of critics …

GOP retires 'Playboy' ad in Tennessee  —  Day after Mehlman defended anti-Ford spot, party says it's 'run its course' … Norah O'Donnell  —  The Republican National Committee said Wednesday it was taking off the air an attack ad that critics said was a racial slur against Democratic …

In Iraq, Journalist Richard Engel Sticks to the Story  —  NBC Correspondent Has Made War Coverage His Life  —  NEW YORK — After struggling for years to make it as a Middle East journalist, Richard Engel was living in Cairo, married to his college girlfriend and itching for a new adventure.

Bush Signs U.S.-Mexico Border Fence Bill  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush signed a bill Thursday authorizing 700 miles of new fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border, hoping to give Republican candidates a pre-election platform for asserting they're tough on illegal immigration.

A New Campaign Tactic: Manipulating Google Data  —  If things go as planned for liberal bloggers in the next few weeks, searching Google for "Jon Kyl," the Republican senator from Arizona now running for re-election, will produce high among the returns a link to an April 13 article from The Phoenix New Times, an alternative weekly.

Airport taxi flap about alcohol has deeper significance  —  The airport taxi controversy may go deeper than the quandary over whether to accommodate Somali Muslim cabdrivers who refuse to carry passengers carrying alcohol.  Behind the scenes, a struggle for power and religious authority is apparently playing out.

Trandahl Names Kolbe as a 'Problem' With Page Program, Source Says  —  Rhonda Schwartz and John Yang Report:  —  A source close to former House Clerk Jeff Trandahl told ABC News that Arizona Congressman Jim Kolbe (R-Ariz.) was one of a small number of "problem members" …

Bush Focuses on Iraq as G.O.P. Tries to Change Subject  —  With a shift in tone and the suggestion of flexibility on tactics in Iraq, President Bush gambled Wednesday that he could rescue Republican candidates who are having a hard time defending the war and an even harder time running away from it.

Barack Obama Writes Emails [10]  —  Barack Obama Writes Emails  —  (Barack Obama sent out an email to his CT list supporting Ned Lamont earlier today - Tim)  —  Ned Lamont has waged an impressive grassroots campaign to give the people of Connecticut a choice in the November Senate election.

A Match Made In Washington: It's A Quote Off!  Round 1...  (H/T to Steve Clemons for the pix.)  —  It's down to the final decisions on the Match Made in Washington Quote Off.  But I need your help to determine the winners.  Voting begins now, and will continue until tomorrow …

2006: THE BIG PICTURE  —  We've been through a lot together this election cycle, and now we're headed for the last round-up on November 7th.  Your Crystal Ball staff will be tweaking our predictions right up until election eve, taking into account last-minute shifts, scandals, and surprises.

Schmidt angry to see 'cowards' speech in TV ad  —  Political Notebook  —  Rep. Jean Schmidt blasted Democrat Victoria Wulsin on Wednesday for allegedly breaking a U.S. House rule that prohibits using the broadcast of House floor proceedings in campaign ads.

Youths torch two buses near Paris  —  Youths in the Paris suburbs have attacked two buses on the eve of the first anniversary of rioting among immigrant communities.  —  In Nanterre, northwestern Paris, about 10 passengers fled a bus as masked youths set it ablaze, police said.

Connecticut Crucible for a War Debate  —  When the three candidates in Connecticut's celebrated Senate race met for their final debate on Monday night in New London, only one of them appeared to be having a good time.  —  It was not Ned Lamont, the tense and fidgety businessman who had captured …

Cheney calls 'water-boarding' a valuable interrogation tool  —  The vice president confirmed that an interrogation technique that simulates drowning and has been called 'cruel and inhumane' was used on al Qaeda suspects.  —  jlanday@mcclatchydc.com  —  WASHINGTON - Vice President Dick Cheney …

Love Me, I'm a Journalist  —  A PROFESSION'S ROMANCE WITH ITSELF.  —  On Monday, I singled out Tim Rutten of the Los Angeles Times and the Washington Post's Howard Kurtz as I admonished journalists for overreacting to staff cuts at newsrooms around the country.

Atheist Evangelist  —  In His Bully Pulpit, Sam Harris Devoutly Believes That Religion Is the Root of All Evil  —  NEW YORK There are really just two possibilities for Sam Harris.  Either he is right and millions of Christians, Muslims and Jews are wrong.  Or Sam Harris is wrong and he is so going to hell.