ALLEN'S REVENGE: EXPOSES UNDERAGE SEX SCENES IN OPPONENT'S NOVELS  —  Sen. George Allen, R-VA, unleashed a press release late Thursday that exposed his rival's fiction writing, which includes graphic underage sex scenes.  —  The press release, as provided by the Allen Campaign:  —  WEBB'S WEIRD WORLD

Rumsfeld Tells Iraq Critics to 'Back Off'  —  With his chorus of critics expanding deeper into Republican ranks, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld told detractors yesterday to pull back as U.S. and Iraqi officials grapple with the uncertainties of laying out Iraq's course.

Muslim cleric apologizes for rape remark  —  SYDNEY, Australia - Australia's most prominent Islamic cleric vowed Thursday to stand strong against widespread outrage over his description of women who don't wear head scarfs as "uncovered meat" who invite rape.

Special treatment for Air America  —  When is a campaign donation not a campaign donation?  Apparently if you spend the money to run a radio program instead of paying for campaign ads that run on that same program.  Just look at Air America.  With $41 million in losses since 2004 …

The Year Of Playing Dirtier  —  Rep. Ron Kind pays for sex!  —  Well, that's what the Republican challenger for his Wisconsin congressional seat, Paul R. Nelson, claims in new ads, the ones with "XXX" stamped across Kind's face.  —  It turns out that Kind — along with more than 200 …

Good Morning, Creep  —  This Michael J. Fox controversy is making me more angry than I can remember being in a long time.  There is something wrong with people who think like this: … If Michael J. Fox could still act he would be making millions of dollars acting in paying TV commercials, films or sitcoms.

Mahdi Army, Iraqi Police Battle in Baquba  —  The Mahdi Army continues to flaunt its power.  It's decision time for Maliki.  —  Iranian proxy Muqtada al-Sadr's Mahdi Army has yet again fought government forces in pitched street battles.  The scene of the latest fighting is the city of Baquba …

G.O.P. Moves Fast to Reignite Issue of Gay Marriage  —  The divisive debate over gay marriage, which played a prominent role in 2004 campaigns but this year largely faded from view, erupted anew on Thursday as President Bush and Republicans across the country tried to use a court ruling …

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 …

I.R.S. Going Slow Before Election  —  Mark W. Everson, commissioner of internal revenue, said he regularly discussed the potential impact of agency actions with senior staff members.  "We are very sensitive to political perceptions," Mr. Everson said.  —  The commissioner of internal revenue …

Is that a fact: Ad twists Bachmann's crime views  —  A recent ad uses one Senate vote unfairly against the GOP candidate in the tight Sixth District race.  —  A highly deceptive ad by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee takes one vote out of context to distort congressional candidate Michele Bachmann's record on crime.

Keith Ellison's deplorable legislative record.  —  I ran across this and thought you all would appreciate a glance at the kind of nut-jobbery Keith X Hakim-Ellison engaged in during his tenure at the at the MN House of Rep's.  —  1. 2005-2006 Legislative Session he authored a bill …

ATLAS INTERVIEW: MARK STEYN WARNS US  —  Mark Steyn Interview: Money quote (for Atlas) (minute 7:47, Part II) … From Steyn?  I can die and go to heaven now.  My day, month, year is made.  Totally.  —  Here's the audio in two parts, anyone who wants to convert to MP3?  —  Download mark_steyn_part_i.wav

Email to a friendPost a CommentPrinter-friendlyAbsorbing Gay Pain & Praise, Clinton Says She's Evolved  —  In an appearance early Wednesday evening in front of roughly three-dozen LGBT leaders, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton indicated that she would not oppose efforts by Eliot Spitzer …

Andrew Sullivan on The Conservative Soul  —  The Hugh Hewitt Show  —  HH: Joined now by Andrew Sullivan, author of The Conservative Soul: How We Lost It, How To Get It Back, in bookstores everywhere.  I will link it at Hughhewitt.com a little bit later.  We've got Andrew for the next hour and a half.

Salon Interview: Camille Paglia  —  It's been a while since Salon last heard from our favorite intellectual and one of our founding contributors, Camille Paglia.  But with so much tumult in the air, we felt the need to ask her to survey the strange tectonic shifts in our political and cultural landscape …

Democrats Fear Disillusionment in Black Voters  —  Last weekend, Jim Webb, the Virginia Democrat who hopes to oust Senator George Allen, crammed in visits to 12 black churches, and for several weeks he has been pumping money into advertisements on black radio stations and in black newspapers.

Seven Reasons Why Karl Rove Is Optimistic  —  Ok, well, actually, we can't break into Rove's head and we don't know why he's personally confident.  Many speculate that the veneer of hope masks unalloyed fear.  But here are seven reasons cited by people who also read "THE polls" …

Missouri ACORN Voter Fraud Scandal Makes the National News  —  Here's the latest on the Missouri ACORN/democratic voter fraud scandal...  Kansas City officials say this is the most irresponsible and extensive voter registration abuse in Missouri in the twenty five years they have been on the job with the Kansas City Board of Elections.