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 …

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 …

New Jersey Court Backs Full Rights for Gay Couples  —  Cindy Meneghin, right, and her partner, Maureen Kilian, heard about the New Jersey Supreme Court's decision on gay marriage Wednesday at their lawyer's office in Newark.  With them was Sarah, left, their daughter.

Bush signs U.S.-Mexico border fence bill  —  WASHINGTON - 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.

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 …

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 …

'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for Oct. 24, 5 p.m.  —  Guests: Harold Ford, Howard Fineman, Chris Cillizza, Tony Snow, Ed Rogers, Hillary Rosen, Jim Talent  —  CHRIS MATTHEWS, MSNBC ANCHOR: Tonight let's hear from the big noises.  In a few minutes I'll ask Tony Snow whether President Bush …

Five US troops killed in Iraq as Bush under fire  —  Source: Reuters  —  The military said on Thursday five more American troops were killed in Iraq, bringing the U.S. death toll for October to 96, as President George W. Bush sought to deflect mounting election-year pressure over the war.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

KENNEDY SURGING  —  Last Friday, we posted Mark Kennedy's new television ad, which takes the Iraq war head-on.  We expected it to be effective, and it has been.  The Kennedy campaign has just finished its latest round of polling, and the new ad, combined with Kennedy's matchless work ethic …

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.

British troops in Iraq likely to be halved after success  —  The number of British troops serving in Iraq will be halved early next year after commanders on the ground yesterday claimed to have reached the "tipping point" in defeating insurgents in the southern city of Basra.

Revolt of the fairly rich  —  Today's lower upper class is seething about the ultrawealthy.  —  (Fortune Magazine) — Not long ago an investment banker worth millions told me that he wasn't in his line of work for the money.  "If I was doing this for the money," he said, with no trace of irony, "I'd be at a hedge fund."

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.

Rights Group Fires Publisher of Foley E-Mail  —  A liberal gay rights group said Wednesday that one of its employees, acting anonymously, had created the Web site that first published copies of unusually solicitous e-mail messages to teenagers from former Representative Mark Foley, which led to his resignation.

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.

An Ascent Shadowed By Questions on Race  —  In February 2004, Sen. George Allen was on a bus taking him from Birmingham to Selma, Ala. On a video screen in front of him was "Eyes on the Prize," the acclaimed documentary chronicling the civil rights movement.

Poll: Most feel civil liberties not harmed by war on terror  —  (CNN) — Most Americans do not believe the Bush administration has gone too far in restricting civil liberties as part of the war on terror, a new CNN poll released Thursday suggests.  —  While 39 percent of the 1,013 poll respondents …

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" …