Prickly Peacock nixes Chicks  —  NBC cancels ads for Dixie docu 'Sing' … The Weinstein Co. is claiming that NBC and the CW have refused to air national ads for the new Dixie Chicks docu "Shut Up & Sing."  —  But while the Peacock has specifically said it won't accept the spots …

Webb Says His Novels 'Inappropriate' for News Radio  —  (CNSNews.com) - In an interview on Washington Post Radio Friday morning, Jim Webb, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia, said excerpts of his novels are "a little bit inappropriate" to be read on news radio.

Oh my god, South Park mocks Irwin  —  The creators of South Park have never been afraid to upset celebrities - and many of the show's viewers.  —  From jokes about religion and homosexuality to four-letter tirades, Trey Parker and Matt Stone have always mixed shock tactics with satire in the hit cartoon series.

Not to Belabor the Point...  ....okay, I have every intention of belaboring it.  —  But tonight's events have really wedged into my craw.  —  I just did an Amazon search on the passage in Webb's book.  It is quite clearly not the leat bit titillating.  The context is that of an American in an exotic …

Religious Conservatives Cheer Ruling on Gays as Wake-Up Call  —  The New Jersey court decision that gay couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples was bad news for social conservatives — the bad news they were hoping for.  —  "Pro-traditional-marriage organizations ought …

Cheney's Remarks Fuel Torture Debate  —  Vice President Cheney said this week that dunking terrorism suspects in water during questioning was a "no-brainer," prompting complaints from human rights advocates that he was endorsing the use of a controversial technique known as waterboarding on prisoners held by the United States.

Melting Snowflakes  —  If Rush Limbaugh and his pals in the media still think that Michael J. Fox is acting, they should check out this video clip from ABC News from last July.  The guy is so clearly trying to do something good here.  It just kills me that these heartless bastards are attacking …

News Release: Gross Domestic Product  —  In order to view the PDF files on this page, the free Adobe Acrobat Reader must be installed.  —  Recorded message: (202) 606-5306  —  GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT: THIRD QUARTER 2006 (ADVANCE)  —  Real gross domestic product …

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.

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.

Results of 2006 Rural Tracker  —  Rural battleground shifts toward Democrats  —  The rural vote has shifted in favor of Democratic congressional candidates in the last month, indicating Republicans are losing ground with a key constituency, according to the Center for Rural Strategies Poll.

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 …

Search for Remains at Ground Zero May Grow  —  Officials overseeing the recovery of human remains at the World Trade Center site will recommend expanding the search to several nearby roads, the Associated Press learned Thursday.  —  A proposal to be sent to Deputy Mayor Edward Skyler on Friday …

Nelson adds another $250,000 to Florida Democrats' coffers  —  Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — ahead in the polls and in fundraising — transferred another $250,000 to the Florida Democratic Party on Thursday, a sign that his campaign is confident of a win and in his ability to help his party.