In Key House Races, Democrats Run to the Right  —  In their push to win back control of the House, Democrats have turned to conservative and moderate candidates who fit the profiles of their districts more closely than the profile of the national party.  —  One such candidate, Heath Shuler …

Are You Kidding Me?  —  What in the hell is wrong with the left today?  What makes them think this is acceptable?  ANOTHER incident of putting someone in blackface. … This is sick.  —  UPDATE: Would-be commeters really should read the comment policy on the "About" page.

The Story Behind the Polls  —  What's with the polls?  —  In 2004, the electorate that went to the polls or voted absentee was, according to the adjusted NEP exit poll, 37 percent Democratic and 37 percent Republican.  In party identification, it was the most Republican electorate since …

U.S. Is Said to Fail in Tracking Arms for Iraqis  —  The American military has not properly tracked hundreds of thousands of weapons intended for Iraqi security forces and has failed to provide spare parts, maintenance personnel or even repair manuals for most of the weapons given to the Iraqis …

Midterm Vote May Define Rove's Legacy  —  Big Losses Could Dim Aura of Bush Adviser  —  By many calculations, Democrats are ready to make big gains in the midterm elections, enough to take over the House and possibly the Senate.  But White House Chief of Staff Joshua B. Bolten …

Dead voters continue to cast ballots in New York  —  Steven T. Vermilye was a home inspector and general contractor who grew up in Croton-on-Hudson - he and his father helped build the boat launch at Senasqua Park - went to college in Texas and settled in New Paltz in 1971.

CNN LATE EDITION WITH WOLF BLITZER  —  Interview With Zalmay Khalilzad; Interview With Senators Lugar, Biden  —  THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT.  THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.  —  WOLF BLITZER, HOST: It's 11 a.m. in Washington and here in New York, 8 a.m. in Los Angeles …

'Go Ahead, Put Marks on Me'  —  Second Dancer: Alleged Duke Lacrosse Rape Victim Said to Bruise Her  —  ABC News Law & Justice Unit  —  The second dancer in the Duke rape case has said for the first time that the accuser told her to "go ahead, put marks on me" after the alleged attack.

Debate Puts Steele on Defense  —  Republican Michael S. Steele struggled to soften his long-held views on touchstone social issues yesterday after being challenged repeatedly on his conservative beliefs during his final televised debate in the campaign for Maryland's open U.S. Senate seat.

Absent Without Leave  —  Early voting may result in late election results.  —  This year more voters than ever will cast ballots early.  The result may be that we get the final election results late.  It's possible we won't know which party controls either house of Congress for days …

The Decline Of Trust  —  In 1995 Francis Fukuyama came out with a book called "Trust," in which he argued that a society's capacity for cooperation underpins its prosperity.  The same year, Robert Putnam's famous article, "Bowling Alone," lamented that the United States was depleting its stock of precious social capital.

Nation-building and good intentions  —  Cal Thomas interviews Condi Rice, who tries to make the case for a Palestinian State, based on the universal appeal of freedom and prosperity: … Thomas says Rice is naive.  I think she is confusing cause and effect.

PROJECT VALOUR-IT BLOGWAR.  —  So, it starts.  The clouds have been gathering over the horizon.  —  The enemy is on the move.  —  Fusileers - to horse!  —  I am raising the Regiment, to join Blackfive's Army Team, to smite the ascot-wearers, and the bell-bottomed disorganized hosers who walk that drooling bulldog.

Togetherness In Baghdad  —  A surreal facet of the Iraq fiasco is the lag between when a fact becomes obvious and when the fiasco's architects acknowledge it.  —  Many months ago it became obvious to all but the most ideologically blinkered that America is losing the war launched to deal …

What's The Difference Between You And Me?  —  If you watched the debate last night, it is clear that Harold Ford is making a conscious attempt to both placate the fears, and grab the votes, of white evangelicals.  —  Most of his statements, actions, and positions have gone a long way to that end.

What He's Trying to Say  —  The White House, like any castle, has its own peculiar rituals, and in the five months that Tony Snow has been President George W. Bush's press secretary, he has begun to learn them.  For instance, at some point in virtually every televised press briefing …

Pakistan destroys al-Qaida-linked site  —  KHAR, Pakistan - Pakistani troops backed by missile-firing helicopters destroyed a purported al-Qaida-linked training facility in a northwestern tribal area near the Afghan border Monday, officials said.  At least 20 people were killed.