Iran plotting to groom bin Laden's successor  —  Audio: Why is the policy change significant?  —  Iran is trying to form an unholy alliance with al-Qa'eda by grooming a new generation of leaders to take over from Osama bin Laden, The Daily Telegraph can reveal.

Oh, Joyous Day.  —  I ONLY PUT THIS IN "REPUBLICANS" BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE A "BONEHEADS" CATEGORY.  —  Oh, this is simply priceless.  With Ken Mehlman retiring, we need a new RNC Chair.  —  We could have had a promising up-and-comer with a great life story, fantastic political skills, and odds-on-sharps like you wouldn't believe.

In Backing Murtha, Pelosi Draws Fire  —  House Speaker-designate Nancy Pelosi's endorsement of Rep. John P. Murtha's bid for House majority leader set off a furor yesterday on Capitol Hill, with critics charging that she is undercutting her pledge to clean up corruption by backing a veteran lawmaker …

AP: Giuliani takes step toward '08 bid  —  WASHINGTON - Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, a moderate Republican best known for his stewardship of the city after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has taken the first step in a 2008 presidential bid, GOP officials said Monday.

Lott running for whip post  —  After keeping his plans close to the vest since Election Day, Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.) formally declared his bid for minority whip on Monday evening.  —  Lott had refrained from openly discussing his intentions for the whip race even after GOP Conference …

Outrage as Church backs calls for severely disabled babies to be killed at birth  —  The Church of England has broken with tradition dogma by calling for doctors to be allowed to let sick newborn babies die.  —  Christians have long argued that life should preserved at all costs …

A Perfect Storm?  —  A perfect storm may be brewing in Lebanon.  —  I've been under Tornado Watch probably ten times or so in the American Midwest.  Not once did a tornado touch down anywhere near me while I was on alert.  Several tornadoes, though, blew through the area out of the blue with no warning on different days.

Al Qaeda seeking nuclear kit for attacks: UK official  —  LONDON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda is trying to acquire the technology that would enable it to use a nuclear device to attack Western targets including Britain, a senior British official said on Monday.  —  "We know the aspiration is there.

US: Immigrants may be held indefinitely  —  WASHINGTON - Immigrants arrested in the United States may be held indefinitely on suspicion of terrorism and may not challenge their imprisonment in civilian courts, the Bush administration said Monday, opening a new legal front in the fight over the rights of detainees.

After Vote, Public Demands Change: Take Down the Signs  —  Election Day has come and gone, and now comes the true test for candidates: how well they clean up after themselves.  With a bumper crop of more than 20 million campaign signs this election season, the race has begun.

Anthrax hoaxer may be Free Republic poster  —  The man arrested on Saturday for sending more than a dozen envelopes containing "fake anthrax" to anti-war celebrities, journalists, and politicians may have ties to the conservative supersite Free Republic, RAW STORY has found.

Farmers Branch Approves Anti-Immigration Measures  —  (AP) FARMERS BRANCH Council members in Farmers Branch unanimously approved tough new anti-immigration measures Monday evening, including one that makes English the official language.  —  In a series of 6- votes, the council members …

BBC frightened of criticising Islam, says archbishop  —  The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, has accused the BBC of bias against Christianity and says the broadcaster fears a terrorist backlash if it is critical of Islam.  —  The archbishop, the second most senior figure in the Church …

A Setback for Vietnam Trade Bill  —  In an embarrassing legislative setback for the administration, the House of Representatives defeated a measure late Monday that the president had sought to normalize trade relations with Vietnam, four days before President Bush was scheduled to leave for his first visit to that country.