What American journalists should be thankful for  —  In between breathless condemnations of the Bush administration for stifling its free speech, endless court filings demanding classified and sensitive information from the military and intelligence agencies, and self-pitying media industry confabs bemoaning …

Making the Last Mistake in Iraq  —  The decisions made on Iraq over the next few months will take the measure of America's maturity and sense of responsibility.  Because, whether we like it or not, our decisions — and our decisions alone — will determine whether the barely containable murderous pathologies …

The first remarkable close-up pictures of animals in the womb  —  An unborn elephant, tiny but perfect in every way.  A dolphin swimming in the womb, just as it will have to swim in the ocean the moment it is born.  An unborn dog panting.  —  Each one amazing and now …

More than 140 bodies turn up on Baghdad streets  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — More than 140 bodies have been found dumped across Baghdad over the past three days, police said Wednesday.  —  Police said 52 bullet-riddled bodies were found Wednesday, with 20 of them blindfolded, tied up and possibly tortured.

A Parting Shot From George Allen  —  As a last little gift to America, Senator George Allen, who was narrowly defeated by James Webb this month, has introduced what may be his final piece of legislation: a bill that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons in national parks.

Interventionism's Realistic Future  —  Hard-core foreign policy realists (the kind who say this country should rarely intervene again, anywhere) are hoping that in the wake of our comeuppance in Iraq things will be going their way.  That is to say, U.S. foreign policy will be defined by an obdurate caution …

President Bush Pardons "Flyer and Fryer" in National Thanksgiving Turkey Ceremony  —  Thanksgiving Day, 2006 Proclamation  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  Thanks for coming.  (Applause.)  Welcome to the Rose Garden.  I appreciate being up here with Mike Briggs and Alice Johnson …

Alcee and the Leak  —  "Stay away from Kevin Gordon.  He's hot.  He is using your name in Hialeah."  —  If they consider the issue at all, Americans probably expect the person in charge of overseeing their nation's spies to be smart, insightful and thorough — but above all else, he or she must be able to keep a secret.

Richards' Rant — Not The First Time  —  Did Michael Richards attack the Jews?  Two Los Angeles residents have come forward and said that's exactly what happened last Spring at L.A. comedy club, The Improv.  —  Carol Oschin and J.P. Fillet say they were at The Improv on April 22 when Richards took the stage.

Analysis: Ballots favored Dems  —  Sarasota's 'undervotes' were examined in 5 state races.  —  The group of nearly 18,000 voters that registered no choice in Sarasota's disputed congressional election solidly backed Democratic candidates in all five of Florida's statewide races, an Orlando Sentinel analysis of ballot data shows.

One Syllable of Civility  —  If he wanted to, President Bush could change the tone in Washington with a single syllable: He could just say "ic."  That is, he could stop referring to the opposition as the "Democrat Party" and call the other side, as it prefers, the Democratic Party.

The World According to Jimmy Carter  —  I like Jimmy Carter.  I have known him since he began his run for president in early 1976.  I worked hard for his election, and I have admired the work of the Carter Center throughout the world.  That's why it troubles me so much that this decent man …

Marshall Wittman Envy & a 2008 McCain-Lieberman Ticket  —  The politically ambidextrous king of one-line political zingers Marshall Wittman has made bloggers and traditional style journalists go bonkers the last couple of days.  He's going back to work in the Senate, but this time for an Independent.

Elder Bush takes on son's Arab critics  —  ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Former President George H.W. Bush took on Arab critics of his son Tuesday during a testy exchange at a leadership conference in the capital of this U.S. ally.  —  "My son is an honest man," Bush told members …

Edwards, Obama gain popularity on tours  —  RALEIGH, N.C. - When introducing former vice presidential candidate John Edwards at a book signing this week, a family friend mentioned a bumper sticker she'd seen around town: "Edwards-Obama."  The giddy audience roared with approval.

Social Security Up for Discussion  —  With the elections over and Democrats poised to take control on Capitol Hill, the Bush administration is making a fresh push to persuade them to help rein in the rising costs of Social Security and government health-care programs by offering to open talks with "no preconditions."

Is the BBC Reporting the Right Press Releases?  —  The BCC published an article today on the Israeli use of cluster munitions during the recent war with Hezbollah in Lebanon: … No one will dispute that the aerial bombing conducted during Desert Storm was far more intense …