Bill Richardson Enters '08 Field  —  Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico jumped into the 2008 presidential race today, announcing that he had formed a campaign exploratory committee in order to seek the Democratic nomination.  —  "I am taking this step because we have to repair the damage that's …

LURID AP REPORT ON IRAQ OUTRAGE DOESN'T CHECK OUT  —  WELL, the Iraqi Ministry of Interior says disputed Associated Press source Jamil Hussein does exist.  But at least one story he told the AP just doesn't check out: The Sunni mosques that as Hussein claimed and AP reported as "destroyed …

None (but Me) Dare Call It Treason  —  At first Dinesh D'Souza considered him "a dark-eyed fanatic, a gun-toting extremist, a monster who laughs at the deaths of 3,000 innocent civilians."  But once he learned how Osama bin Laden was viewed in the Muslim world, D'Souza changed his mind.

Refugees Find Hostility and Hope on Soccer Field  —  Early last summer the mayor of this small town east of Atlanta issued a decree: no more soccer in the town park.  —  "There will be nothing but baseball and football down there as long as I am mayor," Lee Swaney, a retired owner of a heating …

Kristol On War Critics: 'It's So Irresponsible That They Can't Be Quiet For Six Or Nine Months'  —  This morning on Fox News, Weekly Standard editor William Kristol said that opponents of escalation in Congress are "leap-frogging each other in the degrees of irresponsibility they're willing to advocate."

Hagel Says Cheney Criticism Is 'Complete Nonsense'  —  Last weekend on Fox News Sunday, Vice President Dick Cheney claimed congressional opposition to the administration's escalation plan undermines the troops.  Cheney said "you cannot run a war by committee," and whatever Congress does …

Is There a Post-Abortion Syndrome?  —  Early on a a windy Saturday morning in November, Rhonda Arias drove her Dodge Caravan past a Wal-Mart at the end of her block and onto the Interstate.  She was beginning the 50-mile drive from her house in southwest Houston to Plane State Jail …

MTP Transcript for Jan. 21, 2007  —  MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: the war in Iraq.  Should Congress support President Bush's plan to send more American troops to Iraq?  Yes, says the leading advocate for a troop increase.  —  SEN. JOHN McCAIN (R-AZ): These moves will give …

Muslims in police will rise up, Bakri insists  —  Moderate British Muslims in the police, Armed Forces and Civil Service will one day revolt against the system to "crush it from within", according to Omar Bakri Mohammed, the notorious Islamic extremist.  —  In claims condemned as a cynical attempt …

With Rich Little, Press Corps Is Assured a Nice Impression  —  The White House press corps last week found itself embroiled in controversy — a controversy over its efforts to avoid controversy at an event whose guests include President Bush.  —  Stung by criticism that comedian Stephen Colbert went …

Video Showdown: Obama vs. Hillary  —  The 2008 primaries have already begun - online.  —  Barack Obama was first out of the gate, announcing his candidacy in a video placed on the web.  Hillary Clinton responded with her own video yesterday.  Andy Plesser handicaps the technology behind the two videos …

FRANCE RETURNS TO DARK AGES  —  French darkeneurs plan an electricity-free earth-saving experiment: … Don't do themselves any favours with their advertising, do they?  The only illumination during this period will be courtesy of French youths.  Sydney folk may be annoyed …

A Shark in the Kiddie Pool (FDL Book Salon Presents Cliff Schecter)  —  (NOTE: We have a Jane Update (!!) from John at Crooks and Liars.  Our girl is home from the hospital!  Whoo-hooooooo!!)  —  You know that Republican pundits must groan inside and quake in their Stacy Adams loafers …

Embattled, Bush Held To Plan to Salvage Iraq  —  Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki had a surprise for President Bush when they sat down with their aides in the Four Seasons Hotel in Amman, Jordan.  Firing up a PowerPoint presentation, Maliki and his national security adviser proposed …

Calif. Lawmaker Seeks Ban on Spanking  —  Calif. Lawmaker to Introduce Bill That Would Ban the Spanking of Children Under 4 Years Old  —  SACRAMENTO, Calif. Jan 20, 2007 (AP)— California parents could face jail and a fine for spanking their young children under legislation a state lawmaker has promised to introduce next week.