Edwards's Bloggers Cross the Line, Critic Says  —  Two bloggers hired by John Edwards to reach out to liberals in the online world have landed his presidential campaign in hot water for doing what bloggers do — expressing their opinions in provocative and often crude language.

Scooter Libby and the media debacle  —  The New York Times made headlines last week when it tapped a new D.C. bureau chief.  But if the paper of record really wanted to jump-start its Beltway news operation, maybe it should have tried to lure Patrick Fitzgerald away from the Department of Justice.

Giuliani Is In and Becomes the Immediate Favorite  —  There is an assumption by many that Giuliani is un-nominatable as a Republican for President given his less than conservative positions on many social issues.  Charlie Cook summed up the conventional Washington wisdom on Giuliani's chances …

Live-blogging McCain's blogger outreach...  I've been invited to a bloggers conference call... You get a front-row seat too.  Why?  Because I care about you.  (Note: I'm paraphrasing the quotes because I'm not a "real" reporter.  Deal.)  —  3:06 PM: After a five-minute wait with really piss poor music …

Iraqi Premier Admits Errors in Introducing Security Plan in Baghdad  —  Prime Minister Nuri Kamal al-Maliki acknowledged for the first time on Tuesday that his government had stumbled in its efforts to carry out a new security plan in Baghdad and that the delays and mounting violence were hurting its credibility with the Iraqi people.

Ban Proposed On Walking While Talking, Listening To iPod  —  Ban Would Apply To MP3 players, Blackberrys  —  A state senator from Brooklyn said on Tuesday he plans to introduce legislation that would ban people from using an MP3 player, cell phone, Blackberry or any other electronic device …

Deputy Attorney General Defends Prosecutor Firings  —  A senior Justice Department official acknowledged yesterday that a top federal prosecutor in Arkansas was removed to make room for a former aide to presidential adviser Karl Rove, but he said that six other U.S. attorneys were fired for "performance-related" issues.

New Takes on the New Deal  —  When it released its budget proposal Monday, the Bush administration — and its congressional critics — focused anew on the country's giant Social Security program.  Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson has said "significant political differences" …

Keys to a successful surge  —  Sending more troops to Iraq will work only if the U.S. changes its ways.  —  WHILE politicians debate whether more U.S. troops should be sent to Iraq, just as important is how those troops will be utilized.  In the Boer War, a "surge" of soldiers helped.

Black women face dilemma in Democratic primary  —  Barack Obama is black.  Hillary Rodham Clinton is a woman.  —  So if you're an African-American woman - and therefore, presumably, a Democrat - how do you choose between Senator Obama and Senator Clinton in what could turn out to be a precedent-setting presidential election?

In Campaign 2008, Candidates Starting Earlier, Spending More  —  Starting as early as last June, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was hiring staffers and consultants in New Hampshire and Iowa and building the foundation for his 2008 presidential bid at a time when those in early battleground states typically …

As Inflation Soars, Zimbabwe Economy Plunges  —  For close to seven years, Zimbabwe's economy and quality of life have been in slow, uninterrupted decline.  They are still declining this year, people there say, with one notable difference: the pace is no longer so slow.

Global warming debate spurs Ore. title tiff  —  In the face of evidence agreed upon by hundreds of climate scientists, George Taylor holds firm.  He does not believe human activities are the main cause of global climate change.  —  Taylor also holds a unique title: State Climatologist.

Lawmakers Revolt Against Long Hours  —  Even before Democratic leaders have made good on promises to harness lawmakers five days a week, cross-party opposition is growing, with senators ready to revolt and House members simmering over the new schedule.  —  The most popular move afoot …

Many Voices, No Debate, as Senate Is Stifled on War  —  At a time when even President Bush acknowledges that the war in Iraq is sapping the nation's spirit, the Senate has tied itself up in procedural knots rather than engage in a debate on Iraq policy.  —  Given the influence that voter frustration …

GOP Views Clinton As Virtually Unbeatable  —  What many conservatives regard as the nightmare scenario — President Hillary Rodham Clinton — is increasingly seen by veteran Republican politicians and strategists as virtual inevitability.  —  In GOP circles, the Democratic front-runner is seen as so strong …