Senator Obama's Announcement  —  Following is the prepared text of Senator Barack Obama's announcement for president on Saturday in Springfield, Ill., as provided by his campaign:  —  Let me begin by saying thanks to all you who've traveled, from far and wide, to brave the cold today.

The Build-a-War Workshop  —  It took far too long, but a report by the Pentagon inspector general has finally confirmed that Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's do-it-yourself intelligence office cooked up a link between Iraq and Al Qaeda to help justify an unjustifiable war.

Congress Finds Ways to Avoid Lobbyist Limits  —  The 110th Congress opened with the passage of sweeping new rules intended to curb the influence of lobbyists by prohibiting them from treating lawmakers to meals, trips, stadium box seats or the discounted use of private jets.

Roughnecks  —  Mosul, Iraq  —  There is a hidden passion for Chuck Norris among some of the troops.  His name seems to appear in every corner of Iraq—especially in outhouses.  Sometimes lurid, mostly unprintable, always funny.  —  The Latest: … Chuck Norris, the workingman of action movies, remains an improbable icon.

New York Times Reveals "Reporter" Michael Gordon Actually Voice-Activated Tape Recorder  —  NEW YORK—New York Times Executive Editor Bill Keller today announced that the paper's longtime staff writer Michael Gordon is not an actual person, but rather a voice-activated tape recorder.

Harvard Plans to Name First Female President  —  Harvard, the nation's oldest university, plans to name Drew Gilpin Faust, a historian of the Civil War South, to be the first female president in its 371-year history, university officials said Friday.  —  Her selection by a search committee …

Putin Says U.S. Is Undermining Global Stability  —  President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia accused the United States on Saturday of provoking a new nuclear arms race by developing ballistic missile defenses, undermining international institutions and making the Middle East more unstable through its clumsy handling of the Iraq war.

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Tucker Carlson says Obama's Black church isn't really Christian  —  Right wing TV host Tucker Carlson claims that presumptive presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama(D-IL) isn't a real Christian because he goes to a Black church.  —  Obama belongs to the "Unashamedly black and Unapologetically Christian" …

"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser  —  This Week:  —  Ain't No Man Righteous (No Not One)  —  Last week, ABC played a video clip of Rush Limbaugh accusing "libs" of "prejudice" — without noting Limbaugh's own voluminous history of outright bigotry.  —  ABC gave Rush Limbaugh a forum …

Death Penalty Bears Down on O'Malley, Kaine  —  Legislatures Are Preparing to Debate Bills on Repealing or Expanding Executions  —  The governors of Maryland and Virginia have much in common: Both Martin O'Malley and Timothy M. Kaine are considered rising stars in the Democratic Party.

Plans vs. Intentions  —  Speculation is running hot that the dreaded "neocons" in the White House will attack Iran sooner rather than later.  The British Guardian newspaper reports today that plans are advanced and that an attack could be ready as soon as Spring, 2007.