Why the Gore Story Matters  —  As the controversy over global warming doomsayer Al Gore's voracious energy-eater mansion rolls on, there's an angle I think merits deeper investigation than it is currently getting.  While much of the focus has been on whether or not Gore is an environmental hypocrite …

Walter Reed patients told to keep quiet  —  Soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center's Medical Hold Unit say they have been told they will wake up at 6 a.m. every morning and have their rooms ready for inspection at 7 a.m., and that they must not speak to the media.

Political interference alleged in sacking of a U.S. attorney  —  WASHINGTON - The U.S. attorney from New Mexico who was recently fired by the Bush administration said Wednesday that he believes he was forced out because he refused to rush an indictment in an ongoing probe of local Democrats …

For Want of a Dentist  —  George's Boy Dies After Bacteria From Tooth Spread to Brain  —  Twelve-year-old Deamonte Driver died of a toothache Sunday.  —  A routine, $80 tooth extraction might have saved him.  —  If his mother had been insured.  —  If his family had not lost its Medicaid.

Top Ten Things To Do While We're Waiting For the Verdict  —  *UPDATE* — THE LIBBY JURY HAS LEFT THE BUILDING, THE JUDGE HAD A MEETING AND SENT THEM HOME.  SEE YOU TOMORROW....and I'll be on Rachel Maddow's show tonight on Air America at 6:30 PM ET -JH

Bill would mandate nicer term for illegals  —  TALLAHASSEE — A state legislator whose district is home to thousands of Caribbean immigrants wants to ban the term "illegal alien" from the state's official documents.  —  "I personally find the word 'alien' offensive when applied to individuals …

Republicans Set to Block Jefferson's Appointment to Homeland Security Panel  —  Republicans plan to force a floor vote on Rep. William Jefferson's move to the Homeland Security Committee in an unprecedented maneuver to force Democrats to go on the record supporting their embattled colleague …

Going it alone because we have to  —  Unless allies spend more on defense, the U.S. will continue to act unilaterally out of necessity.  —  TONY BLAIR'S decision to withdraw 1,600 troops from Iraq is understandable.  The prime minister had to make a difficult decision about where to allocate …

* Updated below: CJR Daily weighs in.  —  Dan Gerstein has responded to my post below.  He says there's no problem at all with the fact that The Politico published a piece by him attacking some of Joe Lieberman's high-profile foes at the same time that he was collecting money from Lieberman:

If They Was Meant To Ride Around In Trucks, God Would Have Given 'Em John Deere Caps and Naked Lady Mudflaps  —  In an age where news stories routinely describe such and such a virus as "only a plane ride away," how can it be that honey bee colony losses of up to 70% in some areas of the US are treated as a complete mystery?

Interview of a Senior Administration Official by the Traveling Press  —  SENIOR ADMINISTRATION OFFICIAL: The reason the President wanted me to come, obviously, is because of the continuing threat that exists in this part of the world on both sides of the Afghan-Pakistan border …

Iran to Take Part in Iraq Security Conference  —  The top Iranian national security official, Ali Larijani, indicated Wednesday that Iranian officials would probably take part in a regional security conference on Iraq next month, which would include the first high-level diplomatic contacts between American …

Feith Takes to the Web  —  Under attack from Democrats, the Pentagon's former No. 3 civilian official, Douglas Feith, has launched a Web site to defend himself against accusations that his office made up intelligence to justify the Iraq invasion.  —  The cyber offensive comes three weeks …

Crooked congressman says farewell  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, expresses remorse and quotes singer/songwriter Garth Brooks in an e-mail sent to friends Wednesday, a day before he is to enter federal prison after pleading guilty to corruption charges.

VIDEO COMPILATION: Matthews Obsessed With Clinton Sex Speculation  —  MSNBC host Chris Matthews is obsessed with Bill Clinton's sex life.  Over the last four weeks, Matthews has incessantly raised baseless speculation that President Clinton may have an extramarital affair or engage …

Video: Glenn Beck unloads on Olbermann  —  From last night's show.  Gratifying, yet not as gratifying as one might hope simply because it doesn't rise to the level of viciousness Olbermann himself operates at.  One of the reasons righties are disappointed in "The Half-Hour News Hour," …

L'Eggo My Lego  —  Some Seattle school children are being told to be skeptical of private property rights.  This lesson is being taught by banning Legos.  —  A ban was initiated at the Hilltop Children's Center in Seattle.  According to an article in the winter 2006-07 issue of …