TIME Poll: Giuliani's Lead Widens  —  If Presidential campaigning were about something other than politics, how would the current crop of candidates fare?  Take speed dating.  Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who is on wife no. 3, was judged most likely to be best …

Walter Reed medical chief relieved of command  —  General's dismissal follows reports on poor treatment of wounded soldiers  —  U.S. Army Maj. Gen. George W. Weightman speaks to a crowd during a NASCAR visit at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington in September 2006.

Santorum Says Anyone But McCain  —  Former Sen. Rick Santorum has drawn at least one conclusion about the Republican presidential primary field: Anybody but John McCain.  —  The Pennsylvania Republican, who signed a contract Thursday as a Fox News contributor, said he has spoken with every GOP candidate …

Alleged D.C. Madam "Considering" Selling Off Phone Records  —  Back in October, the feds busted a long-time prostitution service in the Washington, D.C. area.  The madam, Jean Palfrey, soon caught attention by telling a reporter from the Smoking Gun that they must be going after her as part …

Mars Melt Hints at Solar, Not Human, Cause for Warming, Scientist Says  —  Simultaneous warming on Earth and Mars suggests that our planet's recent climate changes have a natural—and not a human-induced—cause, according to one scientist's controversial theory.

Environmental Indulgences and the Church of the Fragile Mother  —  I received an interesting email from reader "skullberg" last evening that I'd be curious to get your thoughts on.  Writes skullberg: … I'm not the person to be checking the math here—trust me—so go ahead and do some calculating on your own if you are so inclined.

Court Hears Arguments Linking Right to Sue and Spending on Religion  —  The question for the Supreme Court on Wednesday was a jurisdictional one: whether taxpayers who object to the way the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives spends its money can get into federal court to make their case.

Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, Taliban Official Arrested by Pakistan, Was Released by Afghans After 9-11 Attacks  —  Mullah Obaidullah Akhund, former defense minister of the Taliban government and described as the current #3 on the ladder of the Taliban's 10-member leadership council, was captured in Quetta.

Spirit of Strom Thurmond carries Cheney into, out of hot spots  —  MUSCAT, Oman _Vice President Dick Cheney rode an Airstream trailer into Pakistan and Afghanistan, and he rode the Airstream out of Kabul wearing cowboy boots.  —  He also traveled in the belly of "The Spirit of Strom Thurmond."

New Bush, Iraq Poll Numbers  —  In the months since the Congressional elections, President Bush has lost substantial support among members of his own party, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.  —  Mr. Bush's approval rating dropped 13 percentage points since last fall among Republicans …

Poll Shows Majority Back Health Care for All  —  A majority of Americans say the federal government should guarantee health insurance to every American, especially children, and are willing to pay higher taxes to do it, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News Poll.

$4B to sweeten Iraq bill  —  House Democratic leaders will add nearly $4 billion for farmers to a bill funding military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan to attract conservative Democrats concerned that the measure would wrongly constrict President Bush's power as commander in chief.

Conservative Bush-Bashing Convention  —  WASHINGTON - Except for the low-heeled pumps, this could almost be a Netroots convention.  Well, that and guys handing out Brownback bumper stickers.  —  Still, the annual Conservative Political Action Conference that began this morning is a three …

4:30 on Day Seven  —  graphic courtesy Monk at Inflatable Dartboard  —  As Jane has warned you, at 4:30, Walton will dismiss the jury (for the day, we think), and give the jurors an instruction.  I suspect he may give them tomorrow off, which will bum me out bc I want to go home and I'm not sure …