Congressional oversight is a linchpin of how our democracy works  —  It is so inescapably clear that Alberto Gonzales repeatedly lied about what occurred with the U.S. attorney firings that the national media and even many Bush supporters are clearly acknowledging that fact.

Shariah in Minnesota?  —  Radical Muslim activists go fishing in troubled waters.  —  MINNEAPOLIS—The land of 10,000 lakes and that welcoming attitude we call "Minnesota Nice"—is becoming a window on America's potential future.  Here in Minneapolis, one of the nation's most livable cities …

Activists remember a different Romney  —  Advocates for gay and abortion rights and the environment say the GOP candidate misled them on his positions.  —  BOSTON — As an abortion-rights advocate, Deborah Allen did not think she would find much in common with Mitt Romney.  Then she heard his pitch.

BREAKING: US HOLDS 300 PRISONERS LINKED TO IRAN  —  American forces in Iraq now hold some 300 prisoners tied to Iran's intelligence agencies, Pajamas Media learned from both diplomatic and military sources.  —  This is believed, by both sources, to be a record number of prisoners tied to Iran.

Anger Is All The Rage  —  During the divisive War of 1812, a livid woman famous for her long hair rode to the White House, stood in her carriage, let down her tresses and proclaimed that she would gladly be shorn of them if they would be used to hang President James Madison.

Cancer Survivor White House Tony Snow's Special Perspective (UPDATED)  —  Newsweeks' The Gaggle notes that it was a particularly tough — and revealing — week for White House Press Secretary Tony Snow.  —  Beset by various controversies, Snow was steadfast in his defense of the Bush administration. …

Abolish the death penalty  —  One of the core tenets of this newspaper since its founding has been that the extraordinary power of government must be wielded carefully and sparingly—particularly when that power weighs on the life and liberty of citizens.  —  It has, as well …

A Partnership on Iraq  —  President Bush staked out his position on Iraq in January, and the House has now staked out its own.  Deep divisions between these positions signal a stalemate among our political leaders.  There is no unity of effort.  Yet the president and the Democratic majorities …

Russia is Europe's natural ally  —  Two thousand years ago Roman soldiers united enormous territories from Britain to Athens, from the Rhine to the Iberian peninsula, by the sword.  Europe has survived many destructive wars and the collapse of empires.  It overcame the dictatorship of tyrants …

An Opening for Democrats  —  Six years of Republican control in Washington have taken a toll on the country — and the GOP is paying the price politically.  Instead of the Bush administration ushering in a new era of GOP dominance, as Karl Rove hoped, it has set the stage for a Democratic resurgence.

Iran: UK Troops Illegally Entered Waters  —  TEHRAN, Iran — Iran on Saturday insisted that 15 British sailors it seized had illegally entered Iranian waters, denouncing what it called a "blatant aggression."  The Britons were being taken to the capital for questioning, Iranian media reported.

In the Hospital, Mrs. Edwards Set Campaign's Fate  —  As the nurse fumbled to find the vein in her arm last Wednesday and Elizabeth Edwards was bracing for the worst possible news, her decision about her husband's presidential campaign was sealed.  —  A doctor had already told …

PURGEGATE FISHINESS SUMMARY....Is there, as Alberto Gonzales insists, a perfectly reasonable explanation for Purgegate?  I guess there might be, but there are sure an awful lot of reasons to be skeptical.  Here's a list off the top of my head:  — Prior to the purge …

Measuring Wealth of the '08 Candidates  —  Perhaps only one word can be used to describe all of the leading presidential contenders: multimillionaire.  —  Not only that.  With one exception among the three leading Republicans and three leading Democrats, the contenders each appear to be worth tens of millions.

Eyebrows Are Raised in Mich. Over Reasons for Prosecutor's Firing  —  GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — In the aftermath of the surprise firing of U.S. Attorney Margaret M. Chiara, questions outnumber answers.  Was she dismissed for political reasons?  For poor performance?  To make way for someone else?

Terror Database Has Quadrupled In Four Years  —  U.S. Watch Lists Are Drawn From Massive Clearinghouse  —  Each day, thousands of pieces of intelligence information from around the world — field reports, captured documents, news from foreign allies and sometimes idle gossip …