Ex-Aide Says Gonzales Was Involved in Firings  —  The former chief of staff to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales testified today that contrary to Mr. Gonzales's earlier assertions, the attorney general was involved in discussions to fire United States attorneys.

Britain takes case against Iran to U.N.  —  UNITED NATIONS - Britain took its case to free its 15 sailors and marines held by Iran to the United Nations on Thursday, asking the Security Council to support a statement that would "deplore" Tehran's action and demand their immediate release.

Senate OKs war bill with Iraq timeline  —  WASHINGTON - Senate Democrats ignored a veto threat and pushed through a bill Thursday requiring President Bush to start withdrawing troops from "the civil war in Iraq," dealing a rare, sharp rebuke to a wartime commander in chief.

Zogby Poll: "America's Mayor" Top Pick of Iowa Republicans  —  McCain retains second spot; Fred Thompson shows potential  —  Rudy Giuliani of New York leads the field at 25% in the race for the Republican presidential nomination in Iowa, where GOP caucus-goers next January will start …

Democrats Fail to Impress in First 100 Days  —  Government Faulted on Vets' Care, Military Ratings Slip Post-Walter Reed  —  Summary of Findings  —  Also inside...  Reps see McCain, Giuliani and Romney as more moderate than "self"  —  Hillary and Obama Backers differ little on Iraq

Evil Americans, Poor Mullahs  —  Forty-eight percent of Germans think the United States is more dangerous than Iran, a new survey shows, with only 31 percent believing the opposite.  Germans' fundamental hypocrisy about the US suggests that it's high time for a new bout of re-education.

Neoconservative radicalism has reshaped our political spectrum  —  David Brooks' column in The New York Times this morning contains several important observations.  It would maximize clarity in our political discussions if journalists could just ingest Brooks' central point …

As Forbes Endorses Giuliani, Giuliani Endorses a Flat Tax  —  Rudolph W. Giuliani accepted the endorsement of Steve Forbes yesterday and embraced Mr. Forbes's signature issue, saying he liked the idea of a flat tax — something Mr. Giuliani denounced when Mr. Forbes was running for president.

Press Briefing by Dana Perino  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MS. PERINO: Just a couple of announcements, and then we'll go to questions.  You heard the President this morning.  He had a meeting with the House Republican Conference, in which they talked about a range of issues …

Sampson Suggested Removing Fitzgerald  —  Here's Kyle Sampson's testimony about suggesting to White House counsel Harriet Miers and deputy White House counsel Bill Kelley that they remove U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald.  —  Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) asks if Fitzgerald was ever considered for removal?

EXCLUSIVE: Rudy Giuliani 'Couldn't Have A Better Adviser' Than Wife Judith  —  Judith and Rudy Giuliani Talk to Barbara Walters About Their Controversial Relationship and His Presidential Campaign  —  In an interview with Barbara Walters, former New York City Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani …

MCCAIN STANDS IN THE GAP  —  Let's put aside for a moment McCain/Feingold and the right's other grievances against John McCain.  When it comes to the war on terror, is he the Lincoln of our time?  McCain has now launched a petition drive, under the name Surrender Is Not an Option.  McCain says:

Gore climate event turned away from D.C.  —  GOP senator says the proposed 'Live Earth' concert is partisan and shouldn't be at the Capitol.  —  WASHINGTON — When former Vice President Al Gore testified before Congress last week, his appearance was viewed as the triumph of environmentalists …

Culture Of Corruption, Democrat Style  —  The new Congress has barely made it past its start before a new face has been put on lobbyist influence.  Dianne Feinstein, the senior Senator from California, has resigned her leadership position on a subcommittee which put billions of dollars into her family's business (via QandO):