Former Key Aide Testifies Today on Gonzales's Statements  —  D. Kyle Sampson, point man for the removal of eight United States attorneys, has spent almost seven years at the right hand of Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.  —  And over time, friends and former colleagues say …

Democrats Are Building on Unity Over Iraq Pullout  —  No one has seemed more surprised by the Democrats' success in pushing an exit strategy for Iraq than the Democrats.  —  Their aggressiveness and unity on a major foreign-policy challenge to the president is a striking change for a party that has …

A 'Law & Order' Presidential Candidate?  —  "Law & Order" star and former U.S. senator Fred Dalton Thompson is considering a bid for the White House that would test whether Hollywood can once again launch a Republican to the world's premier political stage.  —  His interest, confirmed …

The Myth Of Voter Fraud  —  As Congress probes the firing of eight U.S. attorneys, attention is centering on who knew what, and when.  It's just as important to focus on "why," such as the reason given for the firing of at least one of the U.S. attorneys, John McKay of Washington state …

Bush, Rove, Crack Up Press Corp  —  White House adviser Karl Rove boogied, backed by NBC's David Gregory, Brian Wiliams burped the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" and the President cracked wise, all to the general delight, and occasional gales of laughter, of journalists gathered …

You Can Bring Gun to Capitol, but Not Through D.C.  —  Arrest of Webb Aide at Senate Building Highlights Conflicts Between City, Federal Rules  —  Members of Congress and designated employees can bring unloaded guns into the Capitol.  The lawmakers can even load the guns once inside their offices.

Poll: A Surprising G.O.P. Edge for '08  —  Could things be any worse for George W. Bush and his beleaguered party?  In the new TIME poll, the President's job approval rating continues to wallow near his all-time lows, at 33%, while his disapproval rating breaks the 60% barrier for the third consecutive survey.

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.

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 …

Democrats say McCain nearly abandoned GOP  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) was close to leaving the Republican Party in 2001, weeks before then-Sen. Jim Jeffords (Vt.) famously announced his decision to become an Independent, according to former Democratic lawmakers who say they were involved in the discussions.

Obama's K Street project  —  Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is benefiting from the support of well-connected Washington lobbyists even though he has prohibited his campaign from accepting contributions from them and political action committees (PACs).  —  While Obama has decried the influence …

Scottish Firm In The Poo  —  A Scottish company has been slammed for inviting customers to "send a poo" to an Englishman on St George's Day.  —  Edinburgh-based firm PostaPoo.com is selling plastic "realistic poo" to send to "your favourite (or least favourite) Englishman" to mark April 23.

Senate's Bold Proposal for Iraq: Sugar Beets and Rural Schools — in the U.S.  —  Midway through the Senate debate yesterday over the "emergency" spending bill for Iraq, Barbara Boxer rose to speak in favor — of strawberries.  —  "There's a song called 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' " …

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.

Iran's Latest Hostage Gamble  —  The sailors call them "RHIBs" — rigid hull inflatable boats.  Add powerful outboard motors, and the agile, shallow-draft RHIB becomes an ideal watercraft for scooting around the Tigris and Euphrates estuary or for slipping among suspicious dhows in Iraqi coastal waters.

Md. Senate Advances Bill To Dodge Electoral College  —  Maryland is poised to become the first state to agree to bypass the electoral college and effectively elect U.S. presidents by national popular vote under legislation moving briskly toward the desk of Gov. Martin O'Malley (D).

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):