Trash Talk Radio  —  LET'S say a word about the girls.  The young women with the musical names.  Kia and Epiphanny and Matee and Essence.  Katie and Dee Dee and Rashidat and Myia and Brittany and Heather.  —  The Scarlet Knights of Rutgers University had an improbable season …

The McCain Tragedy  —  John McCain's 2000 campaign for president failed, but it was an unruly and joyous romp.  His campaign this time feels quite different: carefully planned, meticulously calculated — and a tragedy.  —  Tragedy, not a word to be invoked lightly, typically involves …

Six U.S. Attorneys Given 2nd Posting in Washington  —  A half-dozen sitting U.S. attorneys also serve as aides to Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales or are assigned other Washington postings, performing tasks that take them away from regular duties in their districts for months or even years at a time …

Clinton, Obama to Skip Fox-Sponsored Debate  —  Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) and Barack Obama (D-Ill.) yesterday joined former North Carolina senator John Edwards (D) in deciding to skip a debate scheduled for September that Fox News is co-sponsoring with the Congressional Black Caucus.

Bush unveils new immigration proposal  —  Details are vague, but fines and a circuitous path to legal status are included.  The goal is to attract GOP support.  —  YUMA, ARIZ. — President Bush unveiled the basics of his latest immigration proposal Monday, a mix of tougher border enforcement …

GET REAL, RUDY  —  YOU'RE BLOWING YOUR WHITE HOUSE RUN  —  I'm writing this open letter to you because I'm worried you're blowing it.  —  I still think you stand the best chance among the candidates in the Republican field of winning the general election in 2008, and I think you have it in you to be a great president.

Huge Protest in Iraq Demands U.S. Withdraw  —  Protesters waved Iraqi flags as they marched in Najaf, south of Baghdad, to demand the withdrawal of U.S. forces.  Event security was handled by Iraqi troops and police officers, and there were no reports of violence.  More Photos >

Today's Must Read  —  Everybody's in on it — and I mean everybody.  From The Reno Gazette-Journal: … Now, let's take a step back and see how high and wide this conspiracy goes.  Not only has the (apparently conservative) Wall Street Journal been paid to write these stories about poor Jim Gibbons …

Candor?  Call the Special Prosecutor!  —  Monica Goodling is not my kind of gal.  A graduate of two schools not known for partying (Messiah College and Pat Robertson's Regent University Law School), she would not be my ideal seatmate on a long airplane flight.

Prisoners  —  I think it's time to note again Israel's failure to produce a statesman equal to the challenges it has faced over the past 20 years.  In every area of modern life the country boasts a genius that on a per capita basis must be unrivaled.  Yet on the world stage its politicians seem almost retarded.

Neocon Godmother Considered Iraq War a Mistake  —  From my "Capital Games" column at www.thenation.com....  From the grave, Jeane Kirkpatrick, the godmother of the neoconservative movement, speaks: the Iraq war was something of a mistake.  —  Kirkpatrick, best known as the combative UN ambassador during …

Time for A Bargain On the War  —  In the continuing battle between the Democratic Congress and the Bush administration over policy in Iraq, logic is on the Democrats' side, but the crucial political leverage belongs to the president.  It behooves the realists in both camps to recognize …

Fierce fighting in central Baghdad.  —  Ok, let's go over what happened yesterday and today; last thing first.  And please forgive me for the lack of chronological order, some information were received or corrected during the preparation of the post.  —  Unlike yesterday today began …

The Big Six Make Political Fixes  —  Surprising fundraising totals, combined with a couple of notable gaffes last week, have reshuffled the presidential field and prompted top-tier candidates in both parties to make at least minor — and in some cases more substantial — alterations to their strategies.

NBC: Abramoff could get reduced sentence  —  Judge grants request for new hearing, rewarding lobbyist for cooperating  —  WASHINGTON - Disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff may be getting out of jail earlier than he expected, NBC News learned on Monday.  A federal judge Monday granted …