FORMER SENATOR FRED THOMPSON IN REMISSION FOR LYMPHOMA  —  WASHINGTON — Former Tennessee Republican Sen. Fred Thompson announced Wednesday he's in remission from lymphoma.  —  Thompson, who is considering a run for the White House in 2008, told FOX News that the illness is treatable.

Obama: Fire Imus  —  Obama First White House Contender to Call for Imus' Firing Over Racial Slur  —  In an interview with ABC News Wednesday afternoon, Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., called for the firing of talk radio host Don Imus.  Obama said he would never again appear on Imus' show …

HOS AND BITCHES....Now that Don Imus has been universally condemned for calling the Rutgers women's basketball team "nappy-headed hos," the conversation is moving on, as conversations do, to broader questions.  In the LA Times today, civil rights attorney Constance Rice joins in the condemnation …

3 Generals Spurn the Position of War 'Czar'  —  Bush Seeks Overseer For Iraq, Afghanistan  —  The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies …

Iraq in the Balance  —  In Washington, panic.  In Baghdad, cautious optimism.  —  BAGHDAD—For 35 years the sun did not shine here," said a man on the grounds of the great Shia shrine of al-Kadhimiyyah, on the outskirts of Baghdad.  I had come to the shrine at night, in the company of the Shia politician Ahmed Chalabi.

Rare Protests at Brigham Young Over a Planned Cheney Appearance  —  The invitation extended to Vice President Dick Cheney to be the commencement speaker at Brigham Young University has set off a rare, continuing protest at the Mormon university, one of the nation's most conservative.

Who's Behind the Pelosi Smear?  —  Oh the irony.  From Jim Lobe: … That would be the same Elliot Abrams who was indicted for (and pled guilty to) lying to Congress (no wonder members of the Bush junta have no fear of doing so) and who, in the 80s, led a very similar campaing to discredit …

A.G.'s Statement Dropping Duke Rape Case  —  Statement from North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper on the Duke University lacrosse rape case.  —  Good afternoon, everyone.  —  On Jan. 13 of this year, I accepted the request of the Durham district attorney to take over three Durham cases.

Defending Iraq War, McCain Assails Democrats  —  Senator John McCain of Arizona today accused his potential Democratic presidential rivals of playing "small politics" in opposing the war in Iraq, saying withdrawal would lead to chaos across the Middle East, embolden Al Qaeda and expose the United States to "another 9/11 — or worse."

Regarding Imus  —  I'll have some more fleshed-out thoughts on the matter in the magazine this week, but for now, since many people have asked: No, I won't be going on Imus anymore.  Having said that, it's not like they'll be inviting me back.

Government lawyers' membership in GOP group seen as inappropriate  —  WASHINGTON - In his day job, Christian Adams writes legal briefs for the voting rights section of the Justice Department, a job that requires a nonpartisan approach.  —  Off the clock, Adams belongs to the Republican …

I'M SORRY FOR SELLING MY STORY, SAYS IRAN HOSTAGE MR BEAN  —  Servicemen have rounded on the sailors who sold their stories of being held captive by Iran.  —  A series of messages on forces' websites ridiculed Arthur Batchelor and Faye Turney, who cashed in after being held prisoner for 13 days.

Reliable Sherrod Brown and the Feingold/Reid Bill  —  Feingold and Reid are co-sponsoring a bill to end to the Iraq war.  It's a simple bill, and clocks in at 187 words, which you can read here  —  Below is a list of Senators who support it, as best I can tell, right now.

A Word of Advice During a Housing Slump: Rent  —  A promotional spot for the National Association of Realtors came on the radio the other day.  The spot, introduced as something called "Newsmakers," was supposed to sound like a news report, with the association's president offering real estate advice.

This is one vote Edwards never had  —  Elizabeth gripes; neighbor is famous  —  CHAPEL HILL - Monty Johnson was heading home Monday with a cooler full of catfish when he learned his new neighbor had turned him into a minor celebrity.  —  The first calls on his cell phone came …