Iraq war is 'lost': US Democrat leader  —  The war in Iraq "is lost" and a US troop surge is failing to bring peace to the country, the leader of the Democratic majority in the US Congress, Harry Reid, said Thursday.  —  "I believe ... that this war is lost, and this surge is not accomplishing anything …

Gonzales: Criticism Damages DoJ Employees  —  Under questioning from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gonzales cautioned against criticizing the good employees of the Justice Department: "when there are attacks against the department, you're attacking the career professionals."

I'm Signing On  —  I really thought that the 2004 presidential campaign would be the last I would be involved in.  I have always wanted to make a difference, but for me I thought those days were over.  —  A few weeks ago, John and Elizabeth Edwards made their decision to continue …

Package Forced NBC to Make Tough Decisions  —  The package that arrived yesterday at NBC headquarters in New York was almost immediately flagged as suspicious, because it had been mailed from Blacksburg, Va., and bore the return name A. Ishmael.  —  Last night, the anchor of "The NBC Nightly News …

Miscarriage of Justice  —  The federal "partial-birth" abortion ban has grave implications for all pregnant women, not only those seeking to end pregnancies.  —  Yesterday the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the first federal law that bans an abortion procedure for all women and all doctors in all states.

McCain visits Murrells Inlet  —  Even though he was nursing a cold, Republican Presidential candidate Sen. John McCain spent nearly 90 minutes talking to nearly 500 people who crammed into the Murrells Inlet VFW Hall Wednesday morning.  —  The "Straight Talk" tour, as it's called, included stops in Summerville and Charleston.

Senate plot stirs Bruning, adds Kerrey  —  The plot not only thickened in the 2008 Senate race Wednesday night, it threatened to spin out of control.  —  Attorney General Jon Bruning is ready to enter the 2008 Republican primary whether Sen. Chuck Hagel seeks re-election or not.

Embattled lawmaker gives up panel seat  —  WASHINGTON - Rep. John Doolittle (news, bio, voting record) has decided to temporarily give up his House Appropriations Committee seat after FBI agents searched his house in a congressional influence-peddling investigation.

Giuliani's Lead Shrinks, Clinton's Margin Holds  —  Former New York mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani's lead over his Republican presidential rivals has narrowed considerably, while Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) has maintained her advantage in the race for the Democratic nomination, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

Message-Minded Admiral Ditches 'Long War' Phrase  —  TAMPA - "The Long War," a phrase coined by former U.S. Central Command chief John Abizaid to convey the time needed to defeat the religious extremism fueling al-Qaida, has been jettisoned by his successor, Adm. William Fallon.

Caught on tape: Rapper thrashes, simulates sex with possible underage girl on stage Updates  —  Sick.  Sick, sick, sick.  Expect to hear a lot about rapper Akon shortly.  During a concert last week*, he held a contest that ended with, well, assault and battery.