Rice Deputy Quits After Query Over Escort Service  —  Randall Tobias Oversaw U.S. Foreign Aid Programs  —  Randall L. Tobias, the deputy secretary of state responsible for U.S. foreign aid, abruptly resigned yesterday after he was asked about an upscale escort service allegedly involved in prostitution, U.S. government sources said.

A genuine political sea change?  —  There were two seemingly unrelated incidents this week which, taken together, reflect some extremely important political developments.  —  First was the amazing letter to The Washington Post jointly sent by all 50 Democratic Senators other than Harry Reid …

Clinton Campaign Tries to Keep Heat on Obama Over Debate Response  —  The first Democratic presidential debate did little to change the shape of the 2008 race, but it provided a post-debate flash point Friday between the campaigns of Illinois Sen. Barack Obama and New York Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton …

Political Appointees No Longer to Pick Justice Interns  —  The Justice Department is removing political appointees from the hiring process for rookie lawyers and summer interns, amid allegations that the Bush administration had rigged the programs in favor of candidates with connections …

Edwards: No Terror "War"  —  This is a quite big deal that most of us totally missed last night: John Edwards doesn't believe there's a "global war on terror," at least not in the simple-show-of-hands sense.  —  This is something a lot of Democrats say privately — and something mainstream …

The White House Scales Back Talk of Iraq Progress  —  The Bush administration will not try to assess whether the troop increase in Iraq is producing signs of political progress or greater security until September, and many of Mr. Bush's top advisers now anticipate that any gains by then will be limited …

Done  —  Today is going to be the day that I've been dreading for quite sometime now.  Today is the day I walk away from this blog.  Done.  Finished.  —  There are many reasons, each would take a post to list, and I just do not have the energy to list them.

Defra in storm over discredited EU carbon plan  —  The government department spearheading Britain's effort to reduce carbon output is driving companies and individuals towards paying for emissions cuts that do not take place.  —  The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs …

TRIFECTA  —  Yesterday's British newspapers had more information on the capture of Abd al-Hadi.  Among other things, al-Hadi is credited with planning the London subway bombings of two summers ago.  From the London Times: … So al-Hadi, a former Iraqi soldier who became a top al Qaeda operative …

More Broder  —  We normally think of "High Broderism" as the worship of bipartisanship for its own sake, combined with a fake "pox on both their houses" attitude.  But in reality this is just the cover Broder uses for his real agenda, the defense of what he perceives to be "the establishment" at all costs.

Special Events  —  A TRUE SOURCE OF INSPIRATION  —  Most of the socializing goes on around here late in the evening out in the smoking pit—a somewhat dicey collection of old office chairs and plastic pool furniture outside the renovated parking garage that is our home.

U.S. Proposal Would Allow Oil Drilling Off Virginia  —  Five-Year Plan Would Also Open Alaskan, Gulf Waters  —  The Interior Department will announce a proposal Monday to allow oil and gas drilling in federal waters near Virginia that are currently off-limits and permit new exploration …

Olmert: The Delay Of A Thousand Tomahawks  —  Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert now distances himself from remarks about how a military strike on Iran could delay their nuclear capabilities for ten years.  Hours after the German magazine Focus produced the Olmert assertion that an attack using thousands …