Leahy Blasts Gonzales Over 'Highly Troubling' New Secret Memo  —  Murray Waas revealed in the National Journal today that Alberto Gonzales "signed a highly confidential order in March 2006 delegating to two of his top aides" — chief of staff Kyle Sampson and counsel Monica Goodling …

Lieberman: 'Bloggers Have Added Another Dimension of Vituperation Toxicity' To Politics  —  Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) led a panel discussion today at the American Enterprise Institute discussing "options for restoring civility in American politics."

Snow's First Day Back  —  Highlights:  — In a rare move, the gaggle allowed the cameras to be on for the first five minutes.  — Snow received applause from some reporters when he arrived.  — Said one reporter: "Where you been?"  Another: "Did Rove do a double delete on you?"

Bush will work with Democrats on Iraq  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush said Monday he wants to work with Democrats on compromise legislation to pay for the Iraq war even though he'll carry through on his threat to veto a spending bill that also sets a timetable for a U.S. troop withdrawal.

At the Center of the Storm  —  Price:  —  $19.95  —  On Sale:  —  In the whirlwind of accusations and recriminations that emerged in the wake of 9/11 and the Iraq war, one man's vital testimony has been conspicuously absent.  Candid and gripping, At the Center of the Storm recounts George Tenet's …

Broder Tells 'E&P' That He Stands By His Blast At Harry Reid  —  NEW YORK David Broder said he wouldn't change anything in his April 26 column, which angered many readers and caused 50 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus to write a letter criticizing Broder in Friday's Washington Post.

Thompson mulling summer announcement  —  Advisers to Fred Thompson have begun exploring a range of staffing options — including talking to potential campaign managers — as the actor and former Tennessee senator firms up his plans to enter the Republican presidential contest, according to people involved in the conversations.

A Loser's History  —  GEORGE TENET'S SNIVELING, SELF-JUSTIFYING NEW BOOK IS A DISGRACE.  —  It's difficult to see why George Tenet would be so incautious as to write his own self-justifying apologia, let alone give it the portentous title At the Center of the Storm.

Stephanie Miller Takes Her Turn On MSNBC  —  Today through Wednesday, progressive talk show host Stephanie Miller gets her chance to shine in Imus's old slot on MSNBC.  If this morning's show was any indication, she could easily impact their ratings in the same way Keith Olberman has.  —  Download (5492) |

D.C. Madam Wants Washington Clients to Testify  —  Brian Ross, Rhonda Schwartz & Justin Rood Report:  —  The woman charged in a federal indictment with running a high-class Washington, D.C. call girl service says she plans to call her prominent clients to testify at her trial.

Iraqi Parliament Planning TWO MONTH Recess  —  Yes, you read that correctly.  The Iraqi parliament - who our brave young men and women are fighting to protect and preserve - is planning on taking a two month vacation during the months of July and August.  This is wrong on so many levels.

Sen. Johnson Now Recovering at Home  —  Sen. Tim Johnson, who suffered a debilitating brain hemorrhage in December, has left a rehabilitation center to continue his recovery at his home in northern Virginia.  —  The transition from a full-time rehabilitation facility to outpatient …

Hope for sex-boost slimming pill  —  Scientists are developing a pill which could boost women's libido and reduce their appetite.  —  The hormone-releasing pill has so far only been given to female monkeys and shrews who displayed more mating behaviour and ate less.

Lebanon war probe accuses Olmert of 'serious failure,' blasts Halutz, Peretz  —  The partial report by a government-appointed committee probing the Second Lebanon War on Monday accused Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of "severe failure" in exercising judgment, responsibility and caution during the outset of the war.

THE BAD POLLSTER.  I have a feeling that Mark Penn, Senator Clinton's pollster and apparently her de facto campaign manager, is going to start getting some close, and long overdue, scrutiny.  The Washington Post picks up where The American Prospect left off, with a well-written article by Anne Kornblut …

Price tag for war in Iraq on track to top $500 billion  —  WASHINGTON - The bitter fight over the latest Iraq spending bill has all but obscured a sobering fact: The war will soon cost more than $500 billion.  —  That's about ten times more than the Bush administration anticipated …