Waxman to Rice: Step Back  —  Here's the latest volley in the ongoing battle between Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.  —  Waxman, the chairman of the House committee on oversight, wrote to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice today to complain …

22% Believe Bush Knew About 9/11 Attacks in Advance  —  Democrats in America are evenly divided on the question of whether George W. Bush knew about the 9/11 terrorist attacks in advance.  Thirty-five percent (35%) of Democrats believe he did know, 39% say he did not know, and 26% are not sure.

REAL CHILD OF HELL:  —  Behold!  Mitt Romney rides a pale horse.  From last night's debate: … Bin Laden is a singular figure, but, you know, fair enough; there will be a successor to bin Laden.  But where might Romney be going with this? … Mitt Romney's War: the total conflation of all Islamist movements.

Bush, Democrats and Iraq  —  What happens next?  —  The House on Wednesday failed to override President Bush's veto of a $124.2 billion war-funding measure that included a firm time line for withdrawing troops from Iraq.  —  The House's 222-203 vote fell 62 votes short of the two-thirds majority required.

France's Royal warns of violence if Sarkozy wins  —  PARIS (Reuters) - Socialist opponent Segolene Royal said on Friday that France risks violence and brutality if her opponent right-winger Nicolas Sarkozy wins Sunday's presidential election.  —  On the last day of official campaigning …

Hillary's Image  —  Public rates Clinton  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Hillary Clinton is one of the best-known political personalities in the country, having been in an intense public spotlight for more than 15 years.  Although Clinton has been well-known for some time, opinions of her have shifted considerably as the years have gone by.

Paris Hilton is sentenced to 45 days in jail  —  Celebrity heiress Paris Hilton today was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating her probation in a reckless-driving case.  —  A Los Angeles judge handed down the sentence after prosecutors contended in a two-hour hearing that Hilton …

Two months before fatal drug raid, Atlanta cops encountered another elderly woman with a gun  —  Two months and a day before Kathryn Johnston, there was Frances Thompson.  —  The 80-year-old Thompson was in her bedroom the afternoon of Sept. 20, when she heard a terrible crash and shouting.

I Guess the Word "Immediately" Has a Different Meaning When Used by Old Media  —  The L.A. Times asks: Will Fred Thompson's racist role have political repercussions? … The paper mulls over the meaning of this — and looks to conservative blogs! … Which conservative blogs?  I'm so glad you asked!

Bush Warns of Vetoes Over Abortion Issue  —  President Bush told Congressional leaders Thursday that he would veto any legislation that weakened federal policies or laws on abortion.  —  In a two-page letter sent to the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, and the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid …

Under 21 Softcore Porn!  —  That should jack up the Google hits.  And this should disappoint those who follow the links!  Garance has a very provocative op-ed on Girls Gone Wild in today's Wall Street Journal.  In it, she argues that: … The digital revolution, of course …

Iraqis: Don't Abandon Us  —  Perhaps the debate over whether to persevere in Iraq has become too brittle to accept anyone else's opinion, but the foreign minister of Iraq gives it a game try.  In today's Washington Post, Hoshyar Zebari implores Americans and the world not to abandon Iraq to the terrorists and sectarian lunatics.

'D.C. Madam' Client Ready to Testify About Sex  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  One of the prominent Washington men named as an escort service customer of the so-called "D.C. Madam" is apparently ready to testify he had sex with a woman or women from the madam's now-infamous Pamela Martin and Associates.

Giuliani gambles on abortion stance  —  Former NYC mayor calculating a libertarian stance may not be a liability  —  Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani set himself apart with his response to questions on abortion.  —  SIMI VALLEY, Calif. - Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani went …

HUFFINGTON POST WIRES  —  WASHINGTON — The National Rifle Association is urging the Bush administration to withdraw its support of a bill that would prohibit suspected terrorists from buying firearms.  —  Backed by the Justice Department, the measure would give the attorney general …