An Incomplete Field  —  First impressions of the GOP's 2008 candidates.  —  They stood earnestly in a row, combed, primped and prepped, as Nancy Reagan gazed up at them with courteous interest.  But behind the hopeful candidates, a dwarfing shadow loomed, a shadow almost palpable in its power …

Have Bill Frist and right-wing bloggers plagiarized their new Iraq plan?  —  After having created "The Victory Caucus" two months ago only to stand by helplessly as it died a rapid and painful death, right-wing bloggers have now joined forces with former Senator Bill Frist to create a new Victory website …

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.

The U.S. Attorney, the G.O.P. Congressman and the Timely Job Offer  —  There is yet another United States attorney whose abrupt departure from office is raising questions: Debra Wong Yang of Los Angeles.  Ms. Yang was not fired, as eight other prosecutors were, but she resigned under circumstances …

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.

Seeking an Edge, Florida Changes Its Primary Date  —  Casting more uncertainty over the presidential nominating process for 2008, the Florida Legislature on Thursday moved the state's primary up to Jan. 29, ignoring the threat of sanctions from the national Republican and Democratic parties.

Iran's ad should send shivers  —  The notice, appearing worldwide, sought bids for constructing two nuclear power plants.  —  Among the surreal events becoming ever more frequent in the nuclear showdown with Iran was the appearance of an ad last week in the International Herald Tribune …

BILL'S HARD DRIVE  —  MICROSOFT EYES SEARCH GIANT IN PROPOSED TAKEOVER  —  Stung by the loss of Internet advertising firm DoubleClick to Google last month, Microsoft has intensified its pursuit of a deal with Yahoo!, asking the company to re-enter formal negotiations, The Post has learned.

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.

The Colorful Case of A Well-Named Lawyer  —  Montgomery Blair Sibley's Current Client Isn't the Juiciest Part of His Story  —  Montgomery Blair Sibley, attorney for the morally impugned and legally challenged, is first and foremost Montgomery Blair Sibley, which is to say a descendant …

Dems Outline Plans for Iraq Bill  —  Rep. Dave Obey (D-Wis.) outlined a new plan for an Iraq funding bill in private meetings Thursday afternoon, congressional aides said.  —  The plan would split the now vetoed supplemental spending bill into two bills, one that would provide two months …