Sarkozy Defeats Royal in French Presidential Runoff (Update2)  —  By Francois de Beaupuy and Helene Fouquet  —  Nicolas Sarkozy was elected president of France as Socialist Segolene Royal conceded defeat.  —  Sarkozy, candidate of the governing Union for a Popular Movement …

New Tape: Al Qaeda No. 2 Wants 200,000-300,000 U.S. Dead in Iraq  —  Ayman al-Zawahiri Says Al Qaeda Wants to Spill More U.S. Blood Before America Withdraws  —  In a new video posted today on the Internet, al Qaeda's number two man, Ayman al Zawahiri, mocks the bill passed by Congress setting …

The Elephant in the Room  —  George W. Bush has the lowest presidential approval rating in a generation, and the leading Dems beat every major '08 Republican.  Coincidence?  —  A Virtually Bush-Free Zone: The GOP debate in California on May 3  —  It's hard to say which is worse news for Republicans …

Boehner acknowledges GOP nervous on Iraq  —  WASHINGTON - The House Republican leader said Sunday that GOP support could waver if President Bush's Iraq war policy does not succeed by the fall.  —  But first, the president's troop increase deserves a shot, Minority Leader John Boehner (news, bio, voting record) said.

With New Clout, Antiwar Groups Push Democrats  —  Every morning, representatives from a cluster of antiwar groups gather for a conference call with Democratic leadership staff members in the House and the Senate.  —  Shortly after, in a cramped meeting room here, they convene for a call with organizers across the country.

Memorial honoring fallen soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan runs out of room  —  WASHINGTON - Congress already has run out of space on a memorial created last year to honor all of the U.S. service members killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.  —  In a grim sign of the times, the "Wall of the Fallen …

Dutch Martyrs  —  Pim Fortuyn, murdered five years ago today, took on conventions to bring about change.  Long before radical Islam was on the radar, Fortuyn had defined it, written a book about it and pointed to the need to confront it.  —  [Portrait of Pim Fortuyn by Jean Thomassen]

Thompson's Politics Much Like McCain's  —  But Unlike the Senator, Actor Is GOP's Darling  —  Fred Thompson fervently backed the Iraq war, railed against an expanding federal government, took stands that occasionally annoyed his party and rarely spoke about his views on social issues during …

Hillsdale lives, breathes conservatism  —  Republicans love it, but college distances self from war-troubled GOP  —  HILLSDALE, Mich. - Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney first met Hillsdale College President Larry Arnn in Washington.  —  Mr. Romney, then governor of Massachusetts …

It's Easy To Say  —  Frank Rich: … Well, yes, of course.  But also, of course, exactly what's meant by accountability is left unsaid.  Well, here's how to hold them accountable:  —  1. Impeach Cheney and Bush - not necessarily in that order.  —  2. Hand over Bush, Cheney, Rice …

Republican Candidates Run From Bush  —  Steve blogged about this already, but here's a funny little video compilation from "Real Time" that perfectly illustrates just how toxic President Bush is that his name could only be muttered once during the entire debate — and that was in response to a question about pardoning Scooter.