Congress Approval Down to 29%; Bush Approval Steady at 33%  —  Both ratings are slightly lower than 2007 averages  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A new Gallup Poll finds continued low levels of public support for both Congress and President George W. Bush.  Twenty-nine percent of Americans approve of Congress …

Comey Details White House Attempt to Force Approval of Secret Program  —  In testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning, former Deputy Attorney General James Comey detailed the desperate late night efforts by then-White House counsel Alberto Gonzales and White House chief …

Angry Wolfowitz in four-letter tirade  —  An angry and bitter Paul Wolfowitz poured abuse and threatened retaliations on senior World Bank staff if his orders for pay rises and promotions for his partner were revealed, according to new details published last night.

Romney's South Carolina Embarrassment  —  There are two interesting things about the most recent poll out of South Carolina, done by Ayres McHenry & Associates: 1) Mitt Romney is in a weak fifth place, despite a massive effort in the state (though he is still ahead of Lindsay Lohan), and 2) …

Bloomberg poised for third-party campaign  —  New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg is prepared to spend an unprecedented $1 billion of his own $5.5 billion personal fortune for a third-party presidential campaign, personal friends of the mayor tell The Washington Times.

Godwin's law and the New Right  —  I know that supporters of the currently ruling coalition of crooks, warmongers, torturers, incompetents, and theocrats are deeply, deeply hurt when they and their pet politicians are compared to Nazis.  But could someone suggest to them — politely …

A Question Of Race Vs. Class  —  Barack Obama doesn't think anyone should cut his two daughters any slack when they apply to college — not because of their race, at least.  In the unlikely event that the Obama family goes broke, then maybe.  —  In an interview broadcast Sunday on ABC's …

Fox News Declines C-SPAN's Request To Carry Debate  —  If you're interested in catching Fox News Channel's GOP Presidential Debate tonight, you better make a point of tuning in or TiVo'ing it.  Unlike the two earlier debates hosted by MSNBC, you won't be able to find the debate anyplace else on the TV or radio dial.

A Casualty Of War: MySpace  —  U.S. Military Blocks Popular Web Sites, Cutting Ties to Home  —  The Defense Department began blocking access on its computers to YouTube, MySpace and 11 other Web sites yesterday, severing some of the most popular ties linking U.S. troops in combat areas …

Son of professor opposed to war is killed in Iraq  —  Boston University professor Andrew J. Bacevich has been a persistent, vocal critic of the Iraq war, calling the conflict a catastrophic failure.  This week, the retired Army lieutenant colonel received the grim news that his son had been killed on patrol there.

Falwell reportedly found unconscious, hospitalized … LYNCHBURG, Virginia (AP) — The Rev. Jerry Falwell was hospitalized in "gravely serious" condition after being found unconscious in his office Tuesday, a Liberty University executive said.  —  Ron Godwin, the executive vice president …

Suicide bomber kills 24 in Pakistan  —  PESHAWAR, Pakistan - A suicide attacker detonated a bomb that ripped through a crowded hotel restaurant in the northwestern city of Peshawar on Tuesday, killing at least 24 people and wounding 25, police said.  —  The blast deepened instability in Pakistan …

Thomson, Reuters to forge global info leader  —  LONDON (Reuters) - Canadian publisher Thomson Corp. (TOC.TO: Quote, Profile, Research (TOC.N: Quote, Profile, Research has agreed to buy Reuters (RTR.L: Quote, Profile, Research for about $17.2 billion, creating the world's leading provider of news and data for professional markets.