ALERT: SHUTTING DOWN THE FLOOR  —  House Republicans are shutting down the floor, because the Democrats are threatening to change a rule and deny Republicans any opportunity to offer a motion to recommit on the "paygo" provisions of their legislation.  That's a lot of wonky talk; bottom line …

Wolfowitz to Resign Today?  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  World Bank officials say the bank's board is completing an "exit strategy" that will allow World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz to resign this afternoon and "still save some face" over the issue of his efforts to seek a promotion and pay raise for his girlfriend at the bank.

The Cost of a GOP Myth  —  If Attorney General Alberto Gonzales clings to his job much longer, he may end up as the only remaining employee of the Justice Department.  By resigning on Monday, Deputy Attorney General Paul McNulty joined Gonzales's chief of staff, D. Kyle Sampson …

Iraq Withdrawal Move Thwarted in Senate  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - The Senate on Wednesday rejected legislation that would cut off money for combat operations in Iraq after March 31, 2008.  —  The vote was a loss for Sen. Russell Feingold, D-Wis., and other Democrats who want to end the war.

Climate Momentum Shifting: Prominent Scientists Reverse Belief in Man-made Global Warming - Now Skeptics  —  Growing Number of Scientists Convert to Skeptics After Reviewing New Research  —  Following the U.S. Senate's vote today on a global warming measure (see today's AP article …

DoJ Responds to Senate Subpoena  —  Nothing like an angry letter from two senior senators to get results?  —  Late this afternoon, the Justice Department responded to the Senate Judiciary Committee's subpoena for any of Karl Rove's emails in the Department's possession that might be relevant to the U.S. attorney firings.

Romney Leaps to GOP Lead in Iowa; Edwards Keeps His Edge  —  Giuliani the big loser, while McCain remains steady; Hillary, Obama remain strong in tight Dem contest  —  Republican Mitt Romney has pushed from a distant third place into a small lead in Iowa, the continuation of progress …

Quickie Debate Recap  —  So who won?  Tonight, two candidates really benefited form their efforts.  I have a feeling that Mitt Romney will emerge from every one of these shindigs as the most articulate, well informed and appealing candidate.  In terms of debating skills, it's a man amongst boys out there.

Blumenauer: Why I'm Not Running  —  By Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Portland).  Learn more at EarlBlumenauer.com  —  For the last year I have fielded questions and comments about me running for the Senate.  —  After Peter DeFazio announced his decision not to run for the Senate, the race became an unavoidable topic.

Administration vaunted bogus credentials  —  Records from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine show that Dr. Keroack did not finish his residency in obstetrics and gynecology until 1993.  This means he could not possibly have practiced obstetrics for 20 years.

We must attack Iran before it gets the bomb  —  Iran should be attacked before it develops nuclear weapons, America's former ambassador to the United Nations said yesterday.  —  John Bolton, who still has close links to the Bush administration, told The Daily Telegraph that the European Union had to …

Bush Pick Gets Extra Payment From Old Job  —  A senior lobbyist at the National Association of Manufacturers nominated by President Bush to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission will receive a $150,000 departing payment from the association when he takes his new government job …

Debates: DNC Announces Six; Two On CNN, Two On NBC/MSNBC  —  The Democratic National Committee has officially announced "the dates, media sponsors and cities for the six DNC sanctioned debates."  —  CNN and NBC get two and ABC and CBS get one each.  Fox News isn't included.  Here's the list:

Falwell Tinky Winky  —  Can I just make one small point that has always bothered me?  Last night during NBC's coverage of Falwell's life they recycled the whole Falwell-thinks-Tinky-Winky-is- gay thing.  Falwell surely made a mistake launching that controversy the way he did.