McCain, Cornyn Engage in Heated Exchange  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) hasn't spent much time in the Capitol this year as he seeks the GOP presidential nomination.  But one of his rare appearances this week provided a pretty salty exchange with a fellow Republican.

Press Gaggle by Tony Fratto  —  White House Conference Center Briefing Room  —  MR. FRATTO: Good morning, everyone.  The President had his normal briefings this morning; taped the radio address — as you can imagine, it's on comprehensive immigration reform, so look forward to that.

Brooksian wrongism  —  I'm not sure what the point here is.  Brooks leads his column with a pretty big claim: that the Iraq war will devastate international governments for years to come.  But then, rather than backing up said claim, he proceeds to write a glowing review of a book called Brave …

Democrats press for Iraq progress  —  WASHINGTON - Congressional leaders want to make clear to the White House that consequences should be imposed on Baghdad if it fails to implement political and security reforms.  —  In a high-stakes, closed-door meeting on Capitol Hill set for Friday …

"Wednesday Night Ambush"  —  All the pResident's Men II - The Thug Years  —  FADE IN ON:  —  NIGHTTIME IN WASHINGTON, D.C.  —  A lone, black government towncar ignores traffic signals as it speeds through darkened and mostly deserted streets of the nation's capitol, the pavement slickened by an early March rain.

President Bush to Replace Wolfowitz Quickly  —  The Bush administration promised today to find someone quickly to succeed Paul D. Wolfowitz as president of the World Bank, and bring management skills to the job of healing an institution battered by the turmoil over Mr. Wolfowitz's tenure.

Four arrested in Iraq 'honor killing' … BAGHDAD, IRAQ (CNN) — Authorities in northern Iraq have arrested four people in connection with the "honor killing" last month of a Kurdish teen — a startling, morbid pummeling caught on a mobile phone video camera and broadcast around the world.

"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser  —  Lawlessness ... and fecklessness  —  Yesterday, Salon.com's Glenn Greenwald wrote: … As we have long noted, it is the "So now what?" that is the problem.  —  For all the cheerleading the Post's editorial page has done for various Bush administration blunders …

One of these is not like the other? … What?  A "form?"  A piece of paper Padilla may or may not have signed linking him to al-Qaeda?  That's it?  What happened to the radioactivity from the exploding device that was going to engulf us?  What about all those gas stoves exploding high rise apartment buildings?

Smilin' Tim Pawlenty: John McCain's New Best Friend  —  (Image inspired by the clever work of Sir John Tenniel, and of Tild at Tildology.com)  —  No matter how much he tries to pretend he's Not Like Bush, the governor of the North Star State, Minnesota's own Smilin' Tim Pawlenty …

Am I Doing God's Work?  —  "Let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own."  —  January 20, 1961  —  I was ten years old when I heard those words.  They still resonate with me nearly a half century later.

GOP Target Murtha Over Spending Exchange  —  WASHINGTON — Republicans will seek a House vote next week admonishing a senior Democrat who they say threatened a GOP member's spending projects in a noisy exchange in the House chamber, Minority Leader John Boehner said Friday.

Two ABC News Journalists Killed in Iraq  —  Two Iraqi ABC News broadcast journalists were killed in Iraq, ABC News President David Westin announced this morning.  —  Cameraman Alaa Uldeen Aziz, 33, and soundman Saif Laith Yousuf, 26, were returning home from work at the ABC News Baghdad …

House Democratic Leaders Write to President Bush on  —  Troop Pay Raises, Widows' Benefits  —  May 18th, 2007 by Jesse Lee  —  As noted yesterday, the White House issued a Statement of Administration Policy (pdf) declaring their opposition to a 3.5% pay raise for the troops …

Center of Attention … The Gun Toting Liberal: "Bush Amnesty For Illegal Aliens Bill Passes Senate As President Lures Border Agents To Iraq With Six-Figure Salary Offers"  —  Andrew Sullivan quotes a reader who describes todays republican right-wing as being fascist.  Libby Spencer responds (and agrees with Andrew).