Sexual Perversion And Modern Conservatism: Joined At The Hip?  —  Via Atrios, I learned about the arrest of S.D. Republican Ted Klaudt on rape charges.  The charges are revolting: He duped foster children in his care into letting him perform "exams" on them to see if they qualified as egg donors.

Trutheriness and Ron Paul  —  First, some corrections: Last week, on John Gibson's Fox News Channel show, "The Big Story," I was asked to comment on 9/11 conspiracy theorists and Ron Paul.  Here's the video.  In the segment, I referred to "Students and Scholars for Truth."

Uhm, No  —  Can't someone tell the monsignor that these endless paeans to his alleged salt-of-the-earth fabulousness are just a tad unseemly? … More questions than answers is right.  —  Is it really necessary that we hear over and over again about his Dad joining up after Pearl Harbor …

Gonzales rapped as president's 'yes man'  —  WASHINGTON - Attorney General Alberto Gonzales says his long friendship with President Bush makes it easier to say "no" to him on sticky legal issues.  —  Gonzales' critics say the attorney is far more likely to say "yes," and they say that leaves …

The Saturday Profile: Sarkozy's Top Diplomat: Undiplomatic Opposite  —  BERNARD KOUCHNER, France's new top diplomat, would never describe himself as diplomatic.  —  Named as foreign minister, Mr. Kouchner is in many ways the political opposite of his new boss, President Nicolas Sarkozy.

The Saturday Cartoons  —  And here's Mark Fiore with another great animation called The Pentagon Film Fest in which he tells us about such stellar Pentagon fiction as "Saving Private Lynch" and "Officer and a Tillman."  —  Click on the screenshot above or go here to see it.

Death Toll for Contractors Reaches New High in Iraq  —  Casualties among private contractors in Iraq have soared to record levels this year, setting a pace that seems certain to turn 2007 into the bloodiest year yet for the civilians who work alongside the American military in the war zone, according to new government numbers.

Poisoned Toothpaste in Panama Is Believed to Be From China  —  Diethylene glycol, a poisonous ingredient in some antifreeze, has been found in 6,000 tubes of toothpaste in Panama, and customs officials there said yesterday that the product appeared to have originated in China.

It Was 40 Years Ago Today  —  With 'Sgt. Pepper,' the Beatles indulged their whims — and changed rock forever  —  It's possible for two reasonable adults, probably older than 45, to argue for hours about the most significant pop music event of the 1960s.  My own vote would be cast in favor …

'Welcome to Tehran' - how Iran took control of Basra  —  Britain has failed to stop southern Iraq falling into grip of militias  —  On a recent overcast afternoon in Basra, two new police SUVs drove onto a dusty, rubbish-strewn football pitch where a group of children were playing.

RAISING MCCAIN  —  CUSSES GOP COMRADE IN SENATE TIRADE  —  Presidential hopeful John McCain - who has been dogged for years by questions about his volcanic temper - erupted in an angry, profanity-laced tirade at a fellow Republican senator, sources told The Post yesterday.

Analysis: The Court and the 2008 Election  —  As the presidential campaign season gets an unprecedented early start, it is not too early to start the hyperbole on the importance of the election for the future of the Court and, as a consequence, the future of American law.

In S.C., Romney slams immigration plan  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. - The crowd at South Carolina's Republican convention cheered Saturday when Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney criticized a new immigration proposal and booed a key ally of U.S. Sen. John McCain (news, bio, voting record) when he defended it.

Israeli planes pound Hamas targets  —  GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah spoke by phone with Hamas' exiled leader in a new bid to end Gaza's factional fighting, as Israeli missiles hit two suspected Hamas rocket workshops Saturday.  —  Meanwhile, gunmen clashed near …

Crying Wolfowitz  —  . . . while the United Nations bankrolls dictators.  —  For two of Paul Wolfowitz's most prominent critics, Mark Malloch Brown and Ad Melkert, the war over the World Bank presidency could not have come at a better time.  Whatever else the ousting of Wolfowitz has achieved …

Finally: The ACVR's 'Voter Fraud' Scam Outed in All Their Ignominious Shame in New Slate Article!  —  Rick Hasen's: 'The Fraudulent Fraud Squad - The Incredible, Disappearing American Center for Voting Rights'  —  I may have more thoughts on this article a bit later, but for now, allow me to just recommend it.