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."

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.

Mujahadeen-e-Khalq on agenda of Iran-U.S. talks May 28  —  A radical Iranian opposition group will be one of the key discussion issues during talks between Iranian and U.S. officials in Iraq on May 28, an Iraqi newspaper reported Saturday.  —  Al-Sabah newspaper, a publication financed …

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.

'Welcome To Teheran'  —  The Guardian has a scathing report on the British efforts in southern Iraq and the resultant influence of Iran in the Shi'ite militias vying to fill the power vacuum around Basra.  It demonstrates the futility of the approach used by the British in engaging militias instead …

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 …

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.

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.

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 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.

Circular Conservative Firing Squad Update  —  The hysteria on the far right (is there any other sort any more?) about the immigration bill is remarkable to me.  It's not that there aren't obviously good arguments against amnesty; it's the fever-pitch mania that drives these people.

U.S. House Democrat defends trade deal with Bush  —  Source: Reuters  —  A senior Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday defended a trade deal reached last week with the Bush administration, in response to criticism from some party members.

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.