Clinton, Obama vote 'no' on Iraq bill  —  WASHINGTON - Courting the anti-war constituency, Democratic presidential rivals Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) both voted against legislation that pays for the Iraq war but lacks a timeline for troop withdrawal.

Books Paint Critical Portraits of Clinton  —  2 Biographies Detail Marital Strife and Driving Ambition  —  Two new books on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York offer fresh and often critical portraits of the Democratic presidential candidate that depict a tortured relationship …

Congress Passes Increase in the Minimum Wage  —  Congress handed a major victory to low-income workers on Thursday night by approving the first increase in the federal minimum wage rate in a decade.  —  By a vote of 348 to 73, the House approved the measure as part of a deal on Iraq spending.

NBC: CIA warned of risks of war in the Mideast  —  Pre-war reports say agency predicted dangers of toppling Saddam's regime  —  Men place the coffin of an attack victim atop a vehicle in Baghdad on Friday.  —  NBC News Investigative Unit  —  In a move sure to raise even more questions …

Bush Reaffirms His Support for Gonzales  —  President Bush said Thursday that he would correct any problems uncovered in the investigations of last year's dismissals of federal prosecutors, but he added that nothing had undermined his support for Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales.

Immigration Bill Provisions Gain Wide Support in Poll  —  As opponents from the right and left challenge an immigration bill before Congress, there is broad support among Americans — Democrats, Republicans and independents alike — for the major provisions in the legislation, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

RONALD REAGAN ON IMMIGRATION: Conservative Republican have been outdoing each other in claiming the mantle of Ronald Reagan.  Ironically, however, many conservatives are simultaneously outdoing each other in advocating immigration restriction - a stance Reagan would probably have abhorred.

Hyping al-Qaida  —  BUSH BUNGLES A PRESS CONFERENCE.  —  If you tuned in at the end of George W. Bush's press conference Thursday morning, just in time to watch him defend the immigration bill, you caught a glimpse of the leader he might have been, the "compassionate conservative" …

More Than Ever, It Pays to Be the Top Executive  —  Like most companies, Office Depot has long made sure that its chief executive was the highest-paid employee.  Ten years ago, the $2.2 million pay package of its chief was more than double that of his No. 2.  The fifth-ranked executive received less than one-third.

Al Gore Appearance at the Marin Civic Center  —  On May 23, 2007, Al Gore made a personal appearance at the Marin Veterans' Auditorium, in the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael, California.  —  He was there to kick off publicity for his latest book, The Assault on Reason, which had been released just the day before.

4 Candidates  —  Who led this week?  Believe me, it wasn't Senator Harry Reid.  But then I told you he wouldn't over two months ago.  —  However, there are a few who stood out on the Iraq vote.  The focus for me is on four presidential candidates right now.

Cemeteries Seek Breathing Clientele  —  PHILADELPHIA — The dinner was first-class, with butlers serving hors d'oeuvres and the strains of "Blue Danube" tastefully muffling the festive din.  This nine-course re-creation of the last supper aboard an ill-fated ocean liner was the culmination …

Congress OKs Billions for the Iraq War  —  Congress Grudgingly Approves Billions for the Iraq War Without Troop Withdrawal Timeline  —  The legislation includes nearly $95 billion to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan through Sept. 30.  In addition to jettisoning their plan …

Politics not his game, Gore says  —  Like an actor polished by constant interviews on a marathon movie junket, vice president turned Hollywood darling Al Gore has mastered the art of (not) answering the most obvious question: Is he running for president in 2008?

Bush In Line of Fire  —  ABC's Ann Compton reports: An outdoor news conference in perfect spring weather, with birds chirping loudly in the magnolia trees, is not without its hazards.  —  As President Bush took a question Thursday in the White House Rose Garden about scandals involving his Attorney General …

In the Rose Garden, It Was All Al-Qaeda  —  Is there no safe haven for President Bush?  —  It happened midway through his news conference in the Rose Garden yesterday morning, in between his 10th and 11th mentions of al-Qaeda: A bird flew over the president and deposited a wet, white dropping on the upper left sleeve of his jacket.