U.S. Rebuffs Germany on Greenhouse Gas Cuts  —  The United States has rejected Germany's proposal for deep long-term cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, setting the stage for a battle that will pit President Bush against his European allies at next month's meeting of the world's richest countries.

Major troop reductions imminent — again  —  Wonderful — and highly credible — front page news today, from The New York Times: … For four straight years, the same set of war supporters have constantly and reptitiously given the same exact false assurances about Iraq — virtually verbatim …

Immigration judges lack apt backgrounds  —  A growing number of the jurists have little or no experience in that area of law.  Some have strong Republican resumes.  —  WASHINGTON — Over the last two years, U.S. Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales has appointed more than two dozen individuals as federal immigration judges.

"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser  —  Jeff Gerth can't handle the truth  —  What happens to an investigative reporter best known for his role "breaking" three "scandals," each of which fell apart upon government investgiation?  —  If he's Jeff Gerth, and the Clintons are the subjects …

Memoirs of the man who thrice saved us from a Democratic presidency  —  Walking around Washington, D.C., telling people you're reading Bob Shrum's forthcoming memoir turns out to be a fantastic small-talk gambit.  People are astounded, confused, sympathetic.  Someone gave him a book deal?

William Peters, 85, Journalist Who Examined Race in U.S., Dies  —  William Peters, a journalist and award-winning documentary film producer who chronicled American race relations during the turbulent years of the mid-20th century, died on Sunday in Boulder, Colo. He was 85.

Breastfeed Your Way Out of Sexist Oppression  —  I'm just going to get of the way and let this one tell itself.  MEMRI: … Stone the bloody crows! … Let me see if I've got this straight.  You put a bloke and a sheila in close quarters, behind closed doors, and one thing might lead to another.

SUIT SHEDS LIGHT ON CLINTONS' TIES TO A BENEFACTOR  —  When former President Bill Clinton and Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton took a family vacation in January 2002 to Acapulco, Mexico, one of their longtime supporters, Vinod Gupta, provided his company's private jet to fly them there.

Tehran's interest-rate cuts 'economic suicide for banks'  —  TEHRAN: Iran's moderate press and economists Thursday slammed a decision by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to slash interest rates, describing the move as "incomprehensible" and risking "economic suicide."

Post from Obama HQ:  —  Video: Truth on Iraq … This afternoon, Senator Obama addressed the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists at their annual convention in Chicago.  In this clip, he responds to the recent comments made by former Governor Mitt Romney and Senator John McCain about yesterday's Iraq war spending bill:

Don't Panic!  Four Terror Suspects Escape Probation; one a Zarqawi associate  —  British authorities have released the names of four terror suspects who have "escaped" the British equvalent of something like probation.  Iraqi born Bestun Salim, Algerian born Lamine Adam, Ibrahim Adam …

White House Memo: Winning on Iraq, Bush Turns to Immigration  —  Having won his fight with Congressional Democrats on an Iraq war spending bill, President Bush is now waging an equally aggressive battle with Republicans, as he tries to persuade them to support an immigration bill that he hopes will be a signature domestic achievement.

The Saturday Cartoons  —  Matt Davies: How He Gets It Done  —  I saved Matt Davies, from the New York Journal News, for last (see above) because I have an additional item for you today in the form of a local news video Matt did recently, in which he pokes fun at how he gets ideas and inspiration for his Pulitzer Prize-winning work.