"Good Riddance Attention Whore"  —  I have endured a lot of smear and hatred since Casey was killed and especially since I became the so-called "Face" of the American anti-war movement.  Especially since I renounced any tie I have remaining with the Democratic Party, I have been further trashed on such …

U.S., Iran end 27-year diplomatic freeze  —  BAGHDAD - The United States and Iran broke a 27-year diplomatic freeze Monday with a four-hour meeting about Iraqi security.  The American envoy said there was broad policy agreement, but that Iran must stop arming and financing militants who are attacking U.S. and Iraqi forces.

Giuliani Tempers Tough Image on Campaign  —  ATLANTA — Oh, baby, here it comes.  The gray-haired woman raises her hand and compliments His Honor for his Sept. 11 bravery.  Then she asks him:  —  Why does so much of the world hate us?  Haven't we failed to understand Arab grievances?

Welcome to the Newly-Expanded Huffington Post  —  It's still the same place, with the same address, the same mission, and the same attitude that has always made HuffPost such a great read.  It's just that now there is much more of it to love.  And to organize it all we've created five new sections …

Hispanic Groups Reconsider Their Support for Gonzales  —  Two years ago, major Hispanic groups broke with other civil rights organizations and supported Alberto R. Gonzales's nomination for attorney general, primarily because he would become the highest-ranking Latino ever in a presidential Cabinet.

Flags replaced with swastikas in Wash.  —  ORCAS ISLAND, Wash. - Vandals burned dozens of small American flags that decorated veterans' graves for Memorial Day and replaced many of them with hand-drawn swastikas, authorities said Monday.  —  Forty-six flag standards were found empty …

Should Scooter Libby's Sentencing Letters Be Made Public?  —  Marcy (Empty Wheel) argues that the sentencing letters written on behalf of Scooter Libby should be made available to the public.  —  Team Libby disagrees (brief here), asserting that the letters are not judicial records …

What It Means To Be Secure  —  The current debate on financing military operations in Iraq, as well as the Memorial Day just past, stimulated yet again my 30-year search for a national security policy that liberal and progressive Americans can endorse.  —  The great 20th century Democratic presidents were war presidents.

Right-wing blogger geniuses expose another journalistic fraud!  —  The genius investigators in the right-wing blogosphere — who serve as our Watchdogs over the Corrupt "MSM" — made a major, major discovery this weekend.  Last Wednesday, former CIA agent Larry Johnson published a Memo …

MISS UNIVERSE PULLS AN UPSET  —  One thing I've noticed is that beauty pageants tend to follow form.  I'm not sure how bettors are able to predict judges' choices, but they generally do so pretty accurately.  But not in this year's Miss Universe competition.

Venezuelan TV station goes off air  —  Country's oldest private TV broadcaster was critical of the government  —  CARACAS, Venezuela - Venezuelan police fired tear gas and plastic bullets Monday into a crowd of thousands protesting a decision by President Hugo Chavez that forced …

Lawmakers Push for Big Subsidies for Coal Process  —  Even as Congressional leaders draft legislation to reduce greenhouse gases linked to global warming, a powerful roster of Democrats and Republicans is pushing to subsidize coal as the king of alternative fuels.

Name game can have racial tinge  —  Foes ignore Jindal's chosen nickname  —  WASHINGTON — Mention the name "Bobby" in Louisiana political circles these days and most everyone will assume you are talking about Bobby Jindal, the popular second-term congressman now running at the top of the polls for governor.

Captain Obvious  —  Goes bucking for Commodore.  —  Every now and then as I run barefoot over the burning shores of the NYT, I catch a glint of Tom Friedman talking about, say, energy policy.  Like a shiny nickel washed up along a great swath of poo, catching the light just so.

Data A Blogger!  —  The New York Times reports on the high circulations and curiously enduring appeal of teen magazines.  They're what newspapers wish they were!  "It really hits these girls on an emotional level," says Molly MacDermot, editor of Twist and M. I can only hope so.