Fred Thompson running for president  —  Fred Dalton Thompson is planning to enter the presidential race over the Fourth of July holiday, announcing that week that he has already raised several million dollars and is being backed by insiders from the past three Republican administrations, Thompson advisers told The Politico.

It's official  —  The U.S. Justice Department has notified Arkansas's congressional delegation that Interim Eastern District U.S. Attorney Tim Griffin is resigning effective Friday, June 1.  Jane Duke will become acting U.S. attorney.  (This is the assistant in the office who the Justice Department once …

Bush envisions U.S. presence in Iraq like S.Korea  —  Source: Reuters  —  President George W. Bush would like to see a lengthy U.S. troop presence in Iraq like the one in South Korea to provide stability but not in a frontline combat role, the White House said on Wednesday.

E. coli conservatism (19): the ne plus ultra  —  Offered without comment.  What is there possibly to say? … Oh, all right.  One small comment.  First, observe the contempt for liberty.  When E. coli conservatives say self-regulation is preferable to government, they're even lying about that.

Iraq—the Coming GOP Collapse?  —  Was talking to an influential Republican strategist who thinks if Iraq looks the way it does now in September, Bush will lose about 25 Senate Republicans on a bill with some sort of timetable for withdrawal.

Clinton defends Iraq war funding vote  —  LAS VEGAS - White House hopeful Hillary Rodham Clinton on Wednesday defended her vote against an Iraq war funding bill, saying she believes President Bush will begin withdrawing troops from Iraq soon.  —  The New York senator said she came …

Right-wing noise machine: Plame not covert  —  (updated below - updated again - Update III)  —  NBC News, yesterday: … The right-wing noise machine spent the last two years repeatedly, continuously and emphatically telling their followers the exact opposite:

ACLU: Boeing offshoot helped CIA  —  NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union said Wednesday it is suing Jeppesen Dataplan Inc., a subsidiary of Boeing Co., claiming it provided secret CIA transportation services to shuttle three terrorism suspects overseas, where they were tortured.

Our 44th President  —  Fred Thompson is so three hours ago.  Via Ballot Access News comes new info about former Rep. Cynthia McKinney, last seen punching a Capitol Hill cop and then losing re-election: … Please note that she includes "impeachment of the president" among her potential campaign planks …

Glenn Beck Ratings Report (May 21-25)  —  Glenn Beck's ratings for the week of May 21-25 were staggering in how low Beck's ratings have fallen.  When you think his ratings have hit rock bottom, they manage to dig just a little lower.  —  These are the numbers are for the 7pm hour.

Jeff Gerth, meet Judith Miller  —  Isn't former New York Times reporter Jeff Gerth writing the definitive book about Hillary Clinton sort of like Judith Miller deciding to write the definitive book about Iraq's WMDs?  It just doesn't add up.  —  After all, both Gerth and Miller …

Biden's debate  —  The Fox News Channel/Congressional Black Caucus Institute debate isn't quite dead, but it's getting closer.  —  As the Times recently reported, the CBC is still trying to revive the event, and Joe Biden plans to attend, while Bill Richardson's spokeswoman told the Times he hadn't decided.

Libertarians, beware the rigid reign of Rudy  —  Behind Rudy Giuliani's impressive lead in the polls is one fact that puzzles the pundits: Many cultural conservatives are backing a pro-choice, pro-gun control candidate.  But what should be equally surprising is the strong support Giuliani …