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.

Lieberman talks to troops in Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - Spc. David Williams, 22, of Boston, Mass., had two note cards in his pocket Wednesday afternoon as he waited for Sen. Joseph Lieberman.  Williams serves in the 82nd Airborne Division from Fort Bragg, N.C., the first of the five "surge" …

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 …

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:

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 …

Economix: Truth, Fiction and Lou Dobbs  —  The whole controversy involving Lou Dobbs and leprosy started with a "60 Minutes" segment a few weeks ago.  —  The segment was a profile of Mr. Dobbs, and while doing background research for it, a "60 Minutes" producer came across a 2005 news report …

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.

NASA Administrator Michael Griffin Not Sure Global Warming A Problem  —  Michael Griffin NASA Administrator has told America's National Public Radio that while he has no doubt a trend of global warming exists "I am not sure that it is fair to say that it is a problem we must wrestle with."

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 …