Immigrant Bill, Short 15 Votes, Stalls in Senate  —  The sweeping immigration overhaul endorsed by President Bush crumbled in the Senate on Thursday night, leaving the future of one of the administration's chief domestic priorities in serious doubt.  —  After a day of tension and fruitless maneuvering …

Two Years of Humble Pie  —  In Britain, Canada and other civilized places, national elections are often called, run and concluded within six weeks.  In America, election campaigns go on forever.  It used to be one year, now it's two.  No one planned this, but like other evolutionary artifacts …

Attorney-general knew of BAE and the £1bn.  Then concealed it  —  Goldsmith hid secret money transfers from international anti-corruption organisation  —  British investigators were ordered by the attorney-general Lord Goldsmith to conceal from international anti-bribery watchdogs …

It's Subpoena Time  —  For months, senators have listened to a parade of well-coached Justice Department witnesses claiming to know nothing about how nine prosecutors were chosen for firing.  This week, it was the turn of Bradley Schlozman, a former federal attorney in Missouri, to be uninformative and not credible.

Peace Corps Is Edwards Terror Plan  —  Senator Edwards is outlining a new national security strategy that hinges on the creation of a 10,000-person civilian peace corps to stem the tide of terrorism in weak and unstable countries.  —  Mr. Edwards's plan, which he presented in Manhattan yesterday …

Fallen Soldier  —  Mr. President, do not leave this man behind.  —  Mr. President, some weeks ago, I wrote a letter of appeal, a character reference, to Judge Reggie B. Walton, urging leniency for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby.  Scooter, I said, has seen the undoing of his world, but he comes before a …

G-8 Leaders Back 'Substantial' Cuts In Gas Emissions  —  Leaders of the eight largest industrialized nations agreed Thursday to join forces to make "substantial" cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, but at President Bush's insistence did not impose binding targets for the reductions.

Edwards: If Rudy Embraces Bush, Then "He'll Never Be President"  —  Another interesting moment from John Edwards' press conference after his terrorism speech today.  Check out how tightly Edwards — responding to a question — yoked Rudy to our sinking President: … Simple as simple can be.

Rise in China's Pork Prices Signals End to Cheap Output  —  Few things are as essential to the Chinese as their pigs.  —  From pork spare ribs and mu shu pork to char siu bao — barbecued pork buns — pork is a staple of the Chinese diet.  So in this Year of the Pig, an acute shortage …

Light shines on authors of earmarks  —  Members of the House Armed Services Committee have requested millions of dollars in federal earmarks for companies that have contributed thousands of dollars to their reelection funds, according to a review of funding requests made publicly available for the first time.

Clinton Names Florida Reps. Wasserman Schultz, Hastings National Campaign Co-Chairs  —  Clinton to Hold Conference Call Announcing Additional Florida Endorsement Today  —  The Clinton Campaign today announced that Florida Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Congressman Alcee Hastings have been named national Campaign Co-Chairs.

America's Most Flaunted  —  Warning: This is a column about Paris Hilton.  Those who are trying to ignore the travails of the famous-for-being-famous hotel heiress might want to avert their eyes.  The rest of you, join me in honorable surrender.  We have no choice but to pay attention.

For 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell,' Split on Party Lines  —  The presidential candidates are dividing starkly along party lines on one of the signature fights of the 1990s: whether the 14-year-old policy of "don't ask, don't tell" should be repealed and gay men and lesbians allowed to serve openly in the military.