As Senate Deal Sinks, So Does Bush's Power  —  The breakthrough on the "grand bargain" on immigration a few weeks ago had brought new life to a White House under siege, putting a long-sought goal suddenly within reach.  After many grim months, there was almost giddiness at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

A Victim?  Hardly!  —  The Paris Hilton saga has become so compelling that many political bloggers who swore off mentioning her have weighed in on the topic, including myself.  Hilton got hauled off screaming and crying to jail after having been released by Los Angeles Sheriff Lee Baca five days …

Kennedy Plea Was Last Gasp for Immigration Bill  —  It was the moment of truth for legislation that would make the most profound changes in immigration policy in more than 20 years.  —  Desperate to salvage a measure in which he and others had invested months, Senator Edward M. Kennedy headed …

A Failure of Leadership  —  The immigration compromise collapsed on the floor of the Senate Thursday night.  Many of its hard-line foes are celebrating, but their glee is vindictive and hollow.  They have blocked one avenue to an immigration overhaul while offering nothing better …

'Hardball with Chris Matthews' for June 7  —  Guests: Ben Affleck, Loretta Sanchez, Brian Bilbray, Ezra Klein, Karen Hanretty  —  CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: Hollywood stars have a big voice in politics.  —  Let's see if one of them, Ben Affleck, can answer some tough questions.  —  Let's play HARDBALL.

For One Visit, Bush Will Feel Pro-U.S. Glow  —  The highlight of President Bush's European tour may well be his visit on Sunday to this tiny country, one of the few places left where he can bask in unabashed pro-American sentiment without a protester in sight.

Mary Winkler Sentenced to Jail  —  There have been 10 comments posted  —  Selmer, Tennessee (WVLT) Knoxville native Mary Winkler will go to jail in connection with the killing of her minister husband.  —  A judge sentenced Winkler to three years of split confinement in connection …

EXTREMISTS....I just heard Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos chatting on the ABC Evening News about the collapse of the immigration bill.  Their conclusion?  It was killed by extremists on both sides: liberal Democrats and conservative Republicans overwhelmed the centrists.

Condi insists troop buildup is 'effective' in News sitdown  —  DAILY NEWS WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF  —  The U.S. troop surge in Iraq has been "effective" cleaning up parts of Baghdad, but the dramatic uptick in spectacular terror bombings is "unnerving," Secretary of State Rice told the Daily News yesterday.

Death or Glory Part II of IV  —  Death or Glory Part II of IV:  —  Into the Desert With the Queen's Royal Lancers  —  Sunrise.  —  The intended target in an ambush never knows when it's over.  Yesterday's ambush, which killed two soldiers and wounded three others, is a case in point.

Romney Brothers Dish on Dad  —  Blog by Presidential Candidate's Five Sons Reveals G-Rated Details of Former Governor's Family Life  —  BOSTON — Tagg Romney, 37, loves the Sox and has a thing for Billy Joel.  Matt Romney, 35, always tunes in to "Saturday Night Live," and Josh Romney, 31, likes to surf and water-ski.

Blue America: Welcome Tom Allen, Next Senator From Maine!  —  Maine is a very independent state and a very moderate state.  Many voters aren't hyper-partisan as much as they are just looking for the right person regardless of party affiliation.  I want to tell you about a Republican elected …

Gingrich: McCain Can't Win GOP Nod  —  McCain Tells ABC Gingrich 'May Be Right' on Immigration's Peril to '08 Bid  —  Newt Gingrich predicts John McCain will never be the Republican nominee for president.  And McCain concedes he might be right.  —  The former House Speaker argued Friday …

A Patent Lie  —  WHAT a difference 16 years makes.  Last month, the technology world was abuzz over an interview in Fortune magazine in which Bradford Smith, Microsoft's general counsel, accused users and developers of various free software products of patent infringement and demanded royalties.

Three arrested in arms plot to kill Americans  —  A suspected international arms dealer was arrested yesterday in Spain and charged with conspiracy to sell millions of dollars in weapons to a State Department-designated foreign terrorist organization in Colombia to kill Americans.

Report Gives Details on CIA Prisons  —  NATO Pacts Exploited, European Probe Finds  —  The CIA exploited NATO military agreements to help it run secret prisons in Poland and Romania where alleged terrorists were held in solitary confinement for months, shackled and subjected to other mental …

Immigration Enigma  —  I cannot forecast to you the action of Congress.  It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key.  The key is Congress's own interest.  (But what the heck is Congress's own interest?)  —  Trying to game out what's …