And Immigration is Number Two  —  Rudy Giuliani has just released a blueprint for his candidacy which he calls his "Twelve Commitments to the American People."  And they are:

Hamas captures Fatah security HQ  —  Hamas forces captured the headquarters of the Fatah-allied security forces in northern Gaza, seizing control of a key prize in the bloody power struggle between the sides, Hamas and Fatah officials said.  —  Hamas attacked the compound with mortars and automatic gunfire …

James Carville, call your agent!  —  So the Washington Post and New York Times both dutifully printed Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's smack-talking assessment of the Republican field yesterday:  —  "I've learned one thing in listening to all the debates and reading about all these people running …

CHAMBLISS, ISAKSON SEND A MESSAGE ON IMMIGRATION TO PRESIDENT BUSH: SHOW COMMITMENT TO BORDER SECURITY  —  SENATORS CALL ON PRESIDENT TO IMMEDIATELY FUND BORDER SECURITY THROUGH EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL  —  WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Saxby Chambliss (R-Ga.) and Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) …

Newhouse Breakfast: Moonves Slam Rather, Defends Couric  —  The battle of the sound bites rages on.  —  Leslie Moonves, President and CEO, CBS Corporation, called former CBS News anchor Dan Rather's comments that the CBS Evening News has been "tarted up" under new anchor Katie Couric, "sexist" and a "cheap shot."

Joe Lieberman Is At It Again  —  After wrongly supporting George W. Bush's strategic blunder of attacking Iraq, and continuing to support Bush's failed policies after the invasion, Senator Joe Lieberman made irresponsible comments this weekend regarding military action against Iran.

Mystery of President Bush's watch in Albania  —  Now you see it.  Now you don't.  —  George W Bush was visibly cheered when he received a hero's welcome in Albania at the weekend, with Albanians draped in the Stars and Stripes reaching out to hug him and shake his hand.

Poll: Romney surges ahead in New Hampshire  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has jumped to the head of the pack of 2008 Republican presidential contenders in New Hampshire, according to a CNN/WMUR poll out Tuesday.  —  Romney shot past former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani …

Hawks for Thompson  —  Thompson puts together a foreign policy team.  —  FRED THOMPSON IS adding more big-name policy talent as his testing-the-waters committee continues to grow into a real presidential campaign.  Among the new additions: Mark Esper, national security adviser …

Munitions Dumping at Sea  —  It is no secret that the U.S. military has used the ocean as trashcan for munitions in the past.  Peter discussed at the Old DSN how federal lawmakers were pressing the US Army to reveal everything it knows about a massive international program to dump chemical weapons off homeland and foreign shores.

President Bush Attends Dedication of Victims of Communism Memorial  —  Washington, D.C.  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all for coming.  Please be seated.  Dr. Edwards, thanks for your kind words.  Congressman Lantos — no better friend to freedom, by the way; Congressman Rohrabacher, the same.

The Bombed Bridges of Baghdad  —  Unlike the film, The Bridges of Madison County, the bombed bridges of Baghdad are not a quaint romantic tale, but a warning sign of potential disaster for U.S. forces in Iraq.  The ongoing attacks on bridges in and around Baghdad creates significant risks …

Do away with public schools  —  Government is inept at running schools.  It should subsidize education for needy students, then get out of the way.  —  HERE'S A GOOD question for you: Why have public schools at all?  —  OK, cue the marching music.  We need public schools because blah blah blah and yada yada yada.

The System at Work  —  We have become political hypochondriacs.  We seem eager to declare that "the system" has come down with some dread disease, to proclaim that an ideological "center" blessed by the heavens no longer exists, and woe unto us.  An imperfect immigration bill is pulled …

In Parting Shot, Blair Calls Press a 'Feral Beast'  —  In the land that produced "Scoop," Evelyn Waugh's novel of journalistic ambition and ineptitude, it would seem unsurprising for politicians to criticize reporters on occasion.  But was it justified, as Prime Minister Tony Blair did today, to call the press a "feral beast"?

Bramble ramble: State senator leaves Romney camp, backs McCain for White House  —  Sen. John McCain has a new Utah ally in his race for the presidency - state Senate Majority Leader Curtis Bramble.  —  But this is far from the standard political endorsement.

America in the World  —  Forging a New Vision for Foreign Policy and International Security  —  Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill  —  We are pleased to invite you to a major conference in Washington aimed at charting a new direction for America in the world.

Edwards campaign: 'Go to hell' adviser 'speaks for himself'  —  After a top adviser to the campaign of presidential hopeful John Edwards told liberal bloggers to "go to hell," a spokesman for the former Democratic Senator from North Carolina denied that it reflected the candidate's sentiments.

Comment viewing options  —  Don't be shy; tell us how you really feel, Barney!  —  Barney's absolutely right.  —  Living in MA all my life, I've been exposed to Republican-Lite Govenors for the past 20 years or so.  He was by far the most triangulating, the most shallow, the most, well, everything that Rep. Frank said.