Approval of Congress lowest in a decade  —  Only about a quarter of Americans approve of how it's doing its job, a poll shows; most see 'business as usual.'  —  WASHINGTON — Fueled by disappointment at the pace of change since Democrats assumed the majority on Capitol Hill …

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 …

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:

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.

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."

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 …

A Jolly Good Show, but the Wrong Side of the Pond  —  Give him a sword and a tunic, and Chuck Schumer would have made a passable Oliver Cromwell as he stood on the Senate floor yesterday.  —  The New York Democrat, playing a British parliamentarian, had come to seek a "vote of no confidence" …

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.

Condoleezza Rice, Meeting With 'WSJ' Editorial Board, Gives Props to Scooter Libby  —  NEW YORK Meeting with the Wall Street Journal's editorial board, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said that Lewis "Scooter" Libby, who promoted the invasion of Iraq, disclosed the name of a cover CIA agent …

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 …

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.

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.

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"?

Voter Suppression Showdown, Round 2: Von Spakovsky  —  Following Bradley Schlozman's memorable performance before the Senate Judiciary Committee last week, former senior Civil Rights Division Hans von Spakovsky will be appearing before the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration tomorrow.

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 …

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 …

Border Security Can Be Implemented Without Senate Bill  —  Today, nine U.S. Senators wrote a letter to President Bush urging him to fulfill the border security provisions listed in the Senate immigration bill whether the legislation passes or not.  Each border security trigger in the bill …

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.

U.S. Warns Iraq That Progress Is Needed Soon  —  The top American military commander for the Middle East has warned Iraq's prime minister in a closed-door conversation that the Iraqi government needs to make tangible political progress by next month to counter the growing tide of opposition to the war in Congress.