Rivals try to deflate F. Thompson campaign  —  Fred Thompson has had a relatively easy ride as he has flirted with a bid for the Republican presidential nomination.  His strategists have found traction promoting him as the heir to Ronald Reagan — and a conservative alternative to the top tier of the GOP field.

Blasts Destroy Remnants of Samarra Shiite Shrine  —  Early morning blasts Wednesday destroyed two minarets at the same Shiite shrine in Samarra where an attack last year demolished the mosque's gilded dome and plunged the country into a wave of deadly sectarian violence.

BREAKING: Top White House Officials Subpoenaed Over Attorney Scandal  —  Former White House counsel Harriet Miers and former top Karl Rove aide Sara Taylor, who served as White House political director before resigning last month, have been issued subpoenas over their connections to the U.S. attorney scandal.

14 Palestinians killed as Hamas nears complete Gaza conquest  —  At least 14 Palestinians were killed by Hamas fire Wednesday, including 13 members of Fatah, as Hamas was on the verge of completing its conquest of the Gaza Strip.  —  Hamas is now in control of southern, central …

Iraqis Are Failing to Meet U.S. Benchmarks  —  Iraq's political leaders have failed to reach agreements on nearly every law that the Americans have demanded as benchmarks, despite heavy pressure from Congress, the White House and top military commanders.  With only three months until progress reports …

Dan Rather Takes On Network News With His Tart Remark  —  "It may not have been the wisest thing I've done this week," Dan Rather joked yesterday by phone from his office in New York.  —  Wise or not, the former CBS anchor's comments about the network's evening newscast have created a firestorm …

US Democrats preview new Iraq showdown  —  Anti-war Senate Democrats Tuesday plotted a new showdown with US President George W. Bush over Iraq, but admitted they had erred by making supporters think they could end the war.  —  "On Iraq, we're going to hold the president's feet to the fire …

Don Herbert, 89; TV's 'Mr. Wizard' taught science to young baby boomers  —  Don Herbert, who explained the wonderful world of science to millions of young baby boomers on television in the 1950s and '60s as "Mr. Wizard" and did the same for another generation of youngsters on the Nickelodeon cable TV channel in the 1980s, died Tuesday.

Bush Lobbies G.O.P. Senators on Immigration  —  In an effort to revive a crippled immigration bill, President Bush visited the Capitol on Tuesday to try to assure wary Senate Republicans personally that border security was a driving force behind his push for changes in immigration law.

Coleman faces challenge from his former adviser  —  An Iraq war veteran and former adviser to Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.) yesterday said he is considering a primary challenge against the lawmaker in 2008.  —  Retired Lt. Col. Joe Repya (R) lost a race for the state Republican Party chairmanship last week …

The Progressive Majority: Why a Conservative America is a Myth  —  For anyone interested in where the American public really stands on the big issues that distinguish progressives from conservatives — including the issues at the forefront of today's political debates — "The Progressive Majority …

Broward may cancel deal with radio station because it airs Rush Limbaugh  —  Rush Limbaugh has long been a thorn in the side of liberals, but now, because of him, some Democratic politicians don't even want to join with a local radio station to broadcast hurricane information.

The Rightosphere Temperature Check For June  —  Right Wing News emailed more than 240 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to answer 8 questions.  The following 52 blogs responded,  —  Aaron's CC, The Absurd Report, The Agitator, The American Princess, Argghhhh!, AtlanticBlog, Bad Example …

Yemeni Languishes at Guantanamo Long After U.S. Approved Release  —  Dispute Over Citizenship Leaves Saudi-Born Detainee in Legal Limbo  —  SANAA, Yemen — The word came in May 2006: Ali Mohammed Nasser Mohammed, a slight, 24-year-old Yemeni with curly black hair and a wispy beard …

Burning the Smoking Gun  —  On March 12, Thomas Harding, Defense Correspondent of the U.K. Daily Telegraph, published what many regarded as evidence of the literal "smoking gun" proving Iranian government involvement in Iraq: … Other Iranian ordnance, such as explosively-formed projectiles designed …

Money pinch to close Antioch  —  Yellow Springs college hopes to reopen in 2012  —  digg us!  del.icio.us!  —  When Steve Duffy was a high school student in the 1960s, his history teacher told him that one of the most utopian places on the planet was in Yellow Springs, Ohio, at a college called Antioch.

Vote-Fraud Demagogues  —  Americans overwhelmingly support voter ID.  Are they are all racists?  —  Appointments to the Federal Election Commission rarely draw attention.  But at a confirmation hearing today, there's likely to be some fireworks over Hans von Spakovsky.