The Structural Imbalance of Political Talk Radio  —  Despite the dramatic expansion of viewing and listening options for consumers today, traditional radio remains one of the most widely used media formats in America.  Arbitron, the national radio ratings company, reports that more than 90 percent …

White House refuses to say if VP is in executive branch  —  Reporters finally pushed the White House today on the Vice President's belief that his office is some kind of fourth branch of government — not executive, not legislative, not accountable to anyone.  WH spokesperson Dana Perino's responses were almost comical.

NANCY PELOSI IS ALL FOR INCREASING VETERAN'S FUNDING, IF THE VETS ARE CANADIAN (UPDATED)  —  ***UPDATE: It's been pulled from the Pelosi website.  Details below.  Really, this again points out how very little the Democrats know about our military.  This is simply basic stuff …

In Aiding Poor, Edwards Built Bridge to 2008  —  John Edwards ended 2004 with a problem: how to keep alive his public profile without the benefit of a presidential campaign that could finance his travels and pay for his political staff.  —  Mr. Edwards, who reported this year that he had assets …

'Sicko' leaves top Democrats ill at ease  —  Leading candidates are sidestepping direct comment on filmmaker Michael Moore's proposals for universal healthcare.  —  WASHINGTON — With the release of Michael Moore's "Sicko," a movie once again is adding sizzle to an issue that's a high priority …

LAYOFFS AT ABC NEWS  —  Now we know why ABC News lost out in the bidding for that Paris Hilton interview.  In order to save cash—er, rather, "maintain and enhance the reputation of ABC News for its unparalleled reporting"—news division head David Westin just announced a wave of lay-offs expected to eliminate a total of 35 jobs.

Bush Advisers Consider Closing Guantánamo Prison Sooner  —  President Bush's top advisers are considering a recommendation to speed up the process of closing the American detention unit for suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, according to administration officials familiar with the deliberations.

U.S. reports 68 al Qaeda militants killed in Iraq … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — U.S. and Iraqi troops killed at least 68 al Qaeda militants in Iraq's Diyala province in the past four days, the U.S. military reported on Friday.  —  U.S. attack helicopters armed with missiles killed 17 …

'The Left' Moves Front and Center  —  JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Why can't the left get any respect?  —  Whenever you use the word "left" in American politics, you feel almost compelled to add quotation marks.  Today's left is not talking about nationalizing industry, abolishing capitalism or destroying the rich.

Dodd, Leahy Condemn Use of Delay Tactics to Prevent Passage of Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act  —  Today Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT) denounced Senator Tom Coburn's (R-OK) announcement that he would place a hold on The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act …

What's Not to Like  —  The soft side, and the underside, of Hillary Clinton's campaign.  —  Hillary Clinton doesn't have to prove she's a man.  She has to prove she's a woman.  —  She doesn't have to prove to people that she's tough enough or aggressive enough to be commander in chief.

Why Pro-Choice Is a Bad Choice for Democrats  —  I KEEP reading about a universe in which social conservatives are warming to Rudy Giuliani.  But this would have to be a place where his estranged children and three wives and multiple appearances in fishnets were irrelevant to the Republican base.

Embattled Duke Rape Case Prosecutor Mike Nifong Could Get Jail Time  —  Beleaguered and disbarred former District Attorney Mike Nifong, who prosecuted the Duke University lacrosse rape case, could wind up in jail if a motion is granted asking that criminal charges be filed against him, FOX News has learned.

Julian Beever, the greatest sidewalk artist in the world...  ... finished his piece for the Charleston (WV) FestivALL today.  I was lucky to be able to be there.  He's a great guy to talk to and he just works like a madman.  —  Julian hails from the midlands of Great Britain but now resides in Belgium.

Pork Project  —  An earmark lesson for Washington from the states: shame.  —  It was about a week ago that House Democrats ran up the white flag on earmarks and begrudgingly agreed to live by their campaign pledges to make pork requests public.  It was also about a week ago that Texas …

Graham's approval plunges on immigration  —  Sen. Lindsey Graham's (R-S.C.) approval rating is taking a pounding in his home state as a result of his strong support for a bipartisan immigration reform bill, a new poll showed Friday.  —  Graham's approval rating has sunk to 31 percent …