'A Different Understanding With the President' … Just past the Oval Office, in the private dining room overlooking the South Lawn, Vice President Cheney joined President Bush at a round parquet table they shared once a week.  Cheney brought a four-page text, written in strict secrecy by his lawyer.

We've replaced Rushdie in hiding  —  A year or so after the Ayatollah Khomeini took out an Islamist mob contract on Salman Rushdie in 1989, the novelist appeared, after elaborate security arrangements, on a television arts show in London.  His host was Melvyn Bragg, a longtime British telly grandee …

Old girlfriends cast their vote for Thompson  —  IN the battle for the women's vote, Fred Thompson has a secret weapon against Hillary Clinton - the legions of former girlfriends who still adore him and who want him to be president.  —  The Hollywood actor and former Tennessee senator racked …

'We Will Try to Form an Islamic Society'  —  Mahmoud Zahar — a founder of Hamas, and one of its most militant hardliners — has called for an Islamic state in the Gaza Strip.  After the Hamas takeover of the territory last week, he's also threatened Fatah with more violence in the West Bank.

Aussie hired by state GOP embroiled in immigration lawsuit  —  Michael Kamburowski, the Australian immigrant hired as a top official in the California Republican Party, was ordered deported in 2001, jailed three years later for visa violations — and has filed a $5 million wrongful arrest lawsuit …

Complaining about the "Public Editor"  —  Last month, the New York Times appointed a new public editor, Clark Hoyt.  Judging by today's column, he will carefully defend the Times from the grave risk that it tilts too far to the right.  —  Hoyt considers the torrent of criticism the Times …

Senate returning to immigration bill  —  WASHINGTON - Senators pushing a new immigration policy appealed Sunday to wavering supporters ahead of renewed debate on securing the borders and dealing with 12 million undocumented immigrants.  —  A fragile compromise was pulled from the Senate in early June …

Hating on Michael Moore is a worn-out cliche  —  So, Michael Moore's got a new movie coming out, which means it's time for another round of "Naturally, I generally abhor Moore's methods, but this time he made a really good movie."  I have no idea why it's mandatory to condemn Moore to praise him …

'Chemical Ali' sentenced to hang … BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — An Iraq court on Sunday sentenced three former aides to Saddam Hussein, including the man known as "Chemical Ali," to death by hanging for their role in a 1980s genocide campaign that that killed up to 100,000 Kurds.

On Iraq: John Warner To the Rescue?  —  Two weeks ago, Frank Rich berated persons like me because: … Rich professed faith in John Warner to come to the rescue.  This week Rich writes: … Who can stop them?  Rich says it is up to John Warner: … Not again.  We wait for the Godot Republicans.

Matt Taibbi Answers Your Questions  —  We asked for emails, and you responded: Rolling Stone political writer Matt Taibbi responds to two dozen reader questions below.  Note: Questions have been edited for length and/or clarity. … As a child I wanted to be a zoologist.

General's Iraq Progress Report Has Competition  —  Last month, Congress set a deadline for the American commander in Iraq, declaring that by Sept. 15 he would have to assess progress there before billions more dollars are approved to finance the military effort to stabilize the country.

All American Girl  —  Ms Henneberger ventured out into the wilds of Middle America and, lo and behold, found a bunch of women who think just like she does: … That is exactly why I don't trust this stale and silly convention of DC insiders and elite pundits making anthropological forays …