McCain could pull out of race by autumn  —  Presidential hopeful drops campaign staff as Republican consultants predict he'll be gone by September  —  THE former presidential front-runner, John McCain, may drop out of the 2008 race by September if his fundraising dries up and his poll ratings continue …

Pushing the Envelope on Presidential Power … Shortly after the first accused terrorists reached the U.S. naval prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, on Jan. 11, 2002, a delegation from CIA headquarters arrived in the Situation Room.  The agency presented a delicate problem to White House counsel …

Murdoch Reaches Out for Even More  —  In the fall of 2003, a piece of Rupert Murdoch's sprawling media empire was in jeopardy.  —  Congress was on the verge of limiting any company from owning local television stations that reached more than 35 percent of American homes.

Al-Qaida leader urges support for Hamas  —  CAIRO, Egypt - Al-Qaida's deputy leader called on Muslims worldwide to back Hamas with weapons, money and attacks on U.S. and Israeli interests, urging the Palestinian militant group on Monday to unite with al-Qaida after its takeover of Gaza.

Winds of War  —  Iran is making a mistake that may lead the Middle East into a broader conflict.  —  Several conflicts of various intensities are raging in the Middle East.  But a bigger war, involving more states—Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iran, the Palestinian Authority and perhaps …

Elizabeth Edwards supports same-sex marriage  —  (06-24) 11:26 PDT SAN FRANCISCO — Elizabeth Edwards, starring at the kickoff event of San Francisco's signature Gay Pride Parade, came out in support of legalized gay marriage today — taking a position which she acknowledged is at odds with her husband …

Giuliani's Views on Abortion Upset Catholic Leaders  —  At first glance, Rudolph W. Giuliani should be an appealing presidential candidate for observant Roman Catholics.  The grandchild of Italian immigrants, Mr. Giuliani went to Catholic schools, considered joining the priesthood …

Questions Your Broker Can't Answer  —  WHAT kind of people live in this building?  That is often the first question brokers are asked by apartment hunters — be they couples with children, retirees seeking peace and quiet or 20-somethings prone to the occasional raucous party.

Reality Check for the Antiwar Crowd  —  As an Iraq war veteran who participated in combat operations and political reconciliation efforts, I take issue with some of the arguments repeatedly being made on Capitol Hill.  Most recently I was bothered by statements from Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) …

Hamas releases recording of captured soldier's voice  —  Hamas on Monday released a recorded message from captured IDF soldier Cpl. Gilad Schalit.  —  In the message, posted on the Web site of Hamas's military wing, Schalit sent greetings to his family and said his health was deteriorating.

Undercover Journalism  —  KenSilverstein says he lied, deceived and fabricated to get the story.  —  But it was worth it, he insists.  Those on the receiving end don't agree.  —  As Washington editor of Harper's magazine, Silverstein posed as Kenneth Case, a London-based executive …

Bush aides consider Iraq truce at Capitol  —  Wary of more fights, they're looking into the possibility of a congressional deal to satisfy war foes but preserve presidential goals.  —  WASHINGTON — The Bush administration has begun exploring ways of offering Congress a compromise deal …

For Lobbyists, This Campaign Is Personal  —  These are hard times for lobbyists, at least when it comes to public perception.  The City Council is moving to limit their campaign contributions.  Some top aides to Gov. Eliot Spitzer are letting it be known that hiring a lobbyist might not help one's case in Albany.

Gloom and Doom in A Sunny Day  —  It was a mild January evening, and people had filled the restaurant's outdoor patio.  As our group walked past the tables, one of my friends said, "This terrifies me."  I don't know if she was reassured later by the chilly April, but we are all supposed to be terrified of the weather now.

First thoughts  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Carly Zakin  —  *** The Dash For Cash: With five days to go before the end of the 2nd quarter, here's what we think we know reading the tea leaves (and spin): Romney will be the top Republican again …

Obama: "Faith got hijacked."  —  It's nice to see Obama say these words: