A Stark Edge in Race for '08 Cash  —  New Numbers Heavily Favor The Democrats  —  Campaign contributors to the 2008 presidential candidates heavily favored Democrats in the three-month period that ended Saturday, giving three dollars to the party's leading contenders for every two dollars they gave to the top Republican candidates.

The Libby affair  —  President Bush's commutation of the 30-month prison sentence for I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Vice President Dick Cheney's former chief of staff, is neither wise nor just.  It is clearly within the president's executive powers, but that is beside the point.

Bill Clinton Criticizes Bush on Libby Move  —  Former President Bill Clinton criticized President Bush on Tuesday for commuting the prison sentence of I. Lewis Libby Jr. and tried to draw a distinction from his own controversial pardons.  —  In Iowa to promote the presidential candidacy of his wife …

'Wonderfully Spared'  —  Our Founders were talented men—and lucky ones too.  —  "You and I have been wonderfully spared," Thomas Jefferson wrote John Adams in 1812.  "Of the signers of the Declaration of Independence I see now living not more than half a dozen on your side of the Potomak, and, on this side, myself alone."

Washington, Lincoln Most Popular Presidents: Nixon, Bush Least Popular  —  Seven American Presidents are viewed favorably by at least 80% of all Americans.  Those esteemed seven are led by the first President George Washington.  The Father of our Country is viewed favorably by 94% of Americans.

Keith Olbermann's Special Comment: You ceased to be the President of the United States  —  Keith Olbermann delivers arguably his most pointed and most powerful Special Comment yet on the ramifications of Bush's commutation of Libby's sentence.  —  Download (13155) |  Play (17457) Download (6533) |

Police: Drugs found in Al Gore III's car  —  LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) — Former Vice President Al Gore's son, Albert Gore III, was arrested early Wednesday morning in Orange County, California on suspicion of possessing marijuana and prescription drugs, Jim Amormino of the Orange County Sheriff's Department told CNN.

Grand jury finds Jurupa agency violated laws  —  Download story podcast  —  The Press-Enterprise  —  RIVERSIDE - The Jurupa Community Services District violated state law when it sold 4 acres of public land to Rep. Ken Calvert and his investment partners without first offering …

Mayor reveals romantic link with TV newscaster  —  Both seek privacy but the admission raises questions about ethics.  —  At 4 p.m. on June 8, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa issued a terse statement announcing that he and his wife, Corina, were separating after 20 years of marriage.

Technology Eases the Ride to Higher Tolls  —  There is a stretch of the Garden State Parkway that used to feel like the tollbooth capital of America.  In a span of 100 miles — from Pascack Valley, in northern New Jersey, to Barnegat, along the coast — eight different toll plazas greeted drivers.

President Bush Celebrates Independence Day With West Virginia Air National Guard  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.  Thanks for the warm welcome.  Happy 4th of July.  I'm thrilled to be here in Martinsburg.  This is the fourth Independence Day that I have spent in the great state of West Virginia since I've been your President.

The Brits and The Others  —  Like Mark and Victor, I too have a very bad feeling about Gordon Brown.  Those Orwellian language changes spooked me, as did the appointment of M.M. Brown.  The obvious intent is to reduce the whole unpleasantness to a policing problem, which is what they did with the I.R.A. …

Bush's reprieve for Libby is ammunition for Democrats … WASHINGTON - Once again, President Bush has shown tremendous loyalty to a member of his administration.  —  Once again, Republicans in Congress may suffer because of it.  —  The president's decision to erase the two-and-a-half-year …

BBC Gaza journalist Alan Johnston freed  —  GAZA (Reuters) - Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held hostage in Gaza, was freed early on Wednesday after a late-night deal between the ruling Hamas Islamists and the al Qaeda-inspired clan group that kidnapped him in March.  —  "It is just the most fantastic thing to be free.