Al Qaeda Cell in the U.S. Or On Its Way, According to New Intel  —  Brian Ross Reports:  —  Senior U.S. intelligence officials tell ABC News new intelligence suggests a small al Qaeda cell is on its way to the United States, or may already be here.  —  The White House has convened …

McCain is left stranded  —  The wheels came off Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) presidential campaign yesterday as high-level staffers resigned amid infighting and acrimony.  —  Longtime McCain adviser and friend John Weaver, campaign manager Terry Nelson, political director Rob Jesmer …

Madam: Vitter a client at Canal Street brothel  —  U.S. Senator David Vitter visited a Canal Street brothel several times beginning in the mid-1990s, paying $300 per hour for services at the bordello after he met the madam at a fishing rodeo that included prostitutes and other politicians …

Surgeon General Sees 4-Year Term as Compromised  —  Former Surgeon General Richard H. Carmona told a Congressional panel Tuesday that top Bush administration officials repeatedly tried to weaken or suppress important public health reports because of political considerations.

Former Bush Aide Will Answer Some Questions  —  Sara Taylor, the former White House political director, has agreed to answer some questions as a "willing and cooperative private citizen," during testimony about the United States attorney firings last year when she appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee later today.

Gonzales Knew About Violations, Officials Say  —  Two senior Justice Department officials said yesterday that they kept Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales apprised of FBI violations of civil liberties and privacy safeguards in recent years.  —  The two officials spoke in a telephone call arranged …

Thought for the day  —  Shouldn't it concern us that Republicans are constantly talking about how people will all wise up when the next terrorist attack at home comes?  —  I mean, they really seem to be looking forward to it, and they take great delight in the thought that, by God, people will see things differently when it happens.

Pope says Protestants cannot have churches  —  John Hooper in Rome and Stephen Bates  —  Protestant churches yesterday reacted with dismay to a new declaration approved by Pope Benedict XVI insisting they were mere "ecclesial communities" and their ministers effectively phonies with no right to give communion.

Lieberman Launches Unprovoked Attack On Harry Reid On Right-Winger Bill Bennett's Show  —  What a guy.  This morning, Joe Lieberman went on right-winger Bill Bennett's syndicated radio show — and in those safe conservative confines, Lieberman went out of his way to bash Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid.

As Bush exits, his issues will linger  —  The vexing agenda the president will leave behind in 2009 is likely to guide the administration of his successor.  Among the unfinished business: the war in Iraq, tax cuts, Medicare and Social Security.  —  WASHINGTON — The 44th president will move …

From Barack Obama, Two Dangerous Words  —  PHILADELPHIA — Barack Obama has the teachers cheering.  The National Education Association is meeting here, and Obama— like the Democratic candidates who have spoken before him — is telling the crowd everything it wants to hear.

Set the iPhone free!  —  Apple's iPhone is more than just the hottest gadget of the summer: it's an indicator of internet freedom, and the signals it's sending aren't good.  —  This summer's hottest high-tech gadget is Apple's iPhone.  But along with its slick design and slicker marketing campaign …