Senator's Number on 'Madam' Phone List  —  Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) apologized last night after his telephone number appeared in the phone records of the woman dubbed the "D.C. Madam," making him the first member of Congress to become ensnared in the high-profile case.

Poll: Bush approval drops to low of 29%  —  WASHINGTON — Opposition to the Iraq war has reached a record high, a USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds, a development likely to complicate President Bush's efforts to hold together Republican support as the Senate begins debate this week on Pentagon priorities.

McCain shakes up staff  —  WASHINGTON - John McCain's campaign manager and chief strategist are gone from their leadership roles, according to several officials with knowledge of the staff changes.  —  One official said Terry Nelson resigned as campaign manager for the Republican presidential candidate …

Pelosi lines up Iraq votes  —  House Democrats are planning a series of votes this month on Iraq that they hope will ratchet up pressure on the White House and congressional Republicans to change course on the unpopular war or suffer political consequences.  —  Sensing that additional GOP …

Gonzales Was Told of FBI Violations  —  After Bureau Sent Reports, Attorney General Said He Knew of No Wrongdoing  —  As he sought to renew the USA Patriot Act two years ago, Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales assured lawmakers that the FBI had not abused its potent new terrorism-fighting powers.

'SiCKO' Truth Squad Sets CNN Straight  —  DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN: "(Moore says) the United States slipped to number 37 in the world's health care systems.  It's true. ...  Moore brings a group of patients, including 9/11 workers, to Cuba and marvels at their free treatment and quality of care.

Chief siege cleric killed as rebel mosque falls  —  The chief cleric of the radical Red Mosque in Islamabad has been killed after Pakistani special forces launched a bloody assault on his compound.  —  The body of Abdul Rashid Ghazi, who earlier had predicted that his "martyrdom was certain" …

White House touts 'retooled' Iraq mission  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — As President Bush faces GOP pressure to change his war strategy, the White House announced Tuesday that an upcoming progress report will result in "the beginning of a new way" in Iraq.  —  Six months after announcing an increase …

Blogger challenge - Let's really put the netroots to work!  —  You gotta admit, Cindy Sheehan has got a pair!  —  Cindy Sheehan has threated to run against Nancy Pelosi for Congress as a third party candidate in 2008 unless Pelosi introduces articles of impeachment against Bush by July 23rd.

Ex- convicts and addicts may get DoD clearance  —  At the Pentagon's request, Senate defense authorizers tucked deep within a defense bill a repeal of the department's restriction on granting security clearances to ex-convicts, drug addicts and the mentally incompetent.

They Honor Us With Their Hate  —  Tidying up the other day, I came across an old newspaper and, flipping through it, saw a picture that made my heart stop.  It showed Palestinians, most of them young, all of them male, reacting with glee to a particularly heinous terrorist attack.