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.

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.

McGovern: Not sure anti-war Dem can win  —  For Democrats of a certain age, there is no figure more haunting than George McGovern, who ran for president pleading, "Come home, America," but instead was sent home himself with just 38 percent of the vote.  —  Among those who worry that the lessons …

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.

Escalation at Six Months  —  Six months ago, in an evening address to the nation, the President announced his plan to send more than 20,000 more troops into Iraq.  At the time, Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid sent a letter to President Bush, urging him to reject his plan to escalate the war …

For Democrats, Pragmatism On Universal Health Care  —  In a conference call in January, the health-care debate within the Democratic Party played out before former senator John Edwards of North Carolina, who was in search of policy advice for his presidential campaign, and his wife, Elizabeth.