Exclusive: Terror Commander: New Attack Will Dwarf Failed Bomb Plot  —  Brian Ross and Maddy Sauer Report:  —  As senior intelligence and law enforcement officials met again today in the White House Situation Room to deal with the "summer terror threat," a top terror commander said an attack …

Republican Senators Call for New War Authorization  —  Two leading Republican senators said today that President Bush should seek a new war authorization and present a plan to Congress by Oct. 16 outlining contingency plans in Iraq.  Those plans, which would include reducing American forces, should begin by the end of the year.

Yet Again, Tax Cuts Do Not Pay for Themselves  —  The Wall Street Journal says Kevin Hassett has discovered the Laffer curve, but I think these data might say something else.  Here's the picture from the editorial where they are making their usual plea for more tax cuts:

Iranian Police Smash Squirrel Spy Ring  —  Police in Iran are reported to have taken 14 squirrels into custody - because they are suspected of spying.  —  The rodents were found near the Iranian border allegedly equipped with eavesdropping devices.  —  The reports have come from the official Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).

Frameshop: A Picture of the GOP on Civil Rights  —  The one photo the GOP does not want anyone to see was snapped at yesterday's NAACP GOP Presidential Candidate Forum.  The NAACP invited all 9 Republican candidates to the forum, but only one showed up: Tom Tancredo.

A Colloquy On The Fairness Doctrine  —  The debate over the Fairness Doctrine continued in the Senate today, as Dick Durbin blocked Norm Coleman from offering an amendment that would forbid content control in political speech on the airwaves.  Coleman and Durbin then got into a series …

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOT MUCH, PART TWO  —  It occurs to me that my discussion of lobbying Fred Thompson may have performed in 1991 on behalf of an abortion rights group is somewhat superficial.  It's true that traditionally in this country lawyers are not identified with the positions of their clients.

Conrad Black convicted of fraud  —  Media tycoon Conrad Black has been convicted of three charges of fraud, and one of obstructing justice.  —  But Black was found not guilty by the Chicago jury of other racketeering, wire fraud and tax evasion charges.  —  The British peer, 62, was impassive as the verdicts were read out.

Clinton, Edwards talk of limiting debate  —  DETROIT (AP) - Democrats John Edwards and Hillary Rodham Clinton consider themselves among the top presidential candidates.  —  They were caught by Fox News microphones discussing their desire to limit future joint appearances to exclude some lower rivals after a forum in Detroit Thursday.

Release of tape in teen sex case may violate child-porn law  —  ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) — A federal prosecutor wants a Georgia district attorney to stop giving out copies of a videotape used as evidence in a teenage sex case that has drawn national attention.

Vive La Resistance  —  Peggy Noonan formally joins the resistance today.  Welcome!  Money quote: … And unnerving.  I've gone through the same cycle as Peggy, just a little sooner.  I'm just alternately very angry and very sad now, and trying to figure out how we can repair the damage - globally and domestically.

Exclusive: "Swift Boat" Ad Firm Linked to Viral Videos  —  An employee of the Republican ad firm responsible for 2004's controversial "Swift Boat Veterans for Truth" advertisements has apparently been producing viral videos which ridicule Rudy Giuliani, Mitt Romney and Fred Thompson.

A Gate-Crasher's Change of Heart  —  The Guests Were Enjoying French Wine and Cheese on a Capitol Hill Patio.  When a Gunman Burst In, the Would-Be Robbery Took an Unusual Turn.  —  A grand feast of marinated steaks and jumbo shrimp was winding down, and a group of friends was sitting …

Rationing health care  —  Now that Michael Moore's SICKO has raised again the question why the Canadian health care system functions so much better than ours, supporters of the current mess have gone back to chanting … or words to that effect.  —  The response, of course, is that rationing …