US: Top al-Qaida in Iraq figure captured  —  BAGHDAD - The U.S. command said Wednesday the highest-ranking Iraqi in the leadership of al-Qaida in Iraq has been arrested, adding that information from him indicates the group's foreign-based leadership wields considerable influence over the Iraqi chapter.

After GOP Iraq-Withdrawal Filibuster, Reid Sets Aside Defense Authorization Bill  —  In an in-your-face response to Republicans continuing to block a full Senate vote on withdrawing American troops from Iraq, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) just moments ago set aside …

Edwards ad touts him as a tough guy  —  CONCORD, N.H. - Elizabeth Edwards tells voters her husband, Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards, is a tough guy "who can stare the worst in the face and not blink" in an ad set to start airing Wednesday in New Hampshire.

R. Milhous Giuliani  —  With the same rootless confidence that causes people to ignore hurricane warnings, many social conservatives remain in denial about Rudy Giuliani's chances of winning the Republican nomination.  —  But with three debates and eight months as the Republican front-runner under his belt …

Americans' Ratings of Dick Cheney Reach New Lows  —  Job approval rating, favorable rating both at 30%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Americans' ratings of Vice President Dick Cheney are now at their lowest point to date, according to the latest Gallup Poll, with only 30% approving of the way Cheney …

Voters unhappy with Bush; Congress: Reuters poll  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Most U.S. voters think the country is on the wrong track and remain deeply unhappy with President George W. Bush and Congress, but still feel good about their finances and optimistic about the future, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday.

Flynt Ready to Implicate Another Senator  —  Larry King interviewed Hustler magazine publisher Larry Flynt last night on how he linked Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) to an alleged prostitution ring.  Flynt now says he's got information linking another U.S. Senator to a sex scandal.

If We Don't Call Them Names, the Terrorists Win  —  After the terrorist near misses in London and Glasgow, British officials did the expected.  They raised their nation's threat-assessment level.  They weighed the balance between civil liberties and new, tougher security measures.

Greatest Living American Ignored  —  Today in Washington I was in the room as the greatest living American received a medal.  George W. Bush, Nancy Pelosi and others were present.  But will you ever hear this event occurred?  To judge from tonight's major network evening newscasts, perhaps not.

Spineless Sages  —  Top GOP Senators Only Talk Against the War  —  Anyone searching for the highest forms of invertebrate life need look no further than the floor of the U.S. Senate last week and this.  These spineless specimens go by various names — Republican moderates …

Fredo Finally Gives U.S. Attorney a Good Evaluation  —  In the Justice Department's Great Hall (the very room where giant, blue drapes covered the underdressed statuary during John Ashcroft's tenure as attorney general), an array of prosecutors, securities regulators and FBI honchos gathered yesterday …

Legal odds against Vick just got much longer … A grand jury indicted Atlanta Falcons' quarterback Michael Vick on Tuesday, which at least partially answers one question that has lingered since the news first broke about an alleged dogfighting operation on property owned by Vick in Virginia: Was Vick involved?

Why Bush Is A Loser  —  Who knew Bill Kristol had such a flair for satire?  —  How else to read his piece for Outlook on Sunday, in which he declared, "George W. Bush's presidency will probably be a successful one"?  Surely Kristol, the No. 1 cheerleader for the Iraq war, was mocking himself …