Part I: CNN/YouTube Democratic presidential debate transcript  —  This is part one of the transcript for the CNN/YouTube presidential debates.  To see the transcript of part two click here.  —  CHARLESTON, South Carolina (CNN) — The eight candidates vying to be the Democrat nominee …

Doubts Raised on Magazine's 'Baghdad Diarist'  —  Just who is the "Baghdad Diarist"?  —  It is a question that many people are asking The New Republic, the Washington political magazine that has been running articles attributed to an American soldier in Baghdad.

U.S. Is Seen in Iraq Until at Least '09  —  While Washington is mired in political debate over the future of Iraq, the American command here has prepared a detailed plan that foresees a significant American role for the next two years.  —  The classified plan, which represents …

Dangerous Attack on Free Speech  —  The proprietor of this blog claims that he has filed an FEC complaint against Daily Kos.  Supposedly, this won't fly, based on earlier FEC rulings, but this is nonetheless an outrage against the First Amendment that every conservative should fight vigorously.

Diplomats Received Political Briefings  —  White House aides have conducted at least half a dozen political briefings for the Bush administration's top diplomats, including a PowerPoint presentation for ambassadors with senior adviser Karl Rove that named Democratic incumbents targeted …

Cheese Headcases  —  Wisconsin reveals the cost of "universal" health care.  —  When Louis Brandeis praised the 50 states as "laboratories of democracy," he didn't claim that every policy experiment would work.  So we hope the eyes of America will turn to Wisconsin, and the effort …

Sen. Obama wows hedge fund crowd  —  NANTUCKET, Mass. — At a dark-shingled mansion, one of many tucked along Washing Pond Road on this island's north shore, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) met a couple hundred of the nation's wealthiest Democrats at a $1,000-a-plate fundraiser on Friday to explain …

Christiana Hendrix, 1974-2007  —  Mike's wife Christiana was killed Friday afternoon while riding her Sportster.  Mike was on his own bike and wasn't injured.  Stunned and heartbroken doesn't begin to cover this.  Words always feel so useless and empty when someone you love dies …

Press Briefing by Tony Snow  —  Press Briefing Slide (PDF, 1.5 mb, 1 page)  —  MR. SNOW: Good afternoon.  First we'll begin with an announcement about the President's health.  Microscopic evaluations of the polyps discovered and removed during the President's colonoscopy confirmed the preliminary diagnosis, tubular adenoma.

THE CIA SPEAKS, WITH FORKED TONGUE  —  We've previously noted the new book Sabotage by Rowan Scarborough.  Scarborough's book explores the CIA's efforts to undermine the Bush administration.  It is a subject that we have written about here frequently over the past several years.

Giuliani Says His Energy Plan Would Aid Planet, Fight Terror  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Mayor Giuliani is promising that his plan to wean America from foreign oil would aid the planet and curtail funding for terrorism, though some of his energy-related prescriptions could be a tough sell for environmentally conscious California voters.

Poll Finds Democrats Favored On War  —  But Bush, Congress Both Get Low Ratings on Iraq  —  Most Americans see President Bush as intransigent on Iraq and prefer that the Democratic-controlled Congress make decisions about a possible withdrawal of U.S. forces, according to a new Washington Post-ABC News poll.

The Monkey's Paw  —  It was a dark and stormy night.  Professor Denys Glenlorn was sitting at his desk, attempting to calculate how much weight he could lift if he were equipped with a mechanized exoskelton.  —  "Someone's at the door," called Mrs. Glenlorn.  —  The Professor hoisted himself to his feet.