Bridge was rated 'structurally deficient' in 2005  —  The highway bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River on Wednesday was rated as "structurally deficient" two years ago and possibly in need of replacement.  —  The highway bridge that collapsed into the Mississippi River on Wednesday was rated as …

Court puts limits on surveillance abroad  —  The ruling raises concerns that U.S. anti-terrorism efforts might be impaired at a time of heightened risk.  —  WASHINGTON — A special court that has routinely approved eavesdropping operations has put new restrictions on the ability …

Obama says use of nuclear weapons to fight al-Qaida 'not on the table,'  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential hopeful Barack Obama said Thursday he would not use nuclear weapons «in any circumstance.  —  «I think it would be a profound mistake for us to use nuclear weapons …

D.C. elites want you to shush on Iraq  —  Be afraid when the same centrist consensus that has a lousy track record on the war lashes out at partisans.  —  By By Matthew Yglesias  —  The united states is now well into the fifth year of a war in Iraq that has, at a cost of hundreds of billions of dollars …

In Fox News, Giuliani Finds a Friendly Stage  —  Roger Ailes and Rudolph W. Giuliani have been pulling for each other for nearly two decades.  —  Mr. Ailes was the media consultant to Mr. Giuliani's first mayoral campaign in 1989.  Mr. Giuliani, as mayor, officiated at Mr. Ailes's wedding …

Bush Insults BBC Political Editor at Press Conference  —  NEW YORK At a recent press conference at Camp David, President George Bush insulted BBC political editor Nick Robinson, the Daily Mirror reports.  —  Robinson, who has asked Bush pointed questions in the past such as whetherthe president was …

Specter: Gonzales A "Wily Witness"  —  So here's Sen. Arlen Specter's (R-PA) verdict on Alberto Gonzales' testimony, delivered during this morning's Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with Karl Rove's aide Scott Jennings.  —  Gonzales, he says, sought to mislead the committee …

Students must remember 'God' in Texas pledge  —  Texas students will have four more words to remember when they head back to class this month and begin reciting the state's pledge of allegiance.  —  This year's Legislature added the phrase "one state under God" to the pledge …

President Bush Offers Sympathies and Assistance to Minneapolis and Calls on Congress to Act Before Recess  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  I just finished a Cabinet meeting.  One of the things we discussed was the terrible situation there in Minneapolis.  We talked about the fact …

America's Economic Mood: Gloomy  —  Broad Public Pessimism  —  Spurs Democratic Candidates  —  To Target Business Interests  —  WASHINGTON — Americans are feeling decidedly sour about the economy and those in charge of it, fueling Democratic efforts to target business interests in the 2008 election campaign.

Edwards: "Giuliani is Bush on Steroids"  —  Just got back from an Edwards event in San Francisco.  He threw out a lot of red meat — in particular savaging the big oil, drug, and insurance companies — and these deep blue Americans loved every minute of it.  —  Edwards is awesome on the stump.

House Dems upset over split on war  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) reversed herself on Iraq strategy Wednesday, revealing a fight within the Democratic Caucus over how much Democrats should compromise to gain agreement with Republicans on the unpopular war.