Despite Bruises of 2006, Rove's Influence Lasts  —  Whatever history makes of Karl Rove's role in the White House, his legacy as a political strategist can be measured in a presidential campaign that has already begun without him.  A look at the roster of every Republican presidential candidate finds people …

Convention Party Favors Include Face Time  —  Congress just completed ethics legislation designed to put distance between lawmakers and the interests that seek favors from them.  —  But the people in charge of next summer's presidential nominating conventions are busy selling package deals that would put them closer together.

For Top General in Iraq, Role Is a Mixed Blessing  —  BAGHDAD — Gen. David H. Petraeus looked out from a Black Hawk helicopter at the vistas of Baghdad rushing by 150 feet below on a recent summer evening, pointing at bustling markets, amusement parks and soccer fields scattered through neighborhoods …

SPIEGEL ONLINE: "The US Military is more successful in Iraq than the world wants to believe."  —  Historical consistency has never been a strong point for SPIEGEL magazine or SPIEGEL ONLINE - but this is shocking:  —  Just look at this article.  —  After years of calling Iraq a disaster …

Elizabeth Edwards Unplugged  —  ABC News' Sunlen Miller Reports: In an interview in August's edition of The Progressive magazine, Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Senator John Edwards, D-N.C., takes candid shots at the other candidates battling for the Democratic nomination against her husband.

Obama leaves some wanting a little more  —  NASHUA - U.S. Sen. Barack Obama's surging presidential campaign is reaching a critical mass in that voters want to hear more.  —  As a self-described, "hope monger,'' the Illinois Democrat's optimistic call for systemic change on health care …

Gonzales could get say in states' executions  —  Proposed rules would let the attorney general sign off on 'fast tracking' death penalty appeals.  —  WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is putting the final touches on regulations that could give Atty. Gen. Alberto R. Gonzales important …

Clinton's first lady records locked up  —  Archivists say the former first lady's documents at her husband's presidential library won't be released until after the '08 vote.  —  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton cites her experience as a compelling reason voters should make her president …

Our Lives, Controlled From Some Guy's Couch  —  Until I talked to Nick Bostrom, a philosopher at Oxford University, it never occurred to me that our universe might be somebody else's hobby.  I hadn't imagined that the omniscient, omnipotent creator of the heavens and earth could be an advanced version …

Source Disclosure Ordered in Anthrax Suit  —  Five reporters must reveal their government sources for stories they wrote about Steven J. Hatfill and investigators' suspicions that the former Army scientist was behind the deadly anthrax attacks of 2001, a federal judge ruled yesterday.

Going After Blue Dogs: A Question for You  —  I've been kicking around the idea with Chris that we should raise the costs of bad decision-making on things like FISA, or when they fold to Republicans on the supplemental or (insert fight here).  —  It's not much to put up some google ads criticizing …

Lawsuits May Illuminate Methods of Spy Program  —  In 2003, Room 641A of a large telecommunications building in downtown San Francisco was filled with powerful data-mining equipment for a "special job" by the National Security Agency, according to a former AT&T technician.

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-Gotham)  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - He's a veteran statesman and hard-hitting chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.  But Sen. Patrick Leahy is set to leave the marble halls of Washington for the bright lights of Hollywood — at least briefly.

Mattel recalls 9 million toys in U.S.  —  BETHESDA, Maryland (CNN) — Toymaker Mattel is voluntarily recalling 9 million of its toys in the United States including popular characters such as Batman, Barbie, Polly Pockets and a toy from Pixar's "Cars" movie because of hazards to children …