Bloomberg And Hagel For 2008?  —  Chuck Hagel, the senator from Nebraska, describes himself as a "tidal" politician, one who believes that larger forces in society shape careers more than the ambitions of individuals.  "The only mistakes I've made," he told me last week, "were when I tried to go against the tide."

DNC Strips Florida Of 2008 Delegates  —  No Convention Slots Unless Later Primary Is Set  —  The Democratic National Committee sought to seize control of its unraveling nominating process yesterday, rejecting pleas from state party leaders and cracking down on Florida for scheduling a Jan. 29 presidential primary.

After Iraq Trip, Unshaken Resolve  —  CHICAGO When Rep. Jan Schakowsky made her first trip to Iraq this month, the outspoken antiwar liberal resolved to keep her opinions to herself.  "I would listen and learn," she decided.  —  At times that proved a challenge, as when Deputy Prime Minister …

The Ongoing Hunt for Osama bin Laden  —  He's still out there.  The hunt for bin Laden.  —  The Americans were getting close.  It was early in the winter of 2004-05, and Osama bin Laden and his entourage were holed up in a mountain hideaway along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.

9/11 Conspiracies  —  Examines the various conspiracy theories espoused on the Internet, in articles and in public forums that attempt to explain the 9/11 attacks.  It includes theories that the World Trade Center was brought down by a controlled demolition; that a missile, not a commercial airliner …

Reckless Abandonment  —  Over the past two years since Hurricane Katrina, I've seen waves of hardworking volunteers from nonprofits, faith-based groups and college campuses descend on New Orleans, full of compassion and hope.  —  They arrive in the city's Ninth Ward to painstakingly gut houses one by one.

Op-Chart: A New, Improved Congress?  —  JUST before Congress adjourned for its August recess, Democrats engaged in a flurry of legislative activity, while Republicans complained about a "do-nothing" Congress's meager policy accomplishments.  Deep partisan differences, narrow majorities …

In the Twilight of His Deployment [Steve Clemons]  —  I just came across this blog of an American military guy that the Pentagon has not yet shut down called "Army of Dude."  —  Here are some choice entries:  —  Stupid S**t of The Deployment Awards! … I Can Taste It

FairTax, Flawed Tax  —  Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's unexpectedly strong second-place showing in the recent Iowa Republican straw poll is widely attributed to his support for the FairTax.  —  For those who never heard about it, the FairTax is a national retail sales tax that would replace the entire current federal tax system.

Drop Foreseen in Median Price of U.S. Homes  —  The median price of American homes is expected to fall this year for the first time since federal housing agencies began keeping statistics in 1950.  —  Economists say the decline, which could be foreshadowed in a widely followed government price index …

Thompson warns of weaker, troubled America  —  INDIANAPOLIS — Fred Thompson thinks the country faces a tough road ahead and he's not glossing over the problems we face.  In fact, he's anxious to outline the daunting litany and appears to be basing his forthcoming campaign on the assumption that his party shares the same outlook.

Taliban Raise Poppy Production to a Record Again  —  Afghanistan produced record levels of opium in 2007 for the second straight year, led by a staggering 45 percent increase in the Taliban stronghold of Helmand Province, according to a new United Nations survey to be released Monday.

As China Roars, Pollution Reaches Deadly Extremes  —  No country in history has emerged as a major industrial power without creating a legacy of environmental damage that can take decades and big dollops of public wealth to undo.  —  But just as the speed and scale of China's rise …