A Scandal-Scarred G.O.P. Asks, 'What Next?'  —  Scott Reed, a Republican strategist, was at a dinner in Philadelphia on Monday night when his cellphone and Internet pager began beeping like crazy.  Only later did he learn why.  His party was buzzing with news of a sex scandal involving a Republican United States senator — again.

Carlson claimed that after incident in a public bathroom, he assaulted the man who "bothered" him  —  On the August 28 edition of MSBNC Live, hosted by MSNBC general manager Dan Abrams, Tucker Carlson, host of MSNBC's Tucker, asserted, "Having sex in a public men's room is outrageous.

Soros-linked group hit with huge fine  —  The Federal Election Commission has fined one of the last cycle's biggest liberal political action committees $775,000 for using unregulated soft money to boost John Kerry and other Democratic candidates during the 2004 elections.

Iraqi cleric: militia in `freeze'  —  BAGHDAD - Anti-American cleric Muqtada al-Sadr took his Mahdi Army out of action for up to six months Wednesday to overhaul the feared Shiite militia — a stunning move that underscores the growing struggles against breakaway factions with suspected ties to Iran.

Former security guard Jewell dies  —  ATLANTA - Richard Jewell, the former security guard who was erroneously linked to the 1996 Olympic bombing, died Wednesday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said.  —  Jewell, 44, was found dead in his west Georgia home, GBI spokesman John Bankhead said.

Fine unscrupulous mortgage lenders  —  T he implosion of the subprime lending industry is more than a temporary blip in our econ-omic progress.  It is a cancer that, given today's integrated financial markets, threatens to spread with devastating impact to housing and to our economy as a whole, unless we act to contain it.

WYOMING TO HEAD OF PACK, FOR NOW  —  From NBC's Domenico Montanaro  —  In another sign the presidential selection process may be headed for 2007, Wyoming Republicans voted to move their conventions to Jan. 5, leapfrogging Iowa and New Hampshire.  —  "We're first in the nation," …

Edwards: Americans should sacrifice their SUVs  —  LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate John Edwards told a labor group he would ask Americans to make a big sacrifice: their sport utility vehicles.  —  The former North Carolina senator told a forum …

Democratic fundraiser is a fugitive in plain sight  —  California authorities have sought businessman Norman Hsu for 15 years.  Since 2004, he has carved out a place of honor raising cash for such candidates as Hillary Rodham Clinton.  —  WASHINGTON — For the last 15 years …

Deported Mexican migrant mom asks Mexican president to return to US as peace ambassador  —  MEXICO CITY: The recently deported illegal migrant and activist who took refuge in a Chicago church for a year, has asked the Mexico's president to appoint her "peace and justice" ambassador so she can return to the United States.

The Big Picture(s)  —  In the midst of the still-lingering controversy over the truthiness of The New Republic's "Baghdad Diarist," more than a few people suggested that war supporters, unable to discredit the real bad news coming from Iraq, targeted the Scott Thomas Beauchamp stories as a weak link.

WEARING THE BLACK FLAG (3)  —  The story began here.  Latest chapter here.  —  Speaking of the Petraeus report....  It seems that those who routinely feed from the various toilets along the left wing information sewer are currently being feel about said upcoming report.  (Not think, mind you, but feel.

When Condi went nuclear  —  Condoleezza Rice may be willing to compromise at a Middle East negotiating table - but not at a jewelry counter.  —  Coit Blacker, a Stanford professor who is one of the secretary of state's closest friends, recalls going into a shop where Rice asked to see earrings.