Audio of Larry Craig's Bust!  —  Download (3583) |  Play (4391) … Seems that Larry doesn't know what hand his gold ring is on...Sadly, No! has more...

BREAKING NEWS: Polk judge rules against gay marriage ban  —  A Polk County judge on Thursday struck down Iowa's law banning gay marriage.  —  The ruling by Judge Robert Hanson concluded that the state's prohibition on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional and he ordered the Polk County recorder …

Democrats Turn From Big Donor Who's Fugitive  —  From $62,000 for Gov. Eliot Spitzer of New York, to $10,000 for the Tennessee Democratic Party, the full extent of fund-raising by Norman Hsu came into focus yesterday, as campaigns across the country began returning his money in light of revelations that he is a fugitive in a fraud case.

"WE SHOULD START OVER"....Another draft report has been leaked to the press, this one a detailed look at the Iraqi police force in the wake of 2006's "year of the police": … This is becoming a comedy of the absurd.  Scrap the Iraqi police force?  Start over from scratch?  Is this a joke?

Secret Report: Corruption is "Norm" Within Iraqi Government  —  As Congress prepares to receive reports on Iraq from General David Petraeus and U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker and readies for a debate on George W. Bush's latest funding request of $50 billion for the Iraq war …

Taliban vows more abductions as hostages freed  —  The seven remaining South Korean hostages taken captive last July by the Taliban have been released, and insurgents have vowed they will abduct more foreigners.  —  "We will do the same thing with the other allies in Afghanistan …

The Fred factor  —  Fred Thompson's presidential campaign has got off to a shaky start  —  WHEN Michael Moore challenged Fred Thompson to a debate on health care, back in May, Mr Thompson declined the invitation but decided to have a bit of fun on YouTube instead.

Activity Guide  —  Republicans slam Islamic Society convention  —  Republican lawmakers are urging the Justice Department not to participate in a convention held by the Islamic Society of North America — a group named as an unindicted co-conspirator in an ongoing terrorism-financing case.

New Muslim cartoon protests grow  —  By Harry de Quetteville  —  Fears grew of a new confrontation over images deemed blasphemous by Muslims as Pakistan joined Iran in protest over a sketch by a Swedish artist portraying the prophet Mohammed as a dog.  —  Pakistan's foreign ministry …

Durbin: Petraeus to warn of low troop morale  —  Following a dinner they shared in Baghdad, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said Wednesday that he expects Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, to report to President Bush and Congress next month that American troops are exhausted by the war effort there.

Exclusive: Where Bush went wrong, by Sharansky  —  Former minister Natan Sharansky, whose book, The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror has inspired US President George W. Bush, gives Bush a "C" grade for implementing his vision.

INTERNET COULD HAVE SAVED SEN. CRAIG?  —  According to an article in today's Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune, more avid web readership might have saved Sen. Larry Craig's (R-ID) career.  —  As a number of TPM Reader/Google sleuths have been telling us, there are sites …

S.F. citywide Wi-Fi plan fizzles as provider backs off  —  Mayor Gavin Newsom's high-profile effort to blanket San Francisco with a free wireless Internet network died Wednesday when provider EarthLink backed out of a proposed contract with the city.  —  The contract, which was three years in the making …