Conscience of a Conservative  —  In the fall of 2003, Jack L. Goldsmith was widely considered one of the brightest stars in the conservative legal firmament.  A 40-year-old law professor at the University of Chicago, Goldsmith had established himself, with his friend and fellow law professor John Yoo …

Independent Audit Finds Progress Lacking in Iraq  —  A report by Congressional auditors issued todayconcludes that "violence remains high" in Iraq amid mixed progress on security and that political reconciliation efforts remain far from sufficient, eight months after President Bush began his troop-increase plan.

The Most Feared Man on the Hill?  —  For Gay Blogger, Craig's Resignation Is Just the Latest on His List  —  Soon, a new name will pop up on Mike Rogers's hit list.  —  Larry Craig wasn't "the first on my list," the gay blogger says.  And the Idaho senator, who announced his resignation Saturday, "won't be the last."

Richardson: Keeping Iowa first is God's will  —  Sioux City, Ia.  — God's will is for Iowa to have the first-in-the-nation caucus, Democratic presidential candidate Bill Richardson told a crowd here today.  —  "Iowa, for good reason, for constitutional reasons, for reasons related to the Lord …

Democrats Express Decided Preference for Change Over Experience  —  Seventy-three percent favor presidential candidate who strongly desires to change Washington  —  PRINCETON, NJ — The Democratic presidential nomination could well be decided on the basis of whether Democratic primary …

'NHS SHOULD NOT TREAT THOSE WITH UNHEALTHY LIFESTYLES' SAY TORIES  —  • Patients who improve their health to be given 'Health Miles' cards to claim free fruit and veg  —  Patients who refuse to change their unhealthy lifestyles should not be treated by the NHS, the Conservatives said today.

Draper: Laura Bush Considers Rove 'A Necessary Evil,' 'Self-Aggrandizing'  —  In a new book on the Bush presidency, entitled "Dead Certain," former Texas Monthly senior editor Robert Draper reveals that First Lady Laura Bush refers to her husband's longtime political adviser, Karl Rove, as …

Book says Souter mulled resignation after Bush v. Gore  —  'The Nine'  —  According to Jeffrey Toobin's new book on the Supreme Court, Justice David Souter nearly resigned in the wake of Bush v. Gore, so distraught was he over the decision that effectively ended the Florida recount and installed George W. Bush as president.

Romney: Iraq 'is a mess'  —  Confronted by an unhappy questioner, Mitt Romney said tonight at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire that the situation in Iraq "is a mess."  [Video courtesy Breitbart.tv.]  —  Romney's assessment was delivered by way of agreeing with a gentleman who stood …

Fighting for Our Handgun Ban  —  As mayor and attorney general of the District of Columbia, we were deeply disappointed this year when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit declared that the District's longstanding handgun ban violates the Second Amendment.

Craig's Children Say He Was 'a Victim of Circumstance'  —  After a highly publicized arrest in a bathroom sex sting and a week spent defending his sexuality, Idaho Sen. Larry Craig announced his resignation from the Senate this weekend.  He maintains his innocence, however, despite having pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct.

Edwards and Schweitzer: Perfect Together?  —  Former Sen. John Edwards (D-N.C.) will be introduced by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer later today at a fundraiser in Missoula, according to his campaign.  —  Sources on both sides were careful to note that Schweitzer's presence at the …

Residents: Nooses spark school violence, divide town  —  JENA, Louisiana (CNN) — Mychal Bell was like a lot of boys his age, his mother says.  —  The always-smiling 16-year-old often spent weekends on the couch, munching Little Debbie snack cakes, watching football and dreaming of the day he would join his heroes in the NFL.

The New Anti-Semitism  —  Hatred of Jews has reached new heights in Europe and many points south and east of the old continent.  Last year I chaired a blue-ribbon committee of British parliamentarians, including former ministers and a party leader, that examined the problem of anti-Semitism in Britain.

Backer of Swift Boat ads has tie to law firm pushing vote change  —  LOS ANGELES—Lawyers behind a California ballot proposal that could benefit the 2008 Republican presidential nominee have ties to a Texas homebuilder who financed attacks on Democrat John Kerry's Vietnam War record in the 2004 presidential campaign.

Did the bankrupcty reform touch off the mortgage bubble? … A parenthetical note: that bankruptcy study is horrendous and should never be cited by anyone.  It counted any bankruptcy in which the parties had more than $1,000 in uninsured medical bills as having been caused by the bankruptcy …