By Bush's Own Standard, Surge Has Failed  —  Before Gen. David Petraeus' report, and to give it a context of optimism, the president visited Iraq's Anbar province to underscore the success of the surge in making some hitherto anarchic areas less so.  More significant, however, was the fact that the president did not visit Baghdad.

Republicans introduce measure condemning MoveOn ad  —  House Republican leaders introduced a resolution Monday condemning a full-page newspaper ad from MoveOn.org that criticizes the character of Gen. David Petraeus, the commanding general of U.S. troops in Iraq.

Clinton to cut ties with fundraiser  —  The Democrat's presidential campaign is refunding $850,000 linked to Norman Hsu, caught up in allegations of running a Ponzi scheme.  —  WASHINGTON — Confronted with the possibility that disgraced fundraiser Norman Hsu might be running …

9/11: Remembrance and resistance  —  What do you remember?  When I think back to September 11, 2001, the crisp morning before jihadists struck on American soil, I remember transluscent blue skies.  Green-gold leaves.  And the blush pink cheeks of my then-one-year-old daughter …

'America the Ugly'  —  Six years after 9/11, it's notable how little the politics of the left have changed.  —  In the immediate aftermath of the attacks on us that took place on this very day six years ago, several younger commentators proclaimed the birth of an entirely new era in American history.

Montgomery Gentry loves country and sings for 'Freedom'  —  Troy Gentry, partner of Eddie Montgomery in the red-hot country band Montgomery Gentry, says he has joked with radio-and-TV host Sean Hannity about swapping jobs for a day.  —  "Sean said if he weren't on the radio, he'd like to have been a country singer," says Gentry.

Poll: Giuliani Tumbles, GOP Race Tightens  —  CBS News Poll: Thompson's Entry Vaults Him To A Close Second Place In Republican Contest  —  (CBS) Rudy Giuliani, after holding the front-runner spot in the race for the Republican presidential nomination for months, has seen his lead nearly evaporate …

THE FIGHT TO FILL JUDICIAL VACANCIES GROWS EVER WEIRDER.  —  Last week, President Bush nominated two candidates for seats on the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, which now is operating with five vacancies on its 15-member bench.  The president opted to casually insult Virginia's …

Colin Powell: Terrorists are not greatest threat to nation  —  In an interview with GQ magazine that's scheduled to be put online here at 11 a.m. ET, former secretary of State and one-time potential presidential candidate Colin Powell has this to say about terrorism and the threat it poses to the USA:

Strike Three?  —  A bomb-sniffing dog in Ankara helped Turkish authorities stop a massive terrorist attack on the anniversary of 9/11.  A van full of explosives in a parking garage would have devastated the center of the large city, and it would have served as a counterpoint to the messages released by Osama bin Laden in the past week:

Romney Adviser Linked to Anti-Thompson Internet Site  —  A top adviser to former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney appears to be behind the launch of a new Web site attacking GOP presidential rival Fred D. Thompson during his first week on the trail.  —  The site, PhoneyFred.org …