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.

'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.

Democrat Warner Holds Large Lead Over Davis and Gilmore  —  If Democrat Mark Warner jumps into the Virginia Senate race for 2008, he will start out with a large lead over two Republicans expected to campaign for the job.  —  In a match-up of former Virginia Governors, a Rasmussen Reports …

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 …

Miers, Bolten contempt filings delayed  —  House Democratic leaders have decided to postpone a vote on a criminal contempt resolution against White House chief of staff Joshua Bolten and former White House counsel Harriet Miers for several weeks, and possibly longer, according to top lawmakers and aides.

Beshear Up 19 In Latest Survey USA Poll  —  Steve Beshear still has a huge lead over Ernie Fletcher in the latest Survey USA/WHAS11 News poll released this morning.  —  Beshear has a 58%-39% lead over Fletcher, with just 2% undecided in the survey of likely Kentucky voters.

Dollar hits fresh 15-year low  —  The dollar fell to a fresh 15-year low against a basket of currencies on Tuesday as the greenback continued to suffer from the prospect of a cut in US interest rates.  —  Expectations that the Federal Reserve would move to lower interest rates at its meeting …

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 …

Clinton's Campaign To Return $850,000  —  Her Team Cuts Ties To a Top Fundraiser Jailed in Fraud Case  —  Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton announced last night that she will return $850,000 in campaign donations solicited by Norman Hsu, severing ties with a top fundraiser who was jailed last week …

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 …