Introducing This Blog  —  "I was born in 1953.  Like the rest of my generation, I took the America I grew up in for granted - in fact, like many in my generation I railed against the very real injustices of our society, marched against the bombing of Cambodia, went door to door for liberal candidates.

Democrats' Iraq Push on Hold  —  Reid Plans Spring Effort to Set June 2008 Pullout Deadline  —  Unable to garner enough Republican support, Senate Democratic leaders said yesterday that they are abandoning a bipartisan effort to bring U.S. troops home from Iraq by next spring.

Jackson criticizes Obama  —  Presidential candidate's response to Jena, La., case called too weak  —  The Rev. Jesse Jackson called Tuesday on Democrats seeking the 2008 nomination for president to give S.C. voters "something to vote for" when they go to the polls in January.

Why Bush won't attack Iran  —  Despite saber-rattling, and the Washington buzz that a strike is coming, the president doesn't intend to bomb Iran.  Cheney may have other ideas.  —  During a recent high-powered Washington dinner party attended by 18 people, Zbigniew Brzezinski …

Widow of Luke pilot lashes out at media  —  Days after an al-Qaida-linked group released a video showing the body of a Luke Air Force Base fighter pilot killed in Iraq last year, his widow lashed out at the national media, accusing it of politicizing and using the images to erode public support for the war.

Debate No-Shows Worry GOP Leaders  —  Candidates Are Urged to Attend Forums Sponsored by Minorities  —  Key Republican leaders are encouraging the party's presidential candidates to rethink their decision to skip presidential debates focusing on issues important to minorities …

Bush, Congress at record low ratings: Reuters poll  —  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President George W. Bush and the U.S. Congress registered record-low approval ratings in a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday, and a new monthly index measuring the mood of Americans dipped slightly on deepening worries about the economy.

Gut Check: Iraq war's impact at home  —  MIDLAND, N.C. - While generals and politicians debate strategy and funding for the Iraq war on Capitol Hill, the cost of the conflict is tallied in places like this quiet subdivision, where Kelly Bridson each night listens to her 10-year-old son's bedtime prayers …

Habeas Restoration Cloture Vote Tally  —  Senators of the 110th Congress:  —  Akaka, Daniel K.- (D - HI) — AYE  —  Alexander, Lamar- (R - TN) — NAY  —  Allard, Wayne- (R - CO) — NAY  —  Barrasso, John- (R - WY) — NAY  —  Baucus, Max- (D - MT) — AYE  —  Bayh, Evan- (D - IN) — AYE

In the Shadow of Horror, SS Guardians Frolic  —  Last December, Rebecca Erbelding, a young archivist at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, opened a letter from a former United States Army intelligence officer who said he wanted to donate photographs of Auschwitz he had found more than 60 years ago in Germany.

'Dozens died in Syrian-Iranian chemical weapons experiment'  —  Proof of cooperation between Iran and Syria in the proliferation and development of weapons of mass destruction was brought to light Monday in a Jane's Defence Weekly report that dozens of Iranian engineers and 15 Syrian officers were killed in a July 23 accident in Syria.

The Real Bush Record  —  In his new book, "The Age of Turbulence," my longtime friend Alan Greenspan argues that President Bush's economic and budget policies have been fiscally irresponsible.  I've known and admired Alan for years, and I believe he was a great chairman of the Federal Reserve Board.

What about Larry?  —  Compare Chemerinsky's tale with academia's bashing of ex-Harvard chief Summers.  —  The saga of controversial liberal law professor Erwin Chemerinsky's on-again, off-again deanship at the new UC Irvine law school was highly unusual in two ways.

the claim  —  "You know, you look back over our history, and it doesn't take you long to realize that our people have shed more blood for other people's liberty than any other combination of nations in the history of the world.''  — Fred D. Thompson, stump speech in Des Moines, Sept. 7

The Education of Robert Gates  —  Robert Gates has been a godsend.  After a bombastic defense secretary, we now have a candid one.  After ego, we have self-effacement.  After domination, we have a man who welcomes discussion.  —  Gates was decisive during the Walter Reed hospital fiasco.

Most Voters Say Election 2008 is Annoying and a Waste of Time  —  While political junkies have enjoyed the extended pre-season for Election 2008, most voters say that the debates and other campaign activities so far have been annoying and a waste of time.  A Rasmussen Reports national telephone …