Mandela still alive after embarrassing Bush remark  —  JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Nelson Mandela is still very much alive despite an embarrassing gaffe by U.S. President George W. Bush, who alluded to the former South African leader's death in an attempt to explain sectarian violence in Iraq.

2 arrested in noose incident near Jena  —  ALEXANDRIA, Louisiana (CNN) — Authorities in Alexandria, Louisiana, arrested two people after nooses were seen hanging from the back of a red pickup Thursday night, the city's mayor told CNN.  —  Alexandria is less than an hour away from Jena …

In Search of a Congress  —  If you were one of the Americans waiting for Congress, under Democratic control, to show leadership on the war in Iraq, the message from the Senate is clear: "Nevermind."  The same goes for those waiting for lawmakers to fix the damage done to civil liberties …

O'Reilly surprised "there was no difference" between Harlem restaurant and other New York restaurants … During the September 19 edition of his nationally syndicated radio program, discussing his recent trip to have dinner with Rev. Al Sharpton at Sylvia's, a famous restaurant in Harlem …

NRCC chair threatens to resign  —  House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) is trying to force out the top two staffers of the National Republican Campaign Committee — leading to a threat of resignation from the NRCC by Chairman Tom Cole (R-Okla.) if it happens, said GOP insiders.

Sen. Specter Asks: Who's This Jenna Jameson?  —  Guess who got a V.I.P. tour of the Capitol Thursday?  —  Porn star - no, make that former porn star - and big Hillary Clinton fan Jenna Jameson.  —  Jameson, who quit the porn business and got a breast reduction last month …

Fox News To Air One-Hour Petraeus Special On Saturday Night  —  At 9 pm ET on Saturday, Fox News will air a one hour special about the top commander in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, who recently argued in Congressional testimony that President Bush's "surge" in Iraq is working.

For Mrs. Giuliani, the NRA Can Wait  —  Giuliani and Judith Nathan at their wedding in May 2003.  (AP).  —  When you get to your third marriage, you take your wife's call — even if you're in the middle of a speech to the National Rifle Association.  —  Rudy Giuliani was giving …

Anti-War YouTube 'Vet' Admits He Is Faker  —  Brian Ross and Vic Walter Report:  —  A Washington man, whose claims to have slaughtered civilians as a U.S. Army Ranger in Iraq were seen by millions on YouTube, admitted in federal court in Seattle today that he was a fake and a liar.

Student Charged With Wearing Fake Bomb At Logan  —  Police Say Simpson Had Circuit Board, Wiring, and Play-Doh  —  E-Mail Us: Did Police Act Appropriately?  —  Blog Chatter: See what people are saying about this story  —  (WBZ) BOSTON Troopers arrested an MIT student at gunpoint Friday …

A Beloved Professor Delivers The Lecture of a Lifetime  —  Randy Pausch, a Carnegie Mellon University computer-science professor, was about to give a lecture Tuesday afternoon, but before he said a word, he received a standing ovation from 400 students and colleagues.  —  He motioned to them to sit down.

CBS 2 Reporter Files Complaint After Scuffle  —  Mike Flannery Was Shoved By Aide After Rep. Weller Speech  —  (CBS) JOLIET, Ill. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery has filed a complaint after he was shoved and sent down a flight of stairs while questioning a congressman Friday, knocking him into a woman who also fell.

I've been going through the big lawsuit that Dan Rather filed against CBS the other day, and there's some stuff in it that's pretty eye-opening and definitely deserving of more attention.  —  Rather's lawsuit, of course, deals mostly with the scandal around the story about Bush and the Air National Guard.

Breaking news (and SL&P exclusive?): federal Judge Paul Cassell resigning!  —  Though I am not sure whether to be sad or excited, I am intrigued to be able to break the news that that affirms Sentencing Hall of Famer District Judge Paul Cassell today has submitted to President George Bush his …