Romney hits Dems on gay issue  —  Leading the way on an issue almost certain to be resurrected during the general election, Mitt Romney issued a statement this morning condemning the Democratic candidates for their refusal at last night's debate to rule out teaching about gay issues to second-graders.

Limbaugh: Service members who support U.S. withdrawal are "phony soldiers"  —  During the September 26 broadcast of his nationally syndicated radio show, Rush Limbaugh called service members who advocate U.S. withdrawal from Iraq "phony soldiers."  He made the comment while discussing …

Transcript Reveals Impeachable Offenses by Bush Re: Iraq War  —  El Pais published a transcript (reprinted at this link) of the conversation between George W. Bush, Jose Maria Aznar of Spain, and Condoleeza Rice held at Crawford before the Iraq War.  Bush is typically bullheaded, impatient …

Following Bush Over a Cliff  —  The spectacle Tuesday of 151 House Republicans voting in lock step with the White House against expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) was one of the more remarkable sights of the year.  Rarely do you see so many politicians putting their careers in jeopardy.

AS LONG AS WE'RE TALKING CONTRACTORS . . .  A friend of the site sent along a reminder of the exchange President Bush had with a student back in April 2006 while speaking at Johns Hopkins University: … Late Update: Here's video of the exchange:

HILLARY'S TORTURE  —  Hillary Clinton flip-flopped on torture last night (and slapped Bill upside the head while doing it), saying, "As a matter of policy it cannot be American policy, period."  —  That's quite emphatic, but in October, she had quite a loophole, and she explained it in depth …

GALLUP: Trust in Federal Government, On Nearly All Issues, Hits New Low — Even Less Than in Watergate Era  —  NEW YORK A new Gallup poll reveals that, as the organization puts it, Americans now "express less trust in the federal government than at any point in the past decade …

Documents point to S.C. terror plot  —  Explosives materials in car  —  In a 12-minute video posted on YouTube, an Egyptian man wearing a white shirt, khaki pants and rubber gloves explains in Arabic how to turn a toy boat into a bomb.  —  His name is Ahmed Abdellatif Sherif Mohamed …

Bin Laden may have just escaped U.S. forces  —  August mission in Tora Bora almost snared 'high value target'  —  A little more than a month ago, with the anniversary of Sept. 11 approaching and fears of a new al Qaeda attack rising, some U.S. intelligence and military analysts thought …

Betting on Iowa  —  The Quad City Times reports today that Michelle Obama was a bit blunter than any of the campaigns usually are on the importance of Iowa: … Facebook Google Technorati  —  Last nights debate Obama did not do what the media wanted him to do...be an attack dog!

Craig Remains in Office, for Now  —  Despite His Pledge to Resign, Embattled Senator Will Continue to Work in Senate  —  Though Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, had previously pledged to resign by Sunday, amid allegations he cruised for gay sex in a public bathroom, he now says he will stay in office.

Our Moral Footprint  —  OVER the past few years the questions have been asked ever more forcefully whether global climate changes occur in natural cycles or not, to what degree we humans contribute to them, what threats stem from them and what can be done to prevent them.

Army is worn too thin, says general  —  Calls force not ready to meet new threats  —  Defense Secretary Robert Gates (left) and Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Peter Pace at a Capitol Hill hearing yesterday.  (MARK WILSON/GETTY IMAGES)  —  WASHINGTON - The Army's top officer …