Re: Phony Soliders  —  Via Ana, who is not able to post it herself at the moment, comes this reaction to Rush from John McCain: … UPDATE: Rush is starting to look pretty lonely on this.  Mitt Romney spokesman Kevin Madden tells the Huffington Post: … Sphere Related Blogs & Articles

Senior Al Qaeda in Iraq Leader Killed by U.S. Forces  —  WASHINGTON — U.S.-led forces have killed one of the most important leaders of Al Qaeda in Iraq, a Tunisian believed connected to the kidnapping and killings last summer of American soldiers, a top commander said Friday.

MSNB-No?  —  Looks like MSNBC correspondent David Shuster may have deprived loyal MSNBC viewers of their favorite GOP talking heads — at least for now.  —  This week, the MSNBC reporter "sandbagged" Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) during an interview by asking her to name the last solider from her district to die in Iraq.

Clinton: $5,000 for Every U.S. Baby  —  WASHINGTON (AP) - Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton said Friday that every child born in the United States should get a $5,000 "baby bond" from the government to help pay for future costs of college or buying a home.

Bill Clinton Questions Obama's Experience  —  Former President Bill Clinton showed his singular ability to diminish his wife's presidential rivals when, in a television interview, he said that Senator Barack Obama had about as much experience as Mr. Clinton did in 1988 — the year Mr. Clinton decided not to run for the presidency.

Murtha must testify in defamation case  —  WASHINGTON - A federal judge refused Friday to dismiss a defamation case against Rep. John P. Murtha and ordered the Pennsylvania Democrat to give a sworn deposition about his comments alleging "cold-blooded murder and war crimes" by unnamed soldiers in connection with Iraqi civilian deaths.

BREAKING NEWS: Giuliani fundraiser was mystery initiative backer  —  A close friend and major fundraiser of former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has identified himself as the mystery financer of the proposed California initiative to apportion the state's 55 electoral votes by congressional district instead of winner-take-all.

Edwards: 'Pretty Soon We're Not Going to Have a Young African-American Male Population in America.'  —  Asked about what he could do about "inner-city kids partaking in violence" at the MTV/MySpace Forum yesterday, Democratic candidate John Edwards offered an apocalyptic prediction for young black males:

Gingrich takes step toward '08 run  —  Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will open a website by Monday in an effort to round up the $30 million in pledges that he says would be his ticket to entering the race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

John McCain: Constitution Established a 'Christian Nation'  —  Presidential candidate and U.S. Senator John McCain discusses the country's Judeo-Christian roots, explains why the prospect of a Muslim in the White House makes him uncomfortable, and reveals that he wouldn't undergo …

Gore Dodges Repeated Calls to Debate Global Warming  —  As over 150 heads of state and government gather at UN headquarters in New York to discuss climate change, former Vice President Al Gore, the most prominent proponent of the theory of the human-induced, catastrophic global warming …

Justice Thomas Lashes Out in Memoir  —  Book Attacks Liberals and the Media, Breaks Near-Silence on Anita Hill  —  Justice Clarence Thomas settles scores in an angry and vivid forthcoming memoir, scathingly condemning the media, the Democratic senators who opposed his nomination to the Supreme Court …

First Jell-O, now Santa  —  So long, Halloween parade.  Farewell, Santa's gift shop.  —  The holiday traditions are facing elimination in some Oak Lawn schools this year after complaints that the activities are offensive, particularly to Muslim students.  —  Final decisions …

Giuliani Says He Took Cell Phone Call From Wife Because of Sept. 11  —  Rudy Giuliani is now saying that he took a cell phone call from his wife in the middle of a speech last week because of—wait for it—September 11.  Of course. … This is the man whose supporters recently held a "$9.11 for Rudy" fundraiser for him.