Harkin: 'Maybe Limbaugh was high on drugs again.'  —  Today on the Senate floor, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) condemned Rush Limbaugh's "phony soldiers" comment, saying that the radio host makes these "provocative things to make more money."  He then offered another possible explanation for Limbaugh's "over-the-line" remarks:

Rush's Challenge to Senator Reid  —  BEGIN TRANSCRIPT  —  RUSH: Ladies and gentlemen, in the last half hour, Harry Reid took to the floor of the Senate and proceeded to spend five-to-seven minutes denouncing me, spreading the smear that started last week on this phony soldiers business.

Fake war hero Tom Harkin smears Rush Limbaugh  —  Update: Glenn Reynolds wonders: "I noted back in 2004, the last time Harkin made this an issue, that the press was giving him a pass.  Will it do so again?  And why are the Democrats letting Harkin, of all people, get out front on this issue?"

Democrats go after Limbaugh  —  Democrats on Monday called on the chief executive of Clear Channel Communications to denounce remarks by radio talk show host Rush Limbaugh, whom they say made a "hateful" and "unpatriotic" attack on U.S. troops opposed to the war in Iraq.

Republicans urge Blackwater hearing delay  —  Seven House Republicans have urged Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.) to postpone an expected hearing this week about Blackwater USA until the State Department and a separate commission release reports …

PARODY SURGE HITS MIL CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ  —  A few days ago the State Department released what it called a "first blush" report on the Blackwater incident in Baghdad, a report which largely exonerated the Blackwater personnel involved.  —  I noted at the time that "first blush" …