Secret U.S. Endorsement of Severe Interrogations  —  When the Justice Department publicly declared torture "abhorrent" in a legal opinion in December 2004, the Bush administration appeared to have abandoned its assertion of nearly unlimited presidential authority to order brutal interrogations.

Early On, Thompson Fails to Spark Excitement in Iowa  —  Twenty-four minutes after he began speaking in a small restaurant the other day, Fred Thompson brought his remarks to a close with a nod of his head and an expression of thanks to Iowans for allowing him to "give my thoughts about some things."

Ron Paul's Impressive Haul  —  Young, Rabid Internet Supporters Boost Congressman's Fundraising  —  Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, the outspoken libertarian White House hopeful often dismissed by his rivals and the punditocracy as a fringe candidate, was all smiles Wednesday as he bandied …

Sen. Pete Domenici Expected to Retire  —  Veteran Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) is expected to announce tomorrow that he will retire from the Senate in 2008, according to several informed sources, a decision that further complicates an already difficult playing field for Republicans next November.

Message to the House of Representatives  —  TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:  —  I am returning herewith without my approval H.R. 976, the "Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007," because this legislation would move health care in this country in the wrong direction.

Romney's Religion  —  When Mitt Romney appeared last week (via closed circuit from California) before the Council of Retired Chief Executives meeting in Washington, he faced kindred souls: rich Republicans who had managed big enterprises.  Yet the second question from the audience inquired …

Is That A Fat Lady I Hear Singing?  —  Pills Limbaugh just keeps diggin' and diggin'.  I've been delighted to see that it's been all over cable news today, and Wes Clark has been promoting the move to get Limbaugh off Armed Forces Radio Network.  Since that letter from Harry Reid et. al. condemning Rush …

Iran 'arming Taliban with roadside bombs'  —  Iran is supplying the Taliban in Afghanistan with the same bomb-making equipment it provides to insurgents in Iraq, according to British military intelligence officers.  —  US Army General Dan McNeill, the commander of Nato forces in Afghanistan …

In Ballot Fight, California Gets a Taste of '08  —  Ballot measures in California have long been proxies for local politicians' hopes and dreams — just ask Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who rode a recall petition to the Statehouse.  —  But now a statewide initiative has become the unusual battleground …

Modern Heroes  —  Our soldiers like what they do.  They want our respect, not pity.  —  I'm weary of seeing news stories about wounded soldiers and assertions of "support" for the troops mixed with suggestions of the futility of our military efforts in Iraq.  Why aren't there more accounts of what the troops actually do?

The 9/11 backlash against women  —  Terror swept women back into the kitchen, argues Susan Faludi, and tore open the worst scar in American history.  But it's Bruce Springsteen who makes the fear so real.  —  It may be pop culture heresy to rope together Susan Faludi's new book …

New poll shows growing discontent with Hamas rule in Gaza  —  Terror organization to lose elections if new vote were held today in Palestinian Authority, survey conducted by Near East Consulting concludes.  Poll also finds that majority of Gazans oppose rocket attacks on Israel …

The Daily Show: Chris Matthew's "Book about Sadness"  —  Chris Matthews has always puzzled me as a talking head.  There's always been this strange disconnect between his embarrassingly slavish adulation of political figures (please, don't make me repeat the glimmering GWB, the manly-smelling Fred Thompson, etc.