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."

Paul raises $5 million in third quarter  —  While fundraising totals usually drop in the third quarter, Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) bucked the trend and more than doubled his second-quarter haul with more than $5 million raised.  —  Paul, who remains a long shot to win the Republican nomination …

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 …

Families Settle Claims In Attack on Pentagon  —  Four Maryland families whose relatives were killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attack on the Pentagon have settled claims against American Airlines and other companies involved in ticketing and screening passengers at Dulles International Airport.

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?

Bush Veto Gives Democrats Legislative Defeat, Political Opening  —  Oct. 4 (Bloomberg) — For Democrats, President George W. Bush's veto yesterday of a measure expanding children's health care is a legislative setback — and a political opportunity.  —  Democrats have delayed for two weeks …

Domenici to not seek re-election  —  From NBC's Doug Adams and Chuck Todd  —  Sen. Pete Domenici (R-NM) will not seek re-election in 2008, sources close to Domenici tell First Read and NBC News.  Domenici will make the announcement tomorrow at 4 p.m. Mountain Time in New Mexico.

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 …

Another Dimension Of The Thomas Smear  —  I spent some time last night reviewing some of the transcripts from the "high-tech lynching" delivered by the Senate Judiciary Committee to Clarence Thomas, just to refamiliarize myself with the actual testimony and evidence.

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 …

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 …

Secessionists meeting in Tennessee  —  CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - In an unlikely marriage of desire to secede from the United States, two advocacy groups from opposite political traditions — New England and the South — are sitting down to talk.  —  Tired of foreign wars and what they consider right-wing courts …

Republicans Grow Skeptical On Free Trade  —  WASHINGTON — By a nearly two-to-one margin, Republican voters believe free trade is bad for the U.S. economy, a shift in opinion that mirrors Democratic views and suggests trade deals could face high hurdles under a new president.