Bush Defends Treatment of Terrorism Suspects  —  President Bush defended his administration's treatment of terrorism suspects today, but the chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee accused the president of keeping Congress in the dark about how those suspects are interrogated.

Conservatives Are Such Jokers  —  In 1960, John F. Kennedy, who had been shocked by the hunger he saw in West Virginia, made the fight against hunger a theme of his presidential campaign.  After his election he created the modern food stamp program, which today helps millions of Americans get enough to eat.

The Republican Collapse  —  Modern conservatism begins with Edmund Burke.  What Burke articulated was not an ideology or a creed, but a disposition, a reverence for tradition, a suspicion of radical change.  —  When conservatism came to America, it became creedal.

Matthews says Bush administration has "finally been caught in their criminality"  —  Playing Hardball with the Prez  —  "Hardball" host Chris Matthews addresses attendees at Thursday night's ten-year anniversary of "Hardball," which took place at the Decatur House in Washington, D.C.

Peggy Noonan's Open Eyes  —  I've long enjoyed Peggy Noonan's work (except for one dreadful book even she must regret writing).  I don't always agree with her, but she represents for me that brand of blue-state conservatism that came of age in the Reagan era, one that was often Catholic …

Limbaugh leaves probation better, richer  —  No, Sen. Tom Harkin, radio talker Rush Limbaugh isn't back on drugs!  —  So says the state of Florida.  And Limbaugh himself, who told Page Two, as he enters his last month on probation for a narcotics arrest, that he doesn't even miss getting high and now feels like a better person.

Alleged Haggard Escort: 'Sen. Craig Visited Me'  —  NewsChannel 3  —  The male escort responsible for the downfall of Christian evangelist leader Ted Haggard is now alleging that embattled Senator Larry Craig also came to see him.  —  While promoting his new book during a radio interview …

Dems Postpone Rollout Of Controversial Wiretapping Bill  —  Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), the House Majority Leader, postponed a press conference announcing new reforms of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act after progressive lawmakers banded together and said they would fight any legislation …

Cheers and Jeers for S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom  —  First the cheers.  San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has declared the war on drugs a failure. … San Francisco Sheriff San Francisco Sheriff Mike Hennessey agrees with him.  —  Now the jeers.  San Francisco is initiating a program of busting the homeless on "quality of life" crimes.

Reagan's Disciples Plan Relaunch Of Conservative Movement  —  Fed up with neocons, theocons and convict cons, a group of former aides to Ronald Reagan want to reanimate the Republican Party by reviving the organization that brought Reagan to power.  —  The revitalized Citizens For The Republic …

National Journal's Cover Story On Blogs  —  Back in January 2006, I authored a cover story on "The Rise Of Blogs" for National Journal magazine.  In this week's hot-off-the-presses edition of the magazine, Bara Vaida, a former senior writer for me at Technology Daily, follows up with another cover story titled "Blogging On."

Losing A Generation?  —  The number of young people who do not consider themselves Christians is growing, as is the hostility toward Christianity expressed by the next generation of non-Christians, claims a new book from David Kinnaman of Barna.org.  Money quote: … And so the polarization grows.

Blackwater: "Newly Created Thug Caste"  —  (Naomi Wolf is the author of The End of America: Letter of Warning To A Young Patriot.  She has written extensively about Blackwater and joins us in the comments — jh)  —  Congress is finally asking questions of Erik Prince, the head of Blackwater …

HILLARY AND RUDY....Andrew Sullivan on Hillary Clinton and Rudy Giuliani: … Then, responding to a reader who likes Hillary because so many right-wing blowhards hate her: … Andrew likes Barack Obama and Ron Paul, so he's trying to play up the problems with other candidates.  That's fine.