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 …

So where is Sean Hannity's flag lapel pin? … Discussing a recent interview with a reporter in Iowa in which Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) said that he had stopped wearing an American flag pin on his lapel during the lead-up to the Iraq war, Fox News host Sean Hannity said on the October 4 broadcast …

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.

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 …

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.

Gallup: Americans Back White House Plan for Iraq Drawdown  —  We are constantly told by the Left that the American people support their efforts to get the United States out of Iraq as quickly as possible.  The Netroots demand that Congress put more pressure on the White House …

War-Crimes Prosecutor Quits in Pentagon Clash  —  In the latest disruption of the Bush administration's plan to try detainees at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, for war crimes, the chief military prosecutor on the project stepped down yesterday after a dispute with a Pentagon official.

The fallout from an attack on Iran would be devastating  —  The drumbeat of war in Washington is growing - and so must public pressure against British involvement in such folly  —  Seumas Milne  —  It seems almost incredible after the catastrophe of the Iraq war, but the signs are growing …

Zogby Poll: Unknown Conservative Fares Well in Republican "Blind Bio" Poll  —  Candidate A (Casscells) is a world-renowned physician and researcher, leader in bio-technology, administrator of one of the leading heart and cancer research centers; he also manages a government agency …

Bush: 'Never really thought about' war - no Iran plan  —  President Bush in the Oval Office today.  Photo by Ron Edmonds/AP.  —  President Bush, interviewed "in the room where I make decisions,'' said that he "never really thought about the decision to put men and women in harm's way'' when he was running for president.

Don't Be Bought by Those Slickers  —  An angel sends me this scan of the backpage of the New Light of Myanmar.  Note the text at the bottom: "Eleven violent protestors were arrested together with one-12 inch knife, one pointed thin iron rod, a pair of scissors, five catapults, marbles, nuts …

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 …

Senate confirms Harris County judge for appeals court  —  The Senate has confirmed Harris County state District Judge Jennifer Walker Elrod to the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals.  —  "Jennifer Elrod is an outstanding jurist and will be an excellent addition to the 5th Circuit Court," …

The Republican Decline  —  Long piece by David Brooks in which he attempts to figure out why the Republican party appears to be in shambles: … Hogwash.  If you want to know why the Republican party is in shambles, read this: … For starters, people got tired of being associated with these drooling retards.

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 …

Shuffling paperwork to victory: The Evolution of the Fallujah Police Department  —  The courtyard of the Fallujah Police Station at night.  Photo by Bill Ardolino. … To read part one, see Confidence is Key: The Evolution of the Fallujah Police Department.