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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

OBAMA'S NEW AD:  —  His latest Iowa spot focuses on—surprise!  —Iraq, and stars Retired Air Force General Merrill McPeak.  The general praises Obama for "showing insight and courage others did not" in opposing the war, and declares that "the old Washington hands have let us down.

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.