How Clinton has built her lead  —  REASON TO SMILE: Presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton greets residents in New Hampton, Iowa Sunday.  Polls show her national popularity with Democrats growing.  —  Her base is voters who dominate the Democratic nominating process.  But the presidential campaign season is still young.

Top Iraqis Pull Back From Key U.S. Goal  —  Reconciliation Seen Unattainable Amid Struggle for Power  —  BAGHDAD — For much of this year, the U.S. military strategy in Iraq has sought to reduce violence so that politicians could bring about national reconciliation, but several top Iraqi leaders …

Al Qaeda's War of Villages  —  Signs that the terrorists are losing in Iraq.  —  BAGHDAD—The latest chapter in al Qaeda's war manual in their war against the Iraqi people and the Coalition is this: raiding remote peaceful villages, burning down homes and slaughtering both man and beast.

The Best Police Force in Iraq  —  RAMADI, IRAQ - In late July when I visited a police station in the town of Mushadah just north of Baghdad I worried that Iraq was doomed to become the next Gaza.  As many as half the police officers, according to most of the American Military Police who worked …

The Way Primaries Work  —  We seem to have people who still misunderstand the primary system, both in our CapQ community and in the national political movements on the Right.  Over the last couple of weeks, we have had grand ultimatums from a couple of factions which have demanded a particular type …

Clinton's Iran Vote Prompts A Harsh Back-and-Forth  —  Randall Rolph said he came to New Hampton, Iowa, on Sunday to see Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) with an open mind about whether to support her candidacy.  After a tough exchange over Iran, he left saying he had ruled her out.

As War Dragged On, Coverage Tone Weighed Heavily on Anchors  —  This article is adapted from the book "Reality Show: Inside the Last Great Television News War" by Howard Kurtz, Free Press, New York, ©2007.

Same Old Party  —  There have been a number of articles recently that portray President Bush as someone who strayed from the path of true conservatism.  Republicans, these articles say, need to return to their roots.  —  Well, I don't know what true conservatism is, but while doing research …

Thompson Turns to Taxes  —  Presidential Candidate  —  Hopes Tough Talk  —  Lures Conservatives  —  WASHINGTON — Fred Thompson entered the presidential race hoping to be the candidate of choice for conservatives.  But he has stumbled in early attempts to woo social conservatives …

Republicans Remain Deeply Distrustful of News Media  —  Democrats much more positive  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Republicans in America today remain deeply distrustful of the national news media — in sharp contrast to Democrats, who have a great deal more trust in the media's accuracy.

Al Gore tipped to win Nobel  —  THE environmental campaigner Al Gore is being tipped as a favourite to win the Nobel peace prize in Oslo this Friday in a controversial move that could place saving the planet above saving people from war and conflict.  —  Gore, a former American vice-president …

Another U.N. Power Grab  —  What would Reagan do?  On the Law of the Sea Treaty, we know the answer.  —  It is an impressive testament to the abiding affection and political influence of former President Ronald Reagan that the fate of a controversial treaty now before the U.S. Senate …

Senate Bill Aims to Define Who Is a Journalist  —  The Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 is the grand title attached to the bill that passed the Senate Judiciary Committee last week with bipartisan support.  It is better known as the reporter's shield law.

Mexican 'House of Death  —  CIUDAD JUAREZ, Mexico — Fernando Reyes wasn't dying fast enough, so his killers wrapped his head in a plastic bag.  It wouldn't be long before the brutally beaten and tortured drug smuggler would take his last breath.  —  An undercover informant working for U.S. authorities …

He Can Act, but Can He Debate?  Untested Thompson Faces Rivals for First Time  —  In an unusual political season that seems to offer up a presidential debate every week or so, the Republican debate tomorrow is expected to offer something new: Fred D. Thompson.

ASK DR. HELEN: FIGHTING FOR MEN'S RIGHTS  —  Men are becoming increasingly concerned about finding justice in today's legal system.  PJM advice columnist Dr. Helen interviews Glenn Sacks and warns against "standing idly by while your rights are infringed, your freedoms are in question and your sex is used as a weapon against you."