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 …

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.

A troubling turn in American history  —  IF COLUMBUS is the beginning of the story, and, say, Lincoln is the middle, what is the end?  Each episode of the American narrative surfaced a problem, which prompted attempts to resolve it, which led in turn to a new problem.

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 …

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 …

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 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 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 …

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 …

Can Ailes Outfox CNBC?  —  Invoking Stonewall Jackson,  —  Fox Business Chief Prepares  —  To Battle Entrenched Rival  —  During a long and colorful career, Roger Ailes has dug ditches, advised Richard Nixon on his 1968 presidential campaign, produced off-Broadway shows — and started cable networks, notably Fox News Channel.

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.

Right-Of-Center Bloggers Select Their Least Favorite People On The Right (2007 Edition)  —  Right Wing News emailed more than 225 right-of-center bloggers and asked them to send us a list of whom they considered to be their "Least Favorite People On The Right."  Representatives from the following 45 blogs responded...

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.

Report says war on terror is fueling al Qaeda  —  LONDON (Reuters) - Six years after the September 11 attacks in the United States, the "war on terror" is failing and instead fueling an increase in support for extremist Islamist movements, a British think-tank said on Monday.

A Dutch Retreat on Speech?  —  And now we come to what may be a truly fundamental test, maybe even a turning point, for that part of the world generally known as the West.  —  The test is this: Are prominent, articulate critics of radical Islam, critics who happen to be citizens …

Al Qaeda in Haditha: The battle the media ignored  —  Buried in the mountain of exhibits attached to the once secret Haditha, Iraq murder inquiry prepared by US Army Maj. Gen. Eldon A. Bargewell is an obscure Marine Corps intelligence summary (see pdf) that says the deadly encounter …