Exclusive: Senator Chris Dodd Will Put A Hold On Telecom Immunity Bill  —  Senator Chris Dodd plans to put a hold on the Senate FISA renewal bill because it reportedly grants retroactive immunity to telephone companies for any role they played in the Bush administration's warrantless eavesdropping program, Election Central has learned.

House Fails to Override Child Health Bill Veto  —  Supporters of a bill to provide health insurance for 10 million children failed this afternoon, as expected, to muster enough support in the House to override President Bush's veto.  —  The vote to override the veto was 273 to 156 …

Brownback to withdraw from GOP race  —  WASHINGTON - Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, the Kansas conservative who struggled to raise money and gain recognition in the 2008 presidential campaign, will drop out on Friday, people close to him said Thursday.  —  Money was a main reason for his decision …

Military inadvertently recruits gays  —  The Army, Navy and Air Force unwittingly advertised for recruits on a website for gays, who are barred from military service if they are open about their sexual orientation.  —  When informed Tuesday by USA TODAY that they were advertising on GLEE.com …

Polling Shows Increased Support for Surge  —  A new Harris Poll of 2,565 adults has some encouraging news for proponents of the U.S. effort in Iraq.  While Americans remain skeptical of the mission and have little trust in either Congress or the president, their view of the situation in Iraq has improved.

Gen. Sanchez's Scream  —  He indicted everyone involved in Iraq, including the media and Congress.  —  Over the past weekend there were front-page accounts everywhere of Gen. Ricardo S. Sanchez's description of the war in Iraq as a "nightmare."  The New York Times led its story this way:

72-year-old concerned citizen takes down suicide bomber  —  Multi-National Corps - Iraq  —  Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory  —  APO AE 09342  —  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  —  RELEASE No. 20071018-04  —  72-year-old concerned citizen takes down suicide bomber  —  2nd BCT, 3rd Inf.  Div.

BREAKING: Pelosi working on Bush Impeachment?  (UPDATED)  —  Via Richard M, who attended a meeting of anti-war activists in Los Angeles on Sunday: … Sadly, each of these explanations seems equally plausible.  Which — equally sadly — speaks volumes about today's Congressional Democrats.

Rush Limbaugh eBay Auction, Anti-Conservative Smear Campaign  —  SMASHING EXPECTATIONS  —  Reid Smear Letter Bidding Reaches Shocking Level  —  *** FLASH ***  —  When bidding reached $10,000, we were amazed.  And when it ratcheted up to $45,000, many were astounded.

McConnell versus truth  —  Mitch McConnell can't have it both ways.  —  He can't luxuriate in a reputation for personal caution and political control, yet claim he knew nothing about the role his office tried to play in sliming a Baltimore boy and his family when they came forward in support of the SCHIP health care expansion.

Mukasey: President Can Break Some Laws  —  While Mukasey doesn't think there's an inherent presidential right to torture — which he said is explicitly prohibited by the Constitution — that's not to say he doesn't take a broad interpretation of the president's Article II authority.

Wingnuttery  —  Keep it up, GOP.  Please, please, please keep acting crazy.  —  For those with bad eyes, Mr. King has created a chart claiming the S-CHIP really stands for "Socialized Clinton-style Hillarycare for Illegals and their Parents."  —  Guys, you've done outdone yerselves on this one.

Supporters, protesters wage a war of words over Berkeley recruiting station  —  (10-17) 14:38 PDT Berkeley — Dozens of flag-waving military supporters squared off boisterously with peace activists Wednesday in the first major showdown over a U.S. Marine Corps recruiting station that until recently …