Giuliani asks Values Voters to trust him  —  Former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, walking into a political lion's den, told the year's largest gathering of social conservatives that he is "not always the best example of faith" but that their similarities are much greater than their differences.

Limbaugh Spins Reid's Letter Into Charity Gold  —  Petty bickering about patriotism and Who Loves Our Troops More has never been seen as a financial growth industry, but there's no stopping American capitalism.  This is why a perfunctory bit of political grandstanding, committed …

With Democrats Like These ...  Every now and then, we are tempted to double-check that the Democrats actually won control of Congress last year.  It was particularly hard to tell this week.  Democratic leaders were cowed, once again, by propaganda from the White House and failed, once again …

Thompson's fall from grace  —  There was a time over the summer when Fred Thompson looked like he'd enjoy enormous support from the GOP's religious right base.  The Dobson crowd had already ruled out McCain and Giuliani, and skepticism over Romney lingered.

Ex-Prosecutor Alleges Pentagon Plays Politics  —  Pressure for 'Sexy' Guantanamo Hearings  —  Politically motivated officials at the Pentagon have pushed for convictions of high-profile detainees ahead of the 2008 elections, the former lead prosecutor for terrorism trials at Guantanamo Bay said last night …

IEDs Seen As Rising Threat in The U.S.  —  As Preparedness Is Criticized, Bush Works on a Plan  —  The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI agree that the homemade explosive devices that have wreaked havoc in Iraq pose a rising threat to the United States.

Battered Spouses  —  Yesterday I said I felt a hissy coming on and today it's blown in with all the sincerity and gravitas of Tom DeLay speaking at a Martin Luther King day luncheon.  —  The Situation Room just led the half hour with this: … JC Watts later called Stark a "small person with a withered soul."

Bhutto Gives Powerful Speech - Police Release Photo of Bomber's Head in Pakistan  —  "The only people who are safe are militants because they will not be attacked by the peaceful people.  And we will not be intimidated by this minority.  This is a battle for democracy.  We want to avoid bloodshed.

A Journalist?  Says Who?  —  I've discussed in this space - though in the light and frothy context of inappropriate photos posted online - how once something is on the Internet, it's in the public domain.  —  The same goes for legal rulings.  —  In a fascinating instance …

An Improbable Favorite Emerges in Cajun Country  —  An Oxford-educated son of immigrants from India is virtually certain to become the leading candidate for Louisiana's next governor in Saturday's primary election.  It would be an unlikely choice for a state that usually picks its leaders …

Rudy's New Minnesota Campaign Official Has An "N-Word" Problem  —  The man named yesterday by the Giuliani campaign to a law enforcement outreach campaign post in Minnesota was forced to resign a government job in 2004 when proof surfaced that he'd admitted to repeatedly using the word "nigger" in the past, Election Central has learned.

United States Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas  —  HH: Pleased now to welcome to the Hugh Hewitt Show Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court, Clarence Thomas.  Justice Thomas, welcome, it's great to have you here.  —  CT: It's great being with you, Hugh.

Sheriff's deputies arrest 'New Times' owners  —  Paper at odds with county authorities  —  Michael Kiefer, Robert Anglen and JJ Hensley  —  Phoenix New Times owners Michael Lacey and Jim Larkin were arrested Thursday night by Maricopa County sheriff's deputies on charges of revealing grand jury information, a misdemeanor.

The Clinton Surprise  —  The shocks just keep on coming:  —  Hillary Clinton leads the Democratic field with 51 percent of the vote.  —  She beats Barack Obama by 24 percentage points among black Democrats.  —  She is projected now to beat Giuliani - or at the very least …