Ouch!  Hillary Clinton's softer image is clawed over dumped cat  —  AS THE "first pet" of the Clinton era, Socks, the White House cat, allowed "chilly" Hillary Clinton to show a caring, maternal side as well as bringing joy to her daughter Chelsea.  So where is Socks today?

Cat Fight Hisses in Republican Presidential Primary Debate  —  WASHINGTON — The claws were out Sunday night as the GOP presidential candidates went for each other's jugulars trying to prove to Republican base voters that each is the most conservative candidate in the race for the White House.

'Meet the Press' transcript for Oct. 21, 2007  —  Stephen Colbert, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Kate O'Beirne, Sally Bedell Smith, Judy Woodruff  —  MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: Barack Obama challenges Hillary Clinton on the Iraq war.  —  SEN. BARACK OBAMA (D-IL) …

Clinton Finds Way to Play Along With Drudge  —  As Senator Barack Obama prepared to give a major speech on Iraq one morning a few weeks ago, a flashing red-siren alert went up on the Drudge Report Web site.  It read, "Queen of the Quarter: Hillary Crushes Obama in Surprise Fund-Raising Surge …

Gonzales could be prosecuted, McKay says  —  The U.S. Inspector General may recommend criminal prosecution of departed Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at the conclusion of an investigation, possibly as early as next month, the fired former U.S. attorney for Western Washington told a Spokane audience Friday.

Winds drive Southland wildfires  —  At least 39 homes lost, 1 killed as region remains at risk from Santa Anas  —  Thousands of Southern California homes could be at risk in coming days as powerful Santa Ana winds continue to stoke wildfires, fire officials said.

Key Clinton Backer Rips Giuliani's Personal Life  —  Rep. Charles Rangel Apparently Refers to Giuliani as a 'Cheating Goddamn Husband'  —  Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-N.Y., the dean of the New York congressional delegation, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, longtime political booster …

Say What You Like, Just Don't Say It Here  —  The American commitment to free speech is the most robust in the world.  But these days that tolerance stops at the border.  —  Two cases pending in federal court in Manhattan will soon test how far the government can go in keeping Americans safe …

Vice President's Remarks to the Washington Institute for Near East Policy  —  VICE PRESIDENT CHENEY: Thank you very much, Roger.  Thanks for the kind words, and thank all of you for the welcome this morning.  I've been looking forward to have the opportunity to join the conference.

Warning over oil production decline  —  World oil production has already peaked and will fall by half as soon as 2030, according to a report which also warns that extreme shortages of fossil fuels will lead to wars and social breakdown.  —  The German-based Energy Watch Group will release …

U.S. Planners See Shiite Militias as Rising Threat  —  Gen. David H. Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan C. Crocker have concluded that Shiite extremists pose a rising threat to the U.S. effort in Iraq, as the relative influence of Sunni insurgent groups such as al-Qaeda in Iraq has diminished drastically because of ongoing U.S. operations.

Soldier's children die in accident on way to Army hospital  —  hyan@dallasnews.com  —  Army Spc. John Austin Johnson seemed to have a gift for evading tragedy.  —  During two years in Iraq, the soldier from Fort Bliss, in West Texas, survived five improvised explosive device blasts and several grenade attacks.

Polish Premier Is Routed, Polls Show  —  Voters appeared to have ousted the prime minister, one half of Poland's wonder-twin team, in parliamentary elections on Sunday.  The challenger, Donald Tusk, declared victory for his pro-business party, Civic Platform.

Valerie Plame On 60 Minutes: "The President Is Not A Man Of His Word"  —  Outed CIA covert operative Valerie Plame Wilson and her husband, Joe Wilson, gave an interview to Katie Couric on 60 Minutes.  In the first segment, Plame Wilson spoke frankly about being betrayed by this administration …

SHERMAN FREDERICK: Not so wild about Harry  —  Is Nevada turning on its lion in the winter?  —  The political headline of last week, "Reid's popularity falls among Nevadans," wasn't all that surprising.  Nevada's never been particularly wild about Harry Reid.

AMSTERDAM IS A RIOT: VIOLENCE ROCKS IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORHOODS  —  PJM Groningen: Unrest in the Moroccan neighborhoods of Amsterdam have many fearing that the chronic violence that rocked the Paris suburbs will spread to the Netherlands.  If the Dutch police don't get much tougher much faster …