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?

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.

GOP candidates battle over conservative credentials  —  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP)- Republican presidential candidates clashed Sunday over who is conservative enough to defeat Democratic front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, ahead of an evening debate in Florida.  —  "Look at my record and listen to my vision …

Zogby Poll: Half Say They Would Never Vote for Hillary Clinton for President  —  Other top tier candidates in both parties win more acceptance; Richardson & Huckabee favored most  —  While she is winning wide support in nationwide samples among Democrats in the race for their party's …

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.

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.

Indian-American Elected Louisiana's Governor  —  Bobby Jindal, a conservative Republican congressman from the New Orleans suburbs and the son of immigrants from India, was elected Louisiana's governor Saturday, inheriting a state that was suffering well before Hurricane Katrina left lingering scars two years ago.

Stephen Colbert On Meet The Press  —  Presidential candidate Stephen Colbert gave an interview to Tim Russert this morning on Meet The Press and in typical Colbert fashion, he lays out his agenda and plan to lose the race.  Russert questions him, tongue in cheek, on some of the more controversial statements …

20/20: The Debate Is Not Over  —  Sorry, libs.  Stossel's gonna getcha!

Seal of approval  —  Just like Freddie Krueger, the terrifying lead character in "Nightmare on Elm Street," Don Imus is coming back.  And as with Freddie, there is something about the I-Man that is scary but irresistible.  —  But not irresistible to everyone.

'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) …

Violence flares again in Amsterdam  —  Disturbances broke out for a sixth successive night in an immigrant quarter of Amsterdam when four cars were set on fire, police said.  —  The unrest started after police shot dead a man of Moroccan origin last weekend who had stabbed and injured two officers.

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 …

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 …

The Early Word: G.O.P. Debate Tonight  —  The G.O.P. presidential contenders, whose ranks shrunk by one this week, will be in Orlando, Fla. tonight to square off in a debate sponsored by Fox News, which will be broadcast on the network at 8 p.m. Eastern.  —  The Sarasota Herald-Tribune's …

Stark Raving Madmen  —  On Thursday, Congress attempted to override President Bush's veto of the S-CHIP debate.  S-CHIP?  Isn't that something to do with health care for children?  Absolutely.  And here is Representative Pete Stark (Democrat, California) addressing the issue with his customary forensic incisiveness