Pelosi to launch PR blitz to beat '08 media frenzy  —  Nearly one year after recapturing control of Congress, House Democratic leaders will embark on a publicity blitz starting in November to combat a dismal 25 percent approval rating.  —  Democratic leadership aides huddled with rank …

Thompson's Daughter's Death Informs Right-to-Die Stance  —  Thompson Says End-of-Life Decisions Should Not Become 'Political Football'  —  In a moving, pointed and rare response to a question about the Terri Schiavo controversy, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee Monday afternoon described details …

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were "brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen."  —  1 out of 56 equals 'most'?  No, it doesn't  —  During the Republican debate, Mike Huckabee said he believes one of the defining issues facing the country is the sanctity of human life.

Stephen Colbert Moves Ahead of Richardson, Closes in on Biden, in National Poll!  —  NEW YORK He's been "in" the race for less than a week, and already faux-pundit Stephen Colbert has surged ahead of longtime candidate Gov. Bill Richardson in one national poll gauging the race for the Democratic nod for president.

NO GUARDRAILS.  Today's crackpot statement: … You might think Responsible Conservatives would either ignore this or give it the Coulter's-gone-too-far treatment.  That's pre-October 22 thinking, buddy: … Just some nut, right?  Like this one, right?  Surely the Serious People among them will go another way.

U.S. Prosecution of Muslim Group Ends in Mistrial  —  A federal judge declared a mistrial on Monday in what was widely seen as the government's flagship terrorism-financing case after prosecutors failed to persuade a jury to convict five leaders of a Muslim charity on any charges, or even to reach a verdict on many of the 197 counts.

Lawbreaker in Chief  —  AT his confirmation hearings last week, Michael B. Mukasey, President Bush's nominee for attorney general, was asked whether the president is required to obey federal statutes.  Judge Mukasey replied, "That would have to depend on whether what goes outside …

Bolton lobbies on N.K. deal  —  Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton is urging GOP lawmakers to oppose the Bush administration's recent agreement with North Korea to end its nuclear programs, according to House Republican sources.  —  While Bolton's skepticism of North Korea is well-known …

Defending Islamofascism  —  IT'S A VALID TERM.  HERE'S WHY.  —  The attempt by David Horowitz and his allies to launch "Islamofascism Awareness Week" on American campuses has been met with a variety of responses.  One of these is a challenge to the validity of the term itself.

Let the Americans Try and Stop Us! ...  "What if American F-16s come in front of us to block us?  Let them try, that's their business. ...  Our targets will be on Barzani's military and economic targets.  Our goal will be to transform the 'Kurdish dream' into a 'Turkish nightmare.'"

Reports Assail State Dept. on Iraq Security  —  A pair of new reports have delivered sharply critical judgments about the State Department's performance in overseeing work done by the private companies that the government relies on increasingly in Iraq and Afghanistan to carry out delicate security work and other missions.

Warden Stone  —  A Marine Corps general brings a new approach to detainee operations.  —  IT MAY NOT BE the most dramatic operation going on to defeat the insurgency and weed out al Qaeda operatives in Iraq, and it may not grab the biggest headlines.  But one Marine general is waging …

Lessing Says Sept. 11 Attacks Not So Bad  —  MADRID, Spain (AP) - Nobel laureate Doris Lessing said the Sept. 11 attacks in the United States were "not that terrible" when compared to attacks by the IRA in Britain.  —  "September 11 was terrible, but if one goes back over the history of the IRA …

Companies Seeking Immunity Donate to Senator  —  Executives at the two biggest phone companies contributed more than $42,000 in political donations to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV this year while seeking his support for legal immunity for businesses participating in National Security Agency eavesdropping.

Obama going on offensive on Iran  —  Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama is going on the offensive in Iowa on Iran.  —  The Illinois Democrat's campaign is sending out a color mailing today in the early voting state that includes the headline, "While others went along, Obama opposed Bush's war plans."