House bid to censure Stark falls short  —  WASHINGTON - Republicans failed in an effort Tuesday to have the House censure Rep. Pete Stark, D-Calif., who said in a congressional speech last week that U.S. troops are being sent to Iraq "to get their heads blown off for the president's amusement."

Even Closer to the Brink  —  The news out of Iraq just keeps getting worse.  Now Turkey is threatening to send troops across the border to wipe out Kurdish rebel bases, after guerrillas killed at least a dozen Turkish soldiers.  This latest crisis should have come as no surprise.

Civility Reigns at San Diego Stadium  —  SAN DIEGO (AP) - Like Hurricane Katrina evacuees two years earlier in New Orleans, thousands of people rousted by natural disaster fled to the NFL stadium here, waiting out the calamity and worrying about their homes.

Islamofascism  —  Did you know it was Islamofascism Awareness Week?  And have you thought about what you're going to do to raise awareness about this concept the loss of which would be such a devastating blow to the vanity and intellectual pretensions of countless right-wing bloggers …

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.

Kucinich Had A UFO Encounter, According To Friend Shirley MacLaine  —  In Shirley MacLaine's new book, the actress and longtime friend of Dennis Kucinich makes an interesting claim: During a visit to her home in Washington state, Kucinich said he saw a UFO and heard messages from it.

Wildfires and environmental obstructionism  —  Nearly 300,000 Southern California residents have now been evacuated as wildfires spread across the region: … Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is calling up the National Guard and asking for military support.  President Bush has declared a state of emergency.

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 …

Liberty outraged over grave desecration  —  Police seek suspects for the damage done at Marine's plot  —  LIBERTY — To Jeremy Burris the word "liberty" was more than the name of his hometown.  It was something worth fighting for.  —  An all-American kid from a little all-American town …

Obama trying to put out gay fire  —  The Obama campaign has scheduled a conference call with campaign manager David Plouffe and other top aides to re-assure gay donors and other backers who are angry at the inclusion of a gospel singer hostile to homosexuality, Donnie McClurken …

Please Welcome Senator Chris Dodd  —  Senator Chris Dodd joins us today from Iowa to discuss his decision to oppose retroactive immunity for the telecom companies from the upcoming FISA bill.  —  Dodd is acting in the tradition of Robert Kennedy, who himself vigorously opposed such action:

Violence in Iraq down 70%  —  But, I'm confused.  I coulda swore I heard someone say "The war is lost."  Maybe that prognostication was a bit premature. … This is the lead of a Reuters story.  Watch how they use the next sentence to make sure that no one jumps for joy.

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 …

EU Constitution: What a Babel Treat(y)!  —  There is a spectrum haunting Europe: the EU Constitution.  Despite all appearances, it's not quite dead.  Au contraire.  After two identity changes, some face lifts and a heavy dose of make-up, the "undead" Constitution was first re-baptised as the …

The War for the Constitution  —  The anniversary of Robert Bork's failed nomination reminds us what's at stake in the coming election.  —  Twenty years ago today the United States Senate voted to reject President Reagan's nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court.