SHOCK DOCS: THE NEW REPUBLIC 'SHOCK TROOPS' STORY COLLAPSES  —  The DRUDGE REPORT has obtained internal documents from the investigation of THE NEW REPUBLIC'S "Baghdad Diarist", Scott Thomas Beauchamp, an Army private turned war correspondent who reported tales of military malfeasance from the Iraq War front.

Bush is the biggest spender since LBJ  —  WASHINGTON — George W. Bush, despite all his recent bravado about being an apostle of small government and budget-slashing, is the biggest spending president since Lyndon B. Johnson.  In fact, he's arguably an even bigger spender than LBJ.

Obama Camp Says It: He'll Support Filibuster Of Any Bill Containing Telecom Immunity  —  It's official: Obama will back a filibuster of any Senate FISA legislation containing telecom immunity, his campaign has just told Election Central.  The Obama campaign has just sent over the following statement from spokesman Bill Burton:

Seven clues that 'Potter's' Dumbledore was gay  —  "Albus Dumbledore" is an anagram of "Male bods rule, bud!"  —  The Potter-verse was thrown for a loop when author J.K. Rowling announced she had always imagined one of the main characters in the "Harry Potter" series — Albus Dumbledore — to be gay.

Comedian Colbert Reaches Double Digits As Third-Party Candidate  —  Comedian Stephen Colbert is not a threat to win the presidency, but the odds are that that his satire will win plenty of laughs and maybe even some votes.  —  A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey found that Colbert …

Lessons of the Dream Act defeat  —  Senate vote reveals staying power of illegal immigration issue  —  WASHINGTON - The Senate rejected Wednesday an attempt to move ahead with a bill to allow illegal immigrants under age 30 to remain in the United States and gain legal status if they attend college or join the military.

Brownie: Bush not doing heckuva job on fires  —  President Bush isn't doing a heck of a job balancing National Guard call-ups to Iraq with states' needs back home - and that's crimping the government response to the California wildfires, according to the man who took the blame for the botched federal reaction to Hurricane Katrina.

No Joke: Colbert's Campaign May Run Afoul of Law  —  Campaign Finance Law May Spoil Comedian's Fun  —  Stephen Colbert says his presidential campaign is serious business and the Federal Election Commission may find that's no joke.  (AP)  —  With its snack-food sponsorship …

FIRST THOUGHTS: WHERE FEW DARE TO GO  —  From Chuck Todd, Mark Murray, Domenico Montanaro, and Julia Steers  —  *** Where few dare to go: Over the past 10 months, the national media have reported on almost every angle possible in this presidential race, especially as it relates to Hillary Clinton.

Beck Blames California Wildfires On The 'Damn Environmentalists'  —  Last night, CNN Headline News host Glenn Beck blamed California's massive wildfires on the "damn environmentalists" and their "bad environmental policies."  He also claimed that global warming has nothing to do with the situation …

PROTESTOR ATTACKS CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON CAPITOL HILL  —  WOMAN TRIES TO SMEAR PAINT ON SECRETARY  —  An anti-war protestor, whose hands were painted red to look like blood, stormed up to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice as she arrived to testify on Capitol Hill this morning, shouting …

Santorum says Islam 'not just something you do on Sunday'  —  A year ago at this time, Rick Santorum was a two-term senator and possible presidential candidate.  Yesterday, he was at Penn State as a guest of David Horowitz, as part of the absurd "Islamo-Fascism Awareness Week."

MEDIA MYTHS ABOUT THE JENA 6  —  A local journalist tells the story you haven't heard.  —  Republish  —  JENA, LA. - By now, almost everyone in America has heard of Jena, La., because they've all heard the story of the "Jena 6."  White students hanging nooses barely punished …

New estimates show Iraq, Afghanistan will cost US $2.4 trillion; White House refuses to provide estimate  —  The United States is spending about $8,000 per man, woman and child in the country to pursue wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, according to new estimates that show the wars will cost about $2.4 trillion over the next decade.