Democratic rivals set sights on Clinton  —  Presidential candidates targeting frontrunner's electability in NBC debate  —  Sen. Hillary Clinton took the stage Tuesday night expecting a gang assault from the rest of the Democratic presidential field, led by her closest rival …

CLEAR CHANNEL, REPUBLICAN PROPAGANDA NETWORK, OUT TO KILL SPRINGSTEEN'S MAGIC?  —  If you look for Springsteen in Google News, you get one rave review of his live sold out tour after another.  Last Thursday and Friday he wowed 'em at the Oakland Coliseum.  Last night he was in L.A.

University of Delaware Requires Students to Undergo Ideological Reeducation  —  The University of Delaware subjects students in its residence halls to a shocking program of ideological reeducation that is referred to in the university's own materials as a "treatment" for students' incorrect attitudes and beliefs.

Attorney General Nominee Sends Letter to Dems  —  Attorney general nominee Michael B. Mukasey told Senate Democrats today that a kind of simulated drowning known as waterboarding is "repugnant," but he does not know whether the interrogation technique violates U.S. laws against torture.

Kucinich questions Bush's mental health  —  PHILADELPHIA - Democratic presidential candidate Dennis Kucinich questioned President Bush's mental health in light of comments he made about a nuclear Iran precipitating World War III.  —  "I seriously believe we have to start asking questions …

Cross-dressing state lawmaker blackmailed following late night tryst  —  SPOKANE — State Representative Richard Curtis says he's not gay, but police reports and court records indicate the Republican lawmaker from southwestern Washington dressed up in women's lingerie and met a Medical Lake man …

Exclusive: ABC News Obtains Text of Blackwater Immunity Deal  —  State Department Grants Immunity to Guards Investigated for Shooting Iraqi Civilians  —  Members of a private security company pose on the rooftop of a house in Baghdad, Sept. 18, 2007.  ABC News has learned details …

Stephen Colbert Tops Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich in Presidential Poll  —  Fresh from a victorious interview on "Meet the Press," Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert continues to out-pun pundits and expectorate political expectations with his half-sincere, three-quarters-book-promoting campaign for the presidency.

Col. Boylan's denial  —  (updated below)  —  As indicated last night, Editor & Publisher has published a lengthy article on the Col. Boylan email matter, which includes a discussion of an unsolicited, critical email sent to them from Col. Boylan as well.  That, as I documented last night …

ODD CONNECTION TO THE DEATH PENALTY: Lawprof and legal journalist Jeff Rosen had a very interesting New York Times article about Justice Stevens a week ago.  The whole thing is much worth reading; but here I wanted to comment just on one part: … I recognize that much can get lost in such pieces …

Giuliani: Huckabee 'makes me laugh'  —  Rudy Giuliani, the front-running Republican candidate for president, says one of his rivals "makes me laugh."  And that same rival is saying nice things about Giuliani today.  —  That rival is Mike Huckabee, the former governor of Arkansas …

Break the Goddamned Rules  —  Forgive me for quoting myself, but these passages are the quickest way to an issue of critical importance.  In Part II of "A Nation on the Edge of the Final Descent," I wrote: … Toward the end of that essay, I turned again to the Andrew Meyer incident:

Best of the Web  —  Boo!  —  This column is taking a brief leave of absence for Halloween.  (We're not sure what our costume will be yet, but we're thinking of going as a blog.)  We'll be back Monday, after we've finished our candy.  —  From Here to Eternity

Three plead guilty in fake voter scheme  —  Three of seven defendants in the biggest voter-registration fraud scheme in Washington history have pleaded guilty and one has been sentenced, prosecutors said Monday.  —  The defendants were all temporary employees of ACORN …

Supreme Court Stays Execution in a Sign of a Broader Halt  —  Moments before a Mississippi prisoner was scheduled to die by lethal injection Tuesday evening, the Supreme Court granted him a stay of execution and thus gave a nearly indisputable indication that a majority intends to block …