Democrats target Clinton's vote on Iran  —  Candidates in NBC debate say resolution paves the way for new war  —  Sen. Hillary Clinton's vote to authorize the U.S. war in Iraq again came under attack, but her major rivals indicated at Tuesday night's Democratic presidential debate …

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 …

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.

Mukasey Losing Democrats' Backing  —  Nominee Unsure If Waterboarding Breaks Torture Law  —  Attorney general nominee Michael B. Mukasey told Senate Democrats yesterday that a kind of simulated drowning known as waterboarding is "repugnant to me," but he said he does not know whether …

U.S. Military Will Oversee Contractors  —  All State Department security convoys in Iraq will now fall under military control, the latest step taken by government officials to bring Blackwater Worldwide and other armed contractors under tighter supervision.  —  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice …

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.

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 …

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 …

Live Debate Blogging  —  Diplomacy, diplomacy and also diplomacy.  Did I mention diplomacy?  —  9:25 PM ... Hillary "I will do everything I can" to prevent from Iran from getting a nuclear weapon.  Good answer.  —  9:26 PM ... Obama: We cannot act as if we are the weakest nation in the world when we are the strongest.

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

A Real Fishing Expedition  —  The FBI has shifted its investigation into Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), looking at legislative activity sponsored by the Alaskan that may have benefitted his son.  They have focused on a number of earmarks that Stevens requested that served Alaska's fishing industry …