New Congress at war over everything  —  In a closed-door meeting before the last vote on the children's health care bill, House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer appealed for the support of about 30 wavering Republican lawmakers.  What he got instead was a tongue-lashing, participants said.

How Lawmaker Rebuilt Hometown on Earmarks  —  Johnstown Gets Billions  —  With Power Broker's Aid;  —  FBI Questions a Contract  —  JOHNSTOWN, Pa. — If John Murtha were a businessman, he'd be the biggest employer in this town.  —  The powerful U.S. congressman has used his clout …

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 …

Fineman: What Obama must do in the debate  —  WASHINGTON - As Sen. Barack Obama prepared for Tuesday night's crucial NBC debate in Philadelphia, his high command back in Chicago was watching a lot of old Clinton videotape — not of Hillary Clinton, but of Bill, and not of Bill as president …

Statement of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton on Her Opposition to the Nomination of Judge Michael Mukasey to be Attorney General of the United States  —  We need an Attorney General who has the strength to challenge this Administration when it is wrong, who is committed to reestablishing …

Against Giuliani  —  "Hillary and Obama are kind of debating whether to invite [Osama bin Laden and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad] to the inauguration or the inaugural ball," says Rudy Giuliani.  Andrew's right.  This guy is out of his goddamn mind.  —  You know, a few years ago …

Sharpton chides Cheney over Confederate flag flap  —  Nobody got shot, but Vice President Cheney still fired up controversy Monday when he went hunting at a private club that hangs the Confederate flag.  —  A Daily News photographer captured the 3-by-5 foot Dixie flag affixed to a door …

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 …

All Scores Settled in 'Don't Tase Me, Bro' Affair  —  (Photo: Charles Roop/Independent Florida Alligator, via Associated Press)  —  The Andrew Meyer seen in YouTube clips does not apologize.  He rants at Senator John Kerry, struggles with police officers trying to escort him out of the room …

Gay Enclaves Face Prospect of Being Passé  —  This Halloween, the Glindas, gladiators and harem boys of the Castro — along with untold numbers who plan to dress up as Senator Larry E. Craig, this year's camp celebrity — will be celebrating behind closed doors.

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 …

Iraqi Dam Seen In Danger of Deadly Collapse  —  AT THE MOSUL DAM, Iraq — The largest dam in Iraq is in serious danger of an imminent collapse that could unleash a trillion-gallon wave of water, possibly killing thousands of people and flooding two of the largest cities in the country …

ARI FLEISCHER: A NEW BREED OF JEWISH LEADER  —  Jane Whitson - AKA Nashville-based blogger Webutante - barely knew Jewish Republicans existed until last week, when she met former White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, whom she now views as "a modern day Moses leading his people out of slavery, into freedom.