Frustration Builds for Democrats  —  Reversal of Fortune for Mukasey  —  Highlights Struggles on Security Issues  —  Washington — The way in which Senate Democrats wavered and then consented to the confirmation of Michael B. Mukasey as attorney general reflects the party's broader struggle …

Different Rules When a Rival Is a Woman?  —  A critical question in this campaign — how to run against a female presidential candidate, or as one — has burst into the foreground in the aftermath of a Democratic debate last week at which Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton was repeatedly challenged by her rivals and the event's questioners.

Pakistan denies rumours Musharraf under house arrest - UPDATE  —  ISLAMABAD (Thomson Financial) - Pakistan's government on Monday denied rumours sweeping the country that the deputy army chief had placed military ruler President Pervez Musharraf under house arrest.  —  'This is not true.

First FAS-FAX Numbers: Many Top Papers Take Big Hits  —  NEW YORK The Audit Bureau of Circulations released circulation numbers for more than 700 daily newspapers this morning for the six-month period ending September 2007.  Of the top 25 papers in daily circulation (see chart, separate story), only four showed gains.

Uncle Sam on the Line  —  FOR almost two years, the country has debated whether the Bush administration acted properly and lawfully in undertaking emergency surveillance operations of suspected foreign terrorists on presidential authorization in the wake of 9/11.

Should Illegal Immigrants Get Driver's Licenses?  —  Since this question seems very hard for Democratic politicians to give a straightforward answer to, I thought I'd try to think about it myself.  The problem with saying "yes" isn't just that it's unpopular, it's that it's unpopular because it sounds ridiculous.

Torture debate between McCain, Giuliani, gets personal  —  MASON CITY, Iowa - The Republican debate over torture has become a debate over resumes, as John McCain warns from personal experience about the dangers of harsh questioning and Rudy Giuliani takes credit for his skill with it as a prosecutor.

Poster relates Che's dark side  —  One of the most famous faces of communism is getting a makeover this week, with a new poster designed to teach students the whole story about Cuban revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara.  —  "The Victims of Che Guevera" poster, produced …

A Landslide Democratic Victory Would be Good News For Republicans  —  The optimistic Bowers: … I think we've had a generation of a political-media-industrial class which has been completely infused with a narrative of Republicans are ascendant/Democrats are in decline.

Consumer Reports: Geared for Combat  —  Consumer Reports: Geared for Combat  —  Installment One: Digital Cameras … This dispatch is in response to requests like the ones above.  This installment will focus on digital still cameras.  My opinions are well-informed on the specific products I describe, but I am no camera expert.

Inside the Beltway  —  'Imperial radicals'  —  For those who don't subscribe to cable TV, allow us to confirm that former Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV was extremely critical of the Republican Party while appearing with his wife, Valerie Plame, the outed CIA operative, on HBO's "Real Time with Bill Maher" this past weekend.

Court to hear plea bargain issue  —  The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to spell out the remedy that may be available for ineffective defense lawyer's efforts during plea bargaining, if the individual was later convicted at a fair trial.  The Court added that question to two that were raised …

Kentucky GOP Pushing Anti-Gay Message In Final Days Of Gov Race  —  Going into the home stretch in in the Kentucky gubernatorial election, the Republicans appear to have brought out one last card: Paranoia against gays.  —  The state GOP is now sending a robo-call throughout the state featuring none …