Musharraf Consolidates His Control With Arrests  —  The government of Gen. Pervez Musharraf, making no concessions a day after seizing emergency powers, rounded up leading opposition figures and said Sunday that parliamentary elections could be delayed for as long as a year.

On polls, it all depends on which numbers you choose  —  Reading today's edition of The Washington Post, it might appear to casual readers that the American people are depressed, fed up with President Bush and the GOP, and heading rapidly left on the issues.

Video: Fred Thompson on MTP, says he doesn't support the Human Life Amendment  —  Sen. Fred Thompson appeared on Meet the Press today and, Clintons take note, had to answer some tough questions asked by host Tim Russert.  He discussed the crisis in Pakistan, his support for concealed carry laws on university campuses, and other issues.

Experts: No evidence of Iranian nuclear weapons program  —  WASHINGTON — Despite President Bush's claims that Iran is pursuing nuclear weapons that could trigger "World War III," experts in and out of government say there's no conclusive evidence that Tehran has an active nuclear-weapons program.

Religiosity and income in the U.S.  —  David noticed this article by Dan Mitchell reporting the well-known fact that people in richer countries tend to be less religious.  What about states in the U.S.?  We (that is, David Park, Joe Bafumi, Boris Shor, and I) look at it two ways.

Missteps on Both Sides Led to Health Bill Veto  —  They met almost every day in the spring and summer, a handful of powerful senators who had cleared their schedules to forge a bipartisan compromise providing health insurance to 10 million children.  —  It was a remarkable commitment …

Two for Mr. Mukasey  —  THE HALLS of Congress are too often filled with cowardice and groupthink.  So it is reassuring when not one but two lawmakers show the moral fortitude to defy party politics to take a stand on principle.  —  Democratic Sens. Charles E. Schumer (N.Y.) and Dianne Feinstein …

Audio: NBC football goes green  —  Geez.  Football used to be one of the few places on earth you could escape moonbattery and politics in general.  But not anymore, at least not on NBC.  Noooo.  First they had to put Keith Olbermann in their coverage.  And now the pull a lame green stunt on their pre-game show.

Abortion isn't a religious issue  —  Evangelicals are adamant, but religion really has nothing to say about the issue.  —  What makes opposition to abortion the issue it is for each of the GOP presidential candidates is the fact that it is the ultimate "wedge issue" — it is nonnegotiable.

Tom Udall on Possible Senate Run: Two Weeks to Decide  —  Rep. Tom Udall (NM-03) spoke to New Mexico Democrats yesterday at the Party's State Central Committee meeting at Smith-Brasher hall at CNM in Albuquerque.  Bottom line: Udall will take another two weeks to listen to what the people …

Edwards Breaks His Â"Yes-or-NoÂ" Rule, by 88 Words  —  Jackie Calmes reports on the Democratic presidential field.  —  Presidential candidate John Edwards has been razzing rival Hillary Clinton since last weekÂ's Democratic debate for Â"double talkÂ" in her responses.

Fareed Zakaria: We won in Iraq  —  By saying it is no longer a campaign issue, a writer concedes victory  —  Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek noted that a new poll by his magzine showed only 19 percent say Iraq will most influence their choice for president.  That's way down and falling.

New Rules  —  eriposte at The Left Coaster discusses the journalistic malpractice exposed in this exchange from the last debate: … eriposte points out that even though president Clinton subsequently explained that his request (from five years ago) was to speed up the release of documents …

Tony Snow Slams Media in Freedom of Speech Award Address  —  Although you likely didn't hear about it, former White House Press Secretary Tony Snow received a Freedom of Speech Award on October 16 from The Media Institute.  —  During his acceptance, Snow made some statements about liberal bias in the press …