Ron Paul distortions and smears  —  I'm not trying to be Ron Paul's advocate but, still, outright distortions and smears are distortions and smears.  In an otherwise informative and legitimate (and widely-cited) post today about Paul's record in Congress, Dave Neiwert claims:

New Tancredo Ad Depicts Fictional Terrorist Attack  —  Tom Tancredo's new ad, set to run in Iowa — if any stations will accept it, that is — is a true original.  The ad depicts the dire consequences of our open borders through a dramatization of a fictitious terrorist attack in the middle of a shopping mall.

Bill Clinton: 'Boys have been getting tough' on Hillary  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) - Former President Bill Clinton continued to weigh in Monday on intensified criticism of his wife, telling a South Carolina audience, "those boys have been getting tough on her."  —  "It's a great time to be a Democrat …

Anti-abortion group to endorse Thompson  —  Fred Thompson will pick up the support of the National Right to Life Committee (NRLC) tomorrow, according to two Republicans familar with the decision.  —  For a candidate who came up empty-handed last week when three prominent Christian conservatives …

Dean says Jews can go to heaven  —  Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean came out for inclusive team prayers in public schools while speaking Sunday to a gathering of thousands of Jewish leaders, according to a leading Jewish news agency.  —  In another statement likely …

La. Pol's 'Buckwheat' Remark Sparks Ire  —  HOUMA, La. (AP) — A white state lawmaker in a runoff election called a black civil-rights veteran who had helped her campaign "Buckwheat," prompting the NAACP to urge voters to kick her out of office.  —  Rep. Carla Blanchard Dartez, a Democrat …

Gays should be hanged, says Iranian minister  —  Homosexuals deserve to be executed or tortured and possibly both, an Iranian leader told British MPs during a private meeting at a peace conference, The Times has learnt.  —  Mohsen Yahyavi is the highest-ranked politician to admit …

Did David Brooks Tell the Full Story About Reagan's Neshoba County Fair Visit?  —  In his November 9, 2007, column in the New York Times, David Brooks discussed Ronald Reagan's appearance at the Neshoba County Fair in 1980 and his use of the term "states' rights."

'Betray Us' backer to lead pro-Dem group  —  Chris Cillizza beats me to the punch in reporting what people close to the conversations told me as well: Tom Matzzie, MoveOn's Washington director, will head a key group advising the Democrats' soft-money effort, which I wrote about a couple of weeks ago, and which is in the Times today.

Borders Adds TV Watching to Its Bookstores' Entertainment  —  Borders bookstores — with their cafes, toys and games and large displays of movies and music — have never exactly been confused with, say, university libraries.  —  A new strategy at Borders will reinforce the message that its stores …

Al Gore's next act: Planet-saving VC  —  The recovering politician is teaming with a legendary venture capitalist and bigtime moneyman to make over the $6 trillion global energy business.  A Fortune exclusive  —  (Fortune Magazine) — It's lunchtime on Sand Hill Road, and Al Gore wants answers.

Climate scepticism: The top 10  —  What are some of the reasons why "climate sceptics" dispute the evidence that human activities such as industrial emissions of greenhouse gases and deforestation are bringing potentially dangerous changes to the Earth's climate?

Supreme Court May Take Gun Case  —  Both sides in a closely watched legal battle over the District of Columbia's strict gun-control law are urging the Supreme Court to hear the case.  If the justices agree — a step they may announce as early as Tuesday — the Roberts court is likely …