Publisher: McClellan doesn't believe Bush lied  —  Spokesman 'did not intend to suggest' the president purposely misled him  —  President George W. Bush listens as his Press Secretary, Scott McClellan, announces his resignation at the White House April 19, 2006 in Washington, DC.  —  Video

She's No Morgenthau  —  Most of the time, Barack Obama seems like he's boxing in the wrong weight class.  But Monday in Fort Dodge, Iowa, he delivered an unscripted jab that was a beaut.  —  At a news conference, the Illinois senator was asked about Hillary Clinton's attack on his qualifications.

They hate me!  They really hate me!  —  Wow.  Early in my tenure at the NYT, I was advised that it's a bad idea to devote a column to attacking another columnist — not just at the Times, but anywhere.  Why?  Because it makes you look small — as if you have nothing better to do than snipe …

Huckabee Makes Crucial Gains Among GOP Base  —  GOP Underdog Says Caucus Momentum Will Propel Campaign to Party Nomination  —  Propelled by little more than his message and political skills, Republican presidential contender former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has vaulted into a statistical dead heat …

Joe Klein: Both factually false and stuck in the 1980s  —  For the sake of its own credibility, Time Magazine needs immediately to prohibit Joe Klein from uttering another word about the eavesdropping and FISA controversy.  He simply doesn't know what he's talking about and he publishes demonstrably false statements.

Biden For Veep!  —  Interesting article in the Times about what a troubled relationship John Kerry and John Edwards had.  It's a reminder of the sort of campaigner Edwards was for the ticket: Relentlessly optimistic, scared to go negative, and basically weak.

Our Friends the Saudis Explain 200 Lashes for a Rape Victim  —  As we noted last Thursday, our "allies" in the disgusting religious apartheid kingdom of Saudi Arabia have sentenced a gang rape victim to six months in prison and 200 lashes.  —  Yes, the victim.

Military Says Bonus Letter Was A 'Mistake'  —  A KDKA investigation is getting national attention and results for a wounded soldier from Mt. Lebanon and perhaps thousands of others.  —  The Army ordered Jordan Fox to return thousands of dollars in bonus money because his injuries prevented him from completing his tour.

The Tragedy of the Commons  —  Every year around this time, schoolchildren are taught about that wonderful day when Pilgrims and Native Americans shared the fruits of the harvest.  "Isn't sharing wonderful?" say the teachers.  —  They miss the point.  —  Because of sharing, the first Thanksgiving in 1623 almost didn't happen.

Victim's father rips Mass. 'stupidity'  —  Convicted killer freed despite assault rap  —  The father of a Washington woman slaughtered along with her new husband - allegedly at the hands of a convicted Bay State killer - said his daughter's accused murderer never should have been released from prison here.

Top conservative slams Rudy on abortion  —  As the Republican presidential primaries approach early next year, a chorus of voices for former Mayor Rudy Giuliani is consistently telling the public that he would appoint "strict constructionist" judges to the federal bench.

Resurgent Taliban closing in on Kabul: report  —  LONDON (Reuters) - The conflict in Afghanistan has reached "crisis proportions," with the resurgent Taliban present in more than half the country and closing in on Kabul, a report said on Wednesday.  —  If NATO, the lead force operating in Afghanistan …

Russian opposition election candidate shot  —  MOSCOW (Reuters) - An opposition politician running in Russian parliamentary elections was shot and seriously wounded on Wednesday as he entered his house in the southern Russian region of Dagestan, Russian media reported.

Giuliani's business ties create challenge  —  Was a consultant for controversial tycoon  —  By Andrew Zajac and Evan Osnos, Tribune correspondents  —  Nine days after registering his presidential exploratory committee last November, Rudolph Giuliani appeared in Singapore to help …