Krugman vs. Krugman  —  In liberal Democratic circles, the debate over Social Security has taken a dangerous "don't worry, be happy" turn.  —  The argument has two equally dishonest components.  The first is to deny that Social Security faces a daunting financing problem …

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.

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 …

Publisher Of McClellan Book: Scottie Won't Implicate Bush For Lying About Plamegate, After All  —  Oh, this is just lovely.  The publisher of the forthcoming book by former White House flack Scott McClellan is now walking back the idea that the book will finger President Bush …

Military Charity Responds To O'Reilly: 'If You Really Want To Help U.S. Troops, Set The Record Straight'  —  Last week, Fox News host Bill O'Reilly visited U.S. troops in Afghanistan.  After his trip, he sharply criticized the United Service Organizations (USO) for not sending more celebrities to the country.

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.

Technology To The Rescue  —  Upon close reading, it really does seem as if the basic moral quandary in stem-cell research has now been overcome.  That moral quandary was real, and it is a mark of a certain non-religious fundamentalism that some enthusiasts for the research refused …

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.

LAWYERS, GUNS & WASHINGTON  —  DC GUN BAN A TOUGH TEST FOR COURT  —  BY deciding yesterday to hear the District of Columbia's appeal of the federal court ruling that overturned DC's gun ban, the Supreme Court has ensured that gun control and gun rights will play a major role in the coming election …

Ruling Will Cripple Probes Of Lawmakers, U.S. Says  —  A little-noticed aspect of an appellate court decision could sharply limit investigations of members of Congress and hamper ongoing corruption probes, the Justice Department said this week in a motion seeking an emergency stay of the ruling.

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.

Democrats Move to Block Bush Appointments  —  Who says the Senate cannot act quickly?  It conducted a full day's business in less than 30 seconds on Tuesday.  —  Of course, there was no real business to conduct.  But fearing that President Bush would again use a Congressional recess …

CAIR seeks removal of label in terrorism case  —  The Council on American-Islamic Relations is seeking help from House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers Jr. to pressure the Justice Department to change the group's status as a co-conspirator in a terrorism case.

IRAQ: WHAT WENT RIGHT  —  COURAGE, SKILL, LUCK AND EXHAUSTION  —  THE situation in Iraq has im proved so rapidly that Democrats now shun the topic as thoroughly as they shun our troops when the cameras aren't around.  —  Yes, Iraq could still slip back into reverse gear.