Digging out more CNN/YouTube plants: Abortion questioner is declared Edwards supporter (and a slobbering Anderson Cooper fan); Log Cabin Republican questioner is declared Obama supporter; lead toy questioner is a prominent union activist for the Edwards-endorsing United Steelworkers

Foes Use Obama's Muslim Ties to Fuel Rumors About Him  —  In his speeches and often on the Internet, the part of Sen. Barack Obama's biography that gets the most attention is not his race but his connections to the Muslim world.  —  Since declaring his candidacy for president in February …

In Debate, Romney and Giuliani Clash on Immigration Issues  —  The Republican candidates for president engaged in a two-hour free-for-all Wednesday night, repeatedly confronting one another directly even as they fielded video questions submitted by Internet users in the most spirited debate of the 2008 presidential campaign.

Immigration at Record Level, Analysis Finds  —  Immigration over the past seven years was the highest for any seven-year period in American history, bringing 10.3 million new immigrants, more than half of them without legal status, according to an analysis of census data released today …

McCain blames Rise of Hitler on Ron Paul Not Invading and Occupying other Countries Branded 'Isolationism'  —  In a new low of despicable looniness, at the Republican debate in St. Petersburg, John McCain equated those Americans who want to stop militarily occupying Iraq with Hitler-enablers.

Why Lott Cashed It In  —  Well-connected Republicans in Mississippi were shocked by more than the unexpected nature of Trent Lott's resignation announcement Monday.  They were stunned that Lott, in good health at age 66 and at the top of his game, was leaving the Senate just one year into his fourth term in order to make more money.

Henry Hyde dies at 83  —  Henry J. Hyde — known for his courtly manners, oratorical skills and historical knowledge during 32 years as the conservative voice of the western suburbs in Congress — died today, according to the office of House Republican Leader John Boehner.  He was 83.

Hamas demands UN rescind '47 partition  —  Hamas on Thursday called on the UN to rescind the 1947 decision to partition Palestine into two states, one for Jews and one for Arabs.  —  The group said in a statement, released on the 60th anniversary of the UN vote, that "Palestine is Arab Islamic land …

Old Allies Abandon Chávez as Constitution Vote Nears  —  CUMANA, Venezuela — Few associates had been as loyal to President Hugo Chávez as the governor of the coastal state of Sucre, Ramón Martínez.  And few are now more determined to defeat Chávez …

The self-loathing Brits who think teddy bear teacher deserves her fate  —  Other than among Islamic hardliners, you would think that the plight of British teacher Gillian Gibbons, who faces jail and 40 lashes in Sudan for allowing her pupils to name a teddy bear Mohammed, would elicit near-universal sympathy.

Oxford lawyer indicted  — Scruggs among 5 accused in alleged judicial bribery  —  Multimillionaire Mississippi lawyer Dickie Scruggs, portrayed in a 1999 Hollywood film about his legal fight against the tobacco industry, is facing federal charges of conspiring to bribe a judge handling $26.5 million …

Decisions to name storms draw concern  —  As season ends, some say center rushes to classify, which costs you  —  With another hurricane season set to end this Friday, a controversy is brewing over decisions of the National Hurricane Center to designate several borderline systems as tropical storms.