A Blow to Bush's Tehran Policy  —  » ANALYSIS |  President Bush got the world's attention this fall when he warned that a nuclear-armed Iran might lead to World War III.  But his stark warning came at least a month or two after he had first been told about fresh indications that Iran …

Senate Aide In Kiddie Sex Bust  —  FBI: Staffer for Sen. Maria Cantwell sought tryst with boy  —  A U.S. Senate aide was arrested Friday after allegedly arranging a lunchtime sexual encounter with a teenage boy, according to federal court records.  James McHaney, 28, was nabbed by FBI agents …

As Iowa Race Tightens, Clinton Decides the Best Defense Is a Good Offense  —  Just two months ago, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York appeared to have turned a corner in Iowa.  Now, as the race here enters its final month, she is once again fighting to fend off concerns that have dogged …

Vulnerable Democrats See Fates Tied to Clinton  —  MANHATTAN, Kan. — Nancy Boyda, a Democrat who ran for Congress in this district last year, owed her upset victory partly to the popularity of the Democratic woman at the top of the ticket: Kathleen Sebelius, who won the governor's seat.

Challenging the cult of Mumia Abu-Jamal  —  Over the years, I've tracked Mumia Chic-the Left's deranged worship of convicted Death Row murderer Mumia Abu Jamal that has spread from Philly to St. Denis, France and points in between.  This December 9th marks the 25th anniversary of the brutal murder …

Mike Huckabee rise in Iowa great news for...Rudy Giuliani?  —  DES MOINES - Rudy Giuliani could use some good news, and Mike Huckabee's amazing surge in Iowa from long shot to first place this week could be an early Christmas gift.  —  Anything that hurts his main rival for the GOP nod, Mitt Romney, is good for Giuliani.

Divorce Found to Harm The Environment With Higher Energy, Water Use  —  Divorce is not just a family matter.  It exacts a serious toll on the environment by boosting the energy and water consumption of those who used to live together, according to a study by two Michigan State University researchers.

Sen. John McCain & Sen. Joe Lieberman: It's inexcusable for Congress not to fund troops in Iraq  —  HAVING SPENT much of the past year mired in legislative trench warfare over Iraq, advocates in Congress seeking a mandatory withdrawal of troops are now refusing to pass funding for our forces deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Hyping Hate Crime Vs. Muslims  —  Discrimination: New FBI data on hate crimes reveal Muslim groups are crying wolf about exploding anti-Muslim abuses.  They're actually shrinking, belying claims of mass Islamophobia.  —  Not only are anti-Islamic hate crimes way down, but they're a fraction of overall religious hate crimes.

Democratic-leaning PAC attacks Hillary  —  Here's a first look at the first independent Democratic television attack ad of the cycle.  —  It's a shot at Hillary Clinton from Democratic Courage, an independent, left-leaning group I wrote about earlier this fall.

Giuliani's Firm Lobbied for Bill Considered Threat  —  Although Rudolph W. Giuliani is campaigning as President Bush's staunch ally in the war on terror, his law office has lobbied Congress on behalf of legislation that the Bush administration calls a threat to antiterrorism efforts in the Horn of Africa.

Phoenix Mayor Shifts on Officers' Asking for Immigration Status  —  Under pressure from advocates for stricter immigration laws, the mayor of Phoenix said on Monday that he no longer backed a Police Department order barring officers from routinely asking the immigration status of people …

Bush still a factor, Rove warns  —  President Bush, down and all but counted out by friend and foe alike just three months ago, is rising like a bloodied but unbowed prizefighter, and Karl Rove predicts peril for Republicans and their presidential nominee if they shun the lame-duck president on the campaign trail.