The Pakistan Test  —  Some presidential candidates show they can respond quickly to a foreign policy crisis.  Some flunk or foul.  —  THE ASSASSINATION of Benazir Bhutto presented U.S. presidential candidates with a test: Could they respond cogently and clearly to a sudden foreign policy crisis?

Kristol: The New York Times ‘Should Be Prosecuted,’ 'It Isn't A First-Rate Newspaper'  —  For years, Bill Kristol has been at the forefront of a vitriolic right-wing crusade against the New York Times.  Sadly, the Times has chosen to reward him for it.  —  After the New York Times …

Days Before Voting, Gloves Come Off  —  DES MOINES — In the last weekend before the Iowa caucuses, the Republican presidential candidates are bloodying the field with a blizzard of negative attacks, showing the strains of a wide-open and unpredictable race.

Paul: Fox News is ‘scared of me’  —  PLAISTOW, N.H. — Ron Paul said the decision to exclude him from a debate on Fox News Sunday the weekend before the New Hampshire Primary is proof that the network “is scared” of him.  —  “They are scared of me and don't want my message to get out …

Thompson: Doesn't like campaign process, ‘will not be devastated’ if he loses  —  Bill Theobald of Gannett News Service has been following Republican Fred Thompson around Iowa.  In a dispatch today from Burlington, Bill quotes the former Tennessee senator as saying he doesn't like modern campaigning …

Bin Laden issues warning on Iraq, Israel  —  CAIRO, Egypt - Osama bin Laden warned Iraq's Sunni Arabs against fighting al-Qaida and vowed to expand the terror group's holy war to Israel in a new audiotape Saturday, threatening “blood for blood, destruction for destruction.”

Vatican denies exorcist expansion  —  The Vatican is denying reports it plans to install more exorcists around the world so possessed people can get help quickly.  —  “Pope Benedict XVI has no intention of ordering local bishops to bring in garrisons of exorcists to fight demonic possession …

Because Oil Companies And Pizza Hut Couldn't Afford It  —  I've figured out how to get conservatives and liberals together on the issue of pork.  All we need to do is show how earmarks put money in the pockets of a progressive bete noir, and if possible, throw in a dash of Congressional cluelessness.

THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S DUMBEST LEGAL ARGUMENTS OF THE YEAR.  —  This time last year, I offered up a top 10 list of the most appalling civil-liberties violations by the Bush administration in 2006.  The grim truth is, not much has changed.  The Bush administration continues to limit our basic freedoms …

Obama robocall: HRC's ‘misleading attacks’  —  Obama's campaign is out with a sharp-edged robocall from an Ames physician, “Dr. Bob” (his last name isn't clearly audible in this recording), pushing back on Clinton's criticism of his health care plan.  —  The opening: “Hillary Clinton and her allies have launched misleading attacks.”

Bhutto Killing Puts EuroLeaders On Notice: Time to Choose  —  The assassination of Benazir Bhutto has put on notice the leaders of every European nation.  —  Your secularism, your democracy will not stand.  The growing Muslim populations in your own lands that you have done so much to tolerate …

Blue America Welcomes Jim Himes  —  (Jim Himes is running against Chris Shays in CT-04.  Please welcome him in the comments, and you can make a valuable end-of-quarter contribution to his campaign here — the goal is 500 contributors by Monday night, so even $5 would be great! — jh)