Kucinich drops presidential bid  —  Cleveland Congressman Dennis Kucinich is dropping out of the Democratic race for president.  —  Kucinich will make the announcement Friday at a news conference in Cleveland.  In an exclusive interview with Plain Dealer editors and reporters, Kucinich said he will explain his “transition” tomorrow.

Bill Clinton's Old Politics  —  I write this more out of sadness than anger.  Bill Clinton's ill-tempered and ill-founded attacks on Barack Obama are doing no credit to the former President, his legacy, or his wife's campaign.  Nor are they helping the Democratic party.

Primary Choices: Hillary Clinton  —  This generally is the stage of a campaign when Democrats have to work hard to get excited about whichever candidate seems most likely to outlast an uninspiring pack.  That is not remotely the case this year.  —  The early primaries produced …

Interrogator: Invasion Surprised Saddam  —  Tells 60 Minutes Former Dictator Bragged About Eluding Capture  —  (CBS) Saddam Hussein initially didn't think the U.S. would invade Iraq to destroy weapons of mass destruction, so he kept the fact that he had none a secret to prevent an Iranian invasion he believed could happen.

NBC/WSJ poll: Romney, Obama hold leads  —  BOCA RATON, Fla. - Republican Mitt Romney and Democrat Barack Obama are leading in their respective parties' upcoming primaries, according to two new state surveys.  —  But a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll shows that their rivals …

Gibson Defends His Mockery Of Ledger's Death: ‘No Point In Passing Up A Good Joke’  —  On his radio show yesterday, Fox News host John Gibson responded to ThinkProgress' criticism of his comments mocking the death of Heath Ledger, saying that it was just “a little Brokeback Mountain joke” …

U.S. to Insist Iraq Grant It Wide Mandate in Operations  —  WASHINGTON — With its international mandate in Iraq set to expire in 11 months, the Bush administration will insist that the government in Baghdad give the United States broad authority to conduct combat operations …

Tentative Deal Reached on Stimulus Plan  —  WASHINGTON — House leaders and the White House on Thursday announced a tentative agreement on an economic stimulus package of roughly $150 billion that would pay stipends of $300 to $1,200 per family, and more for families with children …

Immigration officials detaining, deporting American citizens  —  FLORENCE, Ariz. — Thomas Warziniack was born in Minnesota and grew up in Georgia, but immigration authorities pronounced him an illegal immigrant from Russia.  —  Immigration and Customs Enforcement has held Warziniack for weeks …

2 notable perjury cases  —  High-profile cases involving public officials and the truth include:  —  Lewis (Scooter) Libby  —  Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff was convicted of perjury in March for lying to investigators trying to find who leaked the identity of covert CIA officer Valerie Plame.

Global warming fades from McCain stump speech  —  After hitting it in most every appearance he made in New Hampshire and Michigan, John McCain now rarely brings up the topic of global warming.  —  McCain's strong views on addressing climate change play well among independents and Democrats …