Maverick Fails The Test: McCain Votes Against Waterboarding Ban  —  Today, the Senate brought the Intelligence Authorization Bill to the floor, which contained a provision from Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) establishing one interrogation standard across the government.

McCain Adviser Won't Fight Obama  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis Reports: A top adviser to John McCain said Wednesday that he will step down from the Arizona senator's presidential campaign if the presumed GOP nominee faces Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., in the general election.

Clinton counts on superdelegates  —  WASHINGTON — Hillary Clinton will take the Democratic nomination even if she does not win the popular vote, but persuades enough superdelegates to vote for her at the convention, her campaign advisers say.  —  The New York senator …

Ethics Panel Admonishes Craig for Conduct in Sex Sting  —  Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) was rebuked yesterday by the Senate ethics committee over his conviction for disorderly conduct in an airport men's restroom, with the panel concluding that he committed the offense and citing him for actions …

Court strikes down Texas ban on sex toys  —  Federal appeals court says law violates right to privacy.  —  A federal appeals court has struck down a seldom-enforced Texas law making it a crime to promote or sell sex toys.  —  The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, ruling in a case originally filed …

Making (Some) Progress in Iraq  —  Good news is rare in Iraq.  But after months of bitter feuding, Iraq's Parliament has finally approved a budget, outlined the scope of provincial powers, set an Oct. 1 date for provincial elections and voted a general amnesty for detainees.

McCain: “It Would Be Much Easier” If Huckabee Dropped Out  —  From CBS News' Dante Higgins:  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — John McCain is back at work on Capitol Hill today, continuing his effort to get Republican leaders to rally behind him as the presumptive GOP nominee.

Gallup Daily: Tracking Election 2008  —  Based on polling conducted February 10-12, 2008  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama remain locked in a statistical tie among Democrats nationally for the Democratic presidential nomination.  —  In Gallup Poll Daily tracking conducted …

The “Superdelegates”: Always Intended to be Independent  —  There is certainly a valid concern expressed by those who fear that the 796 “superdelegates” to the August 2008 Democratic National Convention — Democratic elected officials, party officials and VIPs - might make the difference …

Joel Surnow Exits “24″  —  ***UPDATE: Welcome fellow Corner fans and thanks again to John J. Miller for linking to us.  Please have a look around.  Today we learned Nicole Kidman will be playing Valerie Plame — the blonde leading the blonde.  —  More “24″ bad news from today's Hollywood Reporter:

Shorter Glenn Reynolds  —  RANK ANTISEMITISM in the Democratic congressional primary in Memphis  — If Barack Obama wants to prove he's not just another crazy Negro, he'd better condemn some guy whom no one has ever heard of.  —  ‘Shorter’ concept created by Daniel Davies and perfected by Elton Beard.

Presidential Ouster at William & Mary  —  Gene R. Nichol resigned immediately Tuesday as president of the College of William & Mary, days after being told that his contract wouldn't be renewed.  In leaving Nichol issued a blunt attack on those alumni and conservatives who have sought his ouster …

Jewish Rep. Cohen Battles Antisemitism and Racism In Re-Election  —  If you thought race was an uncomfortable issue in the Democratic presidential primary, wait 'til you get a load of what's going on in the Democratic primary in the Memphis area's 9th District of Tennessee …