Obama staffer gave warning of NAFTA rhetoric  —  Barack Obama has ratcheted up his attacks on NAFTA, but a senior member of his campaign team told a Canadian official not to take his criticisms seriously, CTV News has learned.  —  Both Obama and Hillary Clinton have been critical …

The “Race Card” let us count the ways  —  There are a few themes developing that should be called out now for what they are.  —  First, the racist junk that right-wing radio. blogs, and conservative interest groups are going to throw out.  That somehow a black candidate secretly hates …

Disturbing New Photos From Abu Ghraib  —  NSFW: VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.  As an expert witness in the defense of an Abu Ghraib guard who was court-martialed, psychologist Philip Zimbardo had access to many of the images of abuse that were taken by the guards themselves.

McCain's Canal Zone Birth Prompts Queries About Whether That Rules Him Out  —  WASHINGTON — The question has nagged at the parents of Americans born outside the continental United States for generations: Dare their children aspire to grow up and become president?

Inside Iraqi politics - Part 5.  A look at legislative progress: Sunnis' and states' rights  —  The first four installments of The Long War Journal's series on Iraqi politics discussed the structure and progress of the executive branch, the composition of the legislative branch and the status of key legislation.

The Mob is a bunch of protection racket amatuers compared to Congress  —  Two stories out today provide additional evidence of why Congress has fallen just about as far as it can in public esteem.  Instead of considering and passing laws to advance the common good, the congressional process looks increasingly …

I'm Not Running for President, but ...  WATCHING the 2008 presidential campaign, you sometimes get the feeling that the candidates — smart, all of them — must know better.  They must know we can't fix our economy and create jobs by isolating America from global trade.

McCain in A Glass House  —  Certain kinds of conservatives, distrusting Richard Nixon's ideological elasticity, rejected him — until 1973.  Although it had become clear that his administration was a crime wave, they embraced him because the media were his tormentors.

Scapegoating NAFTA  —  The Democratic contenders are stumbling all over themselves to show how disappointed they are with NAFTA, and how committed they are to changing it.  Fact is, there's no reason to think that withdrawing from NAFTA — if possible — would help create jobs in the United States.

Louisiana Governor Pierces Business as Usual  —  BATON ROUGE, La. — Downstairs, legislators gnashed their teeth, while upstairs at the Capitol here this week, the new governor claimed victory against the old customs down below.  —  Six weeks into the term of Gov. Bobby Jindal …

Clinton Reacts To Supporter's Remarks About Obama  —  DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ― Senator Hillary Clinton responded Wednesday to controversial comments made by one of her prominent local supporters.  —  “Obama simply has the problem that he happens to be Black,” Adelfa Callejo said when asked …

PRINCE HARRY FIGHTS ON FRONTLINES IN AFGHANISTAN; 3 MONTH TOUR  —  They're calling him “Harry the Hero!”  —  British Royal Prince Harry has been fighting in Afghanistan since late December — and has been directly involved in gun battle, the DRUDGE REPORT has learned.

Black Ohioans Backing Clinton Feel the Pressure to Switch  —  CLEVELAND — The way Eugene R. Miller was hemming and hawing about Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, you would have thought he was trying to sell igloos in the Sahara.  —  Mr. Miller, a state legislator who represents a solidly black wedge …

Rules revolt, ethics fiasco  —  When Boehner thanked Hoyer for the delay, both sides of the aisle erupted in applause.  —  Even though Republicans welcomed the postponement, they said the decision to yank the ethics resolution demonstrated disorder within the Democratic caucus and a leadership out of touch with member sentiment.

“60 Minutes” Too?!!... MAJOR SCANDAL Brewing Over Rove Hit Piece!  —  Alabama GOP Asks For Proof on Karl Rove Hit Piece...  Or, demands that the network retract the story!  —  Did CBS learn nothing from their last major scandal?  —  The chairman of the Alabama Republican Party sent a letter to …

Prediction  —  In the next few days, there will be a wave of liberals — Frank Rich comes particularly to mind — who will use WFB's memory to beat up on today's conservatives.  Ramesh and I wrote a piece about this tendency last year.  Liberals today bemoan how wonderful the conservatives …