A Free-Spirited Wanderer Who Set Obama's Path  —  In the capsule version of the Barack Obama story, his mother is simply the white woman from Kansas.  The phrase comes coupled alliteratively to its counterpart, the black father from Kenya.  On the campaign trail, he has called her his “single mom.”

Saddam supported at least two al-Qaeda groups: Pentagon Update: What it means  —  Earlier this week, the Pentagon announced that an investigation into over 600,000 documents captured at the end of the invasion of Iraq showed no operational links to al-Qaeda — or at least, that's how the media reported it.

Architect of Florida Mail-In Vote Says Its Chances Are Poor  —  TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — The chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party promoted her plan Thursday for a new, mail-in presidential primary for the state's 4.2 million registered Democrats, but conceded that the embattled proposal had little chance of survival.

Betting the Bank  —  Four years ago, an academic economist named Ben Bernanke co-authored a technical paper that could have been titled “Things the Federal Reserve Might Try if It's Desperate” — although that may not have been obvious from its actual title, “Monetary Policy Alternatives at the Zero Bound: An Empirical Investigation.”

Obama and the Minister  —  In a sermon delivered at Howard University, Barack Obama's longtime minister, friend and adviser blamed America for starting the AIDS virus, training professional killers, importing drugs and creating a racist society that would never elect a black candidate president.

Ozone Rules Weakened at Bush's Behest  —  The Environmental Protection Agency weakened one part of its new limits on smog-forming ozone after an unusual last-minute intervention by President Bush, according to documents released by the EPA.  —  EPA officials initially tried to set …

U.S. Is Examining Spitzer's Funds  —  ALBANY — Federal prosecutors are investigating whether Gov. Eliot Spitzer used campaign funds in connection with his meetings with prostitutes, including payments for hotels or ground transportation, three people with knowledge of the investigation said.

Petraeus: Iraqi Leaders Not Making ‘Sufficient Progress’  —  Iraqi leaders have failed to take advantage of a reduction in violence to make adequate progress toward resolving their political differences, Gen. David H. Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, said Thursday.

Iraq: teachers told to rewrite history  —  MoD accused of sending propaganda to schools  —  Britain's biggest teachers' union has accused the Ministry of Defence of breaking the law over a lesson plan drawn up to teach pupils about the Iraq war.  The National Union of Teachers claims …

Sen. Ensign paints a grim picture for GOP in November  —  The Senate Republican campaign committee's motto from early on in the 2008 cycle has been “Two Seats” — the net gain it needs in November to retake the majority.  —  But a resigned National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) …

Obama works to convert in Pennsylvania  —  FAIRLESS HILLS, Pa. — Nearly a month before voters go to the polls, Sen. Barack Obama will get an early clue about his chances against Pennsylvania's prohibitive favorite, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton.  —  In the days after the March 24 voter registration deadline …

Gallup Daily: Obama, Clinton Equally Matched vs. McCain  —  Democratic race: Obama 48%, Clinton 46%  —  PRINCETON, NJ — Although the November presidential election is still eight months away, the results of Gallup Poll Daily tracking shows that if that election were held today …

Obama's True Beliefs  —  Derb: I am coming to believe that Barack Obama is one of the greatest con artists we've seen.  His entire campaign has been about “coming together,” a post-racial consensus, etc.  Any mention of his middle name was immediately condemned as ignorant fear-mongering.

Clinton role in health program disputed  —  Hillary Clinton headed to the Senate floor yesterday as all three major candidates returned to the chamber for key budget votes.  A10.  (Susan Walsh/Associated Press)  —  WASHINGTON - Hillary Clinton, who has frequently described herself …

What's sauce for the goose . . .  I've had a few people email me to ask “if prostitution is so great, how come you're not a prostitute?”  Huh?  —  Look, first of all, there are lots of jobs that I would never want to do.  I like to shoot a little hoops now and again, but I would never …