Is ‘success’ of U.S. surge in Iraq about to unravel?  —  BAGHDAD — A cease-fire critical to the improved security situation in Iraq appeared to unravel Monday when a militia loyal to radical Shiite Muslim cleric Muqtada al Sadr began shutting down neighborhoods in west Baghdad and issuing demands of the central government.

The Long Defeat  —  Hillary Clinton may not realize it yet, but she's just endured one of the worst weeks of her campaign.  —  First, Barack Obama weathered the Rev. Jeremiah Wright affair without serious damage to his nomination prospects.  Obama still holds a tiny lead among Democrats nationally …

Clinton Says She ‘Misspoke’ About Dodging Sniper Fire  —  BLUE BELL, Pa. — As part of her argument that she has the best experience and instincts to deal with a sudden crisis as president, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton recently offered a vivid description of having to run across a tarmac …

NY gov says he tried drugs in his youth  —  NEW YORK (AP) — New York's new governor, who disclosed last week that he and his wife committed adultery several years ago, said Monday he used cocaine in his 20s and smoked marijuana when he was younger.  —  In reference to cocaine …

One Bruising Scenario for Clinton  —  WASHINGTON — To listen to some of the discussion about the Democratic presidential contest these days, one would think that Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton should have spent Easter weekend in Chappaqua, writing her withdrawal speech and preparing for her return to the Senate.

Worried Dems wish for ‘dream team’  —  WASHINGTON — What are the odds Democrats will field a “dream team ticket” with Barack Obama and Hillary Rodham Clinton combining forces?  —  London bookmaker Ladbrokes is taking bets at 8-1, but leading Democratic insiders aren't ready to put down their money — yet.

Don't discount Gore-led ticket  —  U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney, whose district includes much of Martin and St. Lucie counties, is hoping he won't have to attend the Democratic Party national convention in Denver in August.  —  If he does go, that will mean the Democrats still haven't decided a nominee for the presidential election.

Obama's Test: Can a Liberal Be a Unifier?  —  WASHINGTON — At the core of Senator Barack Obama's presidential campaign is a promise that he can transcend the starkly red-and-blue politics of the last 15 years, end the partisan and ideological wars and build a new governing majority.

Dems to hammer McCain for ‘100 years’  —  John McCain is scheduled to deliver a major foreign policy speech Wednesday in Los Angeles, one with a heavy Iraq focus, but chances are Democrats won't be listening.  They've already distilled his views into an easy to remember formulation: 100 years of war.

Forest Lake event canceled; too political  —  Forest Lake High's principal said the decision was spurred by concerns that the presentation was more political than educational.  —  A national tour featuring decorated veterans from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan won't be stopping …

Rush to register at Pa. deadline  —  At the Montgomery County Board of Elections Office yesterday, there wasn't a single moment when someone wasn't at the counter clutching a voter registration form.  —  “It's been a madhouse,” said Joseph Passarella, the director of voter services …

The ongoing exclusion of war opponents from the Iraq debate  —  Several days ago, Charlie Rose broadcast a two-part show to survey the Iraq War on its fifth anniversary.  He interviewed four alleged American foreign policy experts in order — as he proudly announced at The Huffington Post …

Intelligently Misleading  —  There is no right answer.  —  THERE IS PERHAPS NO clearer example of why the U.S. intelligence community has such a serious credibility problem than the recently released report on the relationship between Saddam Hussein's Iraq and terrorist groups.

Righting the Right  —  What's the matter with conservatism?  —  Its problems start with the failure of George W. Bush's presidency, but they don't end there.  Inequality is rising, and working-class voters are being hammered.  The cost and availability of health coverage are a big problem …

The Hand-Wringing Gap  —  I've read it twice, and I don't really understand what George Packer's problem with Barack Obama's Iraq policy is: … Obama's key contention, as underscored by Packer, is that Iraq is “the bad war that we have to end if we want to win the good war in Afghanistan and turn around the economy at home.”