Shiite Militias Cling to Swaths of Basra and Stage Raids  —  BAGHDAD — Shiite militias in Basra openly controlled wide swaths of the city on Saturday and staged increasingly bold raids on Iraqi government forces sent in five days ago to wrest control from the gunmen, witnesses said …

Senior Democrats mull Al Gore's nomination  —  Plans for Al Gore to take the Democratic presidential nomination as the saviour of a bitterly divided party are being actively discussed by senior figures and aides to the former vice-president.  —  The bloody civil war between Hillary Clinton …

Philly Mayor: Obama Pastor Talk Beyond Pale  —  Mayor Michael Nutter Tells ABC News He Would Have Quit Church if His Pastor Made Such Remarks  —  Sen. Hillary Clinton's most prominent African-American supporter in Pennsylvania says that had he been a member of Sen. Barack Obama's church …

BOR Exclusive: TX Presidential Primary Convention Results  —  TIP JAR - If you've enjoyed our coverage, please donate to TexBlog PAC and support our efforts across Texas!  —  The following is the reporting of the entire BOR staff.  —  How to Submit Convention Results to Burnt Orange Report

Liberal bloggers declare war in Philly over media, McCain  —  The primary battle between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama seems far from over (no matter what the numbers say), the war in Iraq just marked its grim 5th anniversary with renewed bloodshed, and a host of issues from domestic spying …

Gallup Daily: Obama Still on Top, 50% to 43%  —  McCain beats Clinton in fall ballot, but is in a statistical tie with Obama  —  RINCETON, NJ — For the second consecutive Gallup Poll Daily tracking report, Barack Obama holds a statistically significant lead over Hillary Clinton …

“Stop these abortions.”  —  Out in western Pennsylvania, the issue of abortion can strike a nerve.  Democrats there often describe themselves economic liberals and social conservatives who favor gun rights and oppose abortion rights.  —  So, it was not unusual to see a woman stand near …

Obama's Latest Ad  —  I have never entirely understood the urge to specially tax so-called “windfall profits.”  And I'm not sure that I believe that the Senator has the best plan to achieve energy independence.  Still, it's a pretty good commercial, and should appeal to a lot of voters, including a lot of centrists.

Neither McCain nor Obama  —  “So what are you thinking about November?” my friend asked me on the walk to Chipotle today.  —  “Well, Obama's going to be the Democratic nominee, and I can't see voting for him,” I said.  “He's just too liberal on abortion and other issues that mean a lot to me.

Why Blog?  Reason No. 92: Book Deal  —  THIS is how it happens.  —  A guy starts a clever blog in January and calls it Stuff White People Like.  The site contains a list of cultural totems, including gifted children, marathons and writers' workshops, that a certain type of moneyed and liberal American might be expected to like.

The Indictment Against John Murtha  —  Charges were dropped against LCpl.  Stephen Tatum on Friday, leaving Lt. Col. Jeffrey Chessani, Sgt. Frank Wuterich and Cpl. Andrew Grayson as the remaining three Marines who haven't had their cases resolved.  Eventually, John Murtha will be exposed …

Thieves Leave Cars, but Take Catalytic Converters  —  CHICAGO — Jose Fernandez said he decided some time ago that on his salary as a restaurant worker, he was better off without his 1996 Toyota 4Runner.  He hoped to make a nice bit of cash from its sale.  —  Before he could do that …