Clinton's convention strategy in doubt  —  If the fight over whether to count the results in Florida and Michigan makes it to the Democratic National Convention, Hillary Clinton will not have enough pledged votes on the 169-member Credentials Committee to deliver a majority decision in her favor …

Clinton's Real Choice  —  Chill out.  —  More specifically: “We're going to win this election, if we just chill out and let everybody have their say.”  —  Thus, Bill Clinton's advice to Democrats who are gnashing their collective teeth over whether the extended struggle between Hillary Clinton …

Obama Is Moving to Down-to-Earth Oratory  —  STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The Speech is his finely polished sword, a transcendent weapon.  Seen and heard on a thousand YouTube postings, Senator Barack Obama's speeches have made a happening of that hoariest of campaign forms, the stump speech.

Clinton Slipping on Trust  —  Blunders About Past Weaken Credibility; Move to Shift Focus  —  HARRISBURG, Pa. — In the weeks before the Pennsylvania primary, Sen. Hillary Clinton not only lags Sen. Barack Obama in the race for delegates, she also is losing ground in her effort to convince voters that she is trustworthy.

The Basrah Gambit - Defining Moment for Iraq or the Jaysh al-Mahdi?  —  Engaging the Mahdi Militia in Basrah and labeling them as equal to Al-Qaeda in Iraq is a deadly gamble that may leave Iran the winner.  —  On 19 March, 2008 CNN's Iraq war correspondent, Kyra Phillips gave a live interview …

Obama is our Mandela  —  Only one candidate offers the radical departure for the 21st century the US needs, for its own sake and the rest of the world's  —  I have come home from a long stay in Mexico to find - because of the presidential campaign, and especially because of the Obama-Clinton race …

Mugabe told not to declare his victory  —  A crisis meeting of Robert Mugabe's security cabinet decided to block the opposition from taking power after what appears to have been a comprehensive victory in Zimbabwe's elections but was divided between using a military takeover to annul the vote and falsifying the results.

Matthews on Obama: “[T]his gets very ethnic, but the fact that he's good at basketball doesn't surprise anybody”  —  On the March 31 edition of MSNBC's Hardball, discussing Sen. Barack Obama's bowling performance at a March 29 campaign stop at Pleasant Valley Lanes in Altoona, Pennsylvania …

USA 2008: The Great Depression  —  Food stamps are the symbol of poverty in the US.  In the era of the credit crunch, a record 28 million Americans are now relying on them to survive - a sure sign the world's richest country faces economic crisis  —  Disadvantaged Americans queue for aid in New York

Report: Bob Barr Weighing Presidential Run  —  Former Republican Georgia Rep. Bob Barr is considering a run for president on the Libertarian Party ticket, according to FITNews.  —  Barr, who joined the Libertarian Party after leaving Congress in 2003, is looking to attract conservatives …

In Gaza, Hamas's Insults to Jews Complicate Peace  —  GAZA — In the Katib Wilayat mosque one recent Friday, the imam was discussing the wiliness of the Jew.  —  “Jews are a people who cannot be trusted,” Imam Yousif al-Zahar of Hamas told the faithful.  “They have been traitors to all agreements — go back to history.

Gas prices put oil executives on the hot seat  —  Oil executives return to the hot seat Tuesday as a House panel examines rising gasoline prices and the industry's opposition to efforts to repeal $18 billion in tax breaks.  The new money would be used to pay for the development of renewable energy.

Oh, the poor politicians!  —  Can't we just leave our lawmakers alone?  With tongue in cheek, two writers imagine a world in which our leaders in Washington don't have to suffer the annoyance of meddling voters.  —  Ever have someone comment on your job who has absolutely no experience whatsoever at it?

Inside the Black Budget  —  Clockwise from top left: Ghost Squadron.  For search and rescue; National Reconnaissance Office.  Dragon is code for infrared imaging on advanced KH-11 satellites; Desert Prowler.  May represent Groom Lake, Nev., a k a Area 51; Special Projects Office.

“The Gang”?  —  I noticed this blame the messenger tidbit from Kevin Drum in the Washington Monthly, … Actually, I think Mark, myself and others “in the gang” would like nothing better than for the Wright mess to die, so that Obama could drop the ‘hope and change’ generalities …

Heroic marine throws himself on grenade  —  A Royal Marine could receive the highest award for gallantry after he saved the lives of his comrades by throwing himself onto an exploding grenade in Afghanistan, it has been reported.  —  Lance Corporal Matt Croucher amazingly survived …