TIME Poll: Clinton 6 Points Up in Pennsylvania  —  Backed by more than half of all white female Democrats, Hillary Clinton holds a six point lead over Barack Obama in Pennsylvania, a new statewide poll by TIME reveals.

Maliki Disagrees With Petraeus's ‘Pause,’ Says ‘U.S. Troops Should Be Pulled Out’  —  Gen. David Petraeus, top U.S. commander in Iraq, told Congress this week that he is recommending to President Bush that the United States “pause” the draw down of troops in Iraq this July for at least 45 days …

Obama Talks All Things LGBT with The Advocate  —  In an exclusive Chicago sit-down with The Advocate's Kerry Eleveld, Democratic front-runner Barack Obama discusses “don't ask, don't tell,” Rev. Wright, and what he would do for LGBT Americans if he becomes president.

David Brock, Dems plan $40M hit on McCain  —  Wealthy Democrats are preparing a four-month, $40 million media campaign centered on attacks on Senator John McCain.  And it will be led by David Brock, the former investigative reporter who first gained fame in the 1990s as a right-wing, anti-Clinton journalist.

Exercised over Elton John; Flashback: Elton John's misogynist lyrics  —  A lot of you are exercised over Elton John's comments lambasting America as “misogynist” for refusing to coronate Queen Hillary Clinton.  —  I'm mad at Elton John, too...  ..for searing this hideously awful image in my head too early in the morning:

EXCLUSIVE: Powell Praises Obama, Fears Afghanistan Growing ‘More Difficult’ Than Iraq  —  General Says Next President Will Face Long Struggle, Troop Strain in Two-Front Battle  —  Retired Gen. Colin Powell insists he hasn't yet decided who he'll back in the 2008 presidential election.

2 Camps Trying to Influence McCain on Foreign Policy  —  WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain has long made his decades of experience in foreign policy and national security the centerpiece of his political identity, and suggests he would bring to the White House a fully formed view of the world.

Bush to Cut Army Tours to 12 Months  —  President Supports Suspending Pullout Of Forces in Iraq  —  President Bush plans to announce today that he will cut Army combat tours in Iraq from 15 months to 12 months, returning rotations to where they were before last year's troop buildup in an effort …

Pardon Me, but Your Door Is Terribly Offensive  —  Getting one's own office can be a rite of passage right up there with defending a dissertation or receiving tenure — and many professors' lairs are reflections of their own attitudes and beliefs.  Usually, it takes just a quick glance at the door …

CBS News, Katie Couric Are Likely to Part Ways  —  Barring a Change, Departure Could Follow the Election;  —  A Successor to Larry King?  —  After two years of record-low ratings, both CBS News executives and people close to Katie Couric say that the “CBS Evening News” …

Key Indicators of National Mood Fall to New Lows  —  Those Who Think the Country is moving in the Right Direction and Ratings of President Bush and Congress Now Lower Than or Equal to Previous Lows in This Century  —  As the drumbeat of bad economic news continues, gas prices continue their upward movement …

U.N. Official Calls for Study Of Neocons' Role in 9/11  —  WASHINGTON — A new U.N. Human Rights Council official assigned to monitor Israel is calling for an official commission to study the role neoconservatives may have played in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.

“My Answer Is No”  —  A conversation with President Bush.  —  I SPENT ABOUT 40 minutes with President Bush in the Oval Office late yesterday afternoon, in a meeting whose purpose was to allow the president to preview the Iraq speech he's giving today.  —  We ended up spending more than half the time on other matters.

Posts About the Book Will Continue Until Every American Owns a Copy  —  My initial plan had been to say no more about James Kirchick's review of Heads in the Sand, thinking that it might be too petty.  But it's been suggested to me that a response would be a good way to explain a little bit more to you …

Sophie Masloff to endorse Hillary Clinton  —  Former Pittsburgh Mayor Sophie Masloff will endorse Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton when the New York senator appears this evening for the Allegheny County Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Dinner at Heinz Field.  —  “It's been very difficult …

Metro charter school accused of teaching Islam  —  A Star Tribune newspaper column has prompted a state investigation into a charter school.  A substitute teacher said a school in Inver Grove Heights is blurring the line of separation of church and state.  —  Being a charter school Tarek …