HILL'S ‘ASSASSIN’ TALK A SHOCKER  —  EXCUSE FOR NOT QUITTING: HEY, RFK GOT SHOT IN JUNE! … WASHINGTON - Hillary Rodham Clinton yesterday brought up the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy while defending her decision to stay in the race against Barack Obama - drawing a furious reaction from the front-runner's camp.

Lack of Progress in McCain's Bid Is G.O.P. Concern  —  WASHINGTON — Senator John McCain's presidential campaign is in a troubled stretch, hindered by resignations of staff members, a lagging effort to build a national campaign organization and questions over whether he has taken full advantage …

Obama criticizes McCain on vet benefits  —  Ariz. senator rebukes scholarship plan, introduces bill to give vets help  —  BAYAMON, Puerto Rico - Barack Obama told veterans Saturday that he can't understand why Republican John McCain opposes legislation that would provide college scholarships …

Gaffe-Prone Obama: 'Thank you everybody.  It's good to be in Sunshine!'  —  How many gaffes can a politician get away with?  —  Obviously none if you're a Republican.  —  But Barack Obama can pretty much say anything and the media brushes it off.  —  Aren't double standards wonderful?

GOP strategists mull McCain ‘blowout’  —  It sounds crazy at first.  Amid dire reports about the toxic political environment for Republican candidates and the challenges facing John McCain, many top GOP strategists believe he can defeat Barack Obama — and by a margin exceeding President Bush's Electoral College victory in 2004.

McCain/Bush Fundraiser Moved To Smaller Quarters Due To Poor Ticket Sales/Fears Of Protest  —  A Tuesday fundraiser headlined by President Bush for U.S. Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign is being moved out of the Phoenix Convention Center.  —  Sources familiar with the situation …

How telecoms are attempting to buy amnesty from Congress  —  (updated below)  —  One of the benefits from the protracted battle over telecom amnesty is that it is a perfect microcosm for how our government institutions work.  And a casual review of the available evidence regarding …

US residents in military brigs?  Govt says it's war  —  WASHINGTON - If his cell were at Guantanamo Bay, the prisoner would be just one of hundreds of suspected terrorists detained offshore, where the U.S. says the Constitution does not apply.  —  But Ali Saleh Kahlah al-Marri is a U.S. resident …

In the Driver's Seat  —  Condoleezza Rice and the jettisoning of the Bush Doctrine.  —  Shortly before 10 A.M. on October 9, 2006, George W. Bush read a statement from the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House.  He fixed his face to look resolute.  The previous day …

Sen. McCain's Agents of Intolerance  —  It took a long time for him to do it, but Senator John McCain has finally rejected the endorsements of two evangelical ministers — one whose bizarre and hate-filled sermons deeply offended both Catholics and Jews and the other who has used his pulpit to attack Muslims.

OBAMA COLLECTS ANOTHER $500,000, SLAMS LIMBAUGH  —  More than 800 donors packed into a Westin Diplomat Hotel ballroom Thursday night to pad Barack Obama's war chest by another $500,000, according to this pool report of the evening.  —  In a speech to the crowd, Obama sharpened his rhetoric …