MEMORIAL DAY: A CONTRAST  —  Barack Obama must be the most gaffe-prone politician in memory.  Today, he delivered a Memorial Day speech in New Mexico.  After greeting the local Democratic Party dignitaries, he began: … Memorial Day honors those who have died in our nation's military service.

Sydney Pollack, Film Director, Is Dead at 73  —  LOS ANGELES — Sydney Pollack, a Hollywood mainstay as director, producer and sometime actor whose star-laden movies like “The Way We Were,” “Tootsie” and “Out of Africa” were among the most successful of the 1970s and '80s, died Monday at home here.

McCain to Make a Rare Appearance With Bush  —  TV Time Together Limited as Senator Keeps His Distance  —  President Bush and John McCain will appear together at a fund-raiser in Phoenix Tuesday, the first time in nearly three months that the Republican presidential candidate will be seen beside the man he hopes to succeed.

Nuclear Agency Accuses Iran of Willful Lack of Cooperation  —  PARIS — The International Atomic Energy Agency, in an unusually blunt and detailed report, said Monday that Iran's suspected research into the development of nuclear weapons remained “a matter of serious concern” …

The era of big Clintons is soon over  —  WASHINGTON - There's been a Clinton running for the White House or living in it for approximately forever.  Bill, it could be said, was born to run.  Running became Hillary's destiny, too.  —  One quarter of Americans have never known life without …

Auto Industry Feels the Pain of Tight Credit  —  The auto industry is getting sideswiped by the housing crisis.  —  Auto lenders and banks, closing their wallets, have prevented hundreds of thousands of consumers from obtaining the financing for a car.  Home equity loans …

On the Trail, One Aide Looms Over Obama  —  In the last year, Barack Obama has learned a thing or two about running for president, and Reggie Love has learned a thing or two about Barack Obama.  —  Mr. Love now knows that when it comes to food, Senator Obama “eats pretty much anything …

Texas needs two senators who will back our veterans  —  John Cornyn failed to stand up for our troops — I will  —  Last Thursday, the U.S. Senate passed Sen. Jim Webb's, D-Va., expanded version of the GI Bill, ensuring educational benefits for all service members, including activated National Guard …

Post Buyouts Come With an Emotional Cost  —  Let's not bury the lead: This is a rough time for the newspaper business, a rough time for The Washington Post and a rough time for me.  —  No one need shed any tears for the people leaving this building.  The more than 100 journalists …

The Running Mate Choice  —  My first thought on the running mate question is that to balance his ticket, Barack Obama should pick a really old white general.  Therefore, he should pick Dwight Eisenhower.  John McCain, on the other hand, needs to pick someone younger than himself.

Peacekeepers ‘abusing children’  —  Children as young as six are being sexually abused by peacekeepers and aid workers, says a leading UK charity.  —  Children in post-conflict areas are being abused by the very people drafted into such zones to help look after them, says Save the Children.

Newsweek Buries Isikoff Scoop to Benefit Obama?  —  I'm no fan of oversimplifying the decision-making process that guides news coverage or promotion thereof, let alone promulgating conspiracy theories, but I have to ask about this:  —  Michael Isikoff's investigative piece outlining …

Fidel Castro bashes Obama Cuba policy  —  HAVANA (AP) — Former President Fidel Castro says Sen. Barack Obama's plan to maintain Washington's trade embargo against Cuba will cause hunger and suffering on the island.  —  In a column published Monday by government-run newspapers …