Obama's Decision Threatens Public Financing System  —  From the moment that the public financing system was created in the wake of the Watergate crisis, it was viewed as an imperfect way to rid politics of the excesses of special-interest money.  —  But now, with the decision by Senator Barack …

The Two Obamas  —  God, Republicans are saps.  They think that they're running against some academic liberal who wouldn't wear flag pins on his lapel, whose wife isn't proud of America and who went to some liberationist church where the pastor damned his own country.

U.S. Says Exercise by Israel Seemed Directed at Iran  —  WASHINGTON — Israel carried out a major military exercise earlier this month that American officials say appeared to be a rehearsal for a potential bombing attack on Iran's nuclear facilities.  —  Several American officials …

Obama Considering Olympic Games Ads on NBC  —  Is there such a thing as overexposure?  Barack Obama ads are everywhere on the internet.  They'll be coming to tv in 18 states and who knows how many radio stations.  —  Now, Obama is considering taking out ads on NBC for the Olympic Games.

EXCLUSIVE: Hezbollah Poised to Strike?  —  Officials Say “Sleeper Cells” Activated in Canada  —  Intelligence agencies in the United States and Canada are warning of mounting signs that Hezbollah, backed by Iran, is poised to mount a terror attack against “Jewish targets” somewhere outside the Middle East.

Guantanamo prisoner opens new era of court challenges  —  WASHINGTON — The Taliban tortured Abdul Rahim Abdul Razak al Ginco.  They thought he was a U.S. spy.  Then, U.S. soldiers called the Syrian native an enemy and shipped him to Guantanamo.  —  Now, Ginco will be turning a spotlight back on the Bush administration itself.

House approves war funds, GI benefits  —  A $186.5 billion wartime appropriations bill cleared the House Thursday evening together with new aid for the jobless and a landmark expansion of education benefits for veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.  —  Israel, Jordan and Mexico …

Dems excited, GOP wary of McClellan's testimony  —  House Democrats are eagerly preparing for Friday's testimony by former White House press secretary Scott McClellan, but Republicans seem unsure of how to handle the president's unlikely critic.  —  Both Democrats and Republicans …

Former AG Accused of Playing Politics with Justice  —  Exclusive: Critic of Torture Policy Assured Job as US Attorney  —  Former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, now under investigation for allegedly politicizing the Justice Department, ousted a top lawyer for failing to adopt …

Under fire from conservatives, McConnell hassles Democrats  —  Goaded by conservative activists in his home state of Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) has begun harassing his Democratic colleagues.  —  Prominent right-wing groups are upset with McConnell over the small number …

Al-Mahdi Army militias routed without a shot fired  —  They came at dawn, thousands of Iraqi troops and US special forces on a mission to reclaim a lawless city from the militias who ran it.  —  By the end of the day, al-Amarah was under Iraqi Government control - without a shot being fired.

McCain and Obama tied in Georgia  —  A New InsiderAdvantage / PollPosition survey conducted June 18 of registered likely voters in the November presidential contest shows Sen. John McCain leading Sen. Barack Obama by a single point in Georgia, making the race in Georgia a statistical tie.

Bad Blood and an Empty Chair  —  The stage was set Wednesday afternoon at the House Judiciary subcommittee on the Constitution, civil rights and civil liberties to hear former deputy undersecretary of defense Douglas J. Feith testify about the use of harsh interrogation techniques on detainees.

This Spade is a Spade: FISA Deal Is Bunk  —  So, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced his precious FISA deal today and I'm sure it will not come as great shock to this general audience that we at the ACLU think it's crap.  And by “crap” I mean unconstitutional.