Obama alienates the editors  —  For most voters, Barack Obama's shift away from public financing is not as big a deal as the mounting death toll in Iraq, surging gas prices — or even what they're going to make for dinner tonight.  —  But Obama's announcement Thursday that he would become …

Obama says Republicans will use race to stoke fear  —  JACKSONVILLE, Florida (Reuters) - Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama said on Friday he expects Republicans to highlight the fact that he is black as part of an effort to make voters afraid of him.

White House Dismissed Legal Advice On Detainees  —  Senior lawyers inside and outside the Bush administration repeatedly warned the White House that it was risking judicial scrutiny of its detention policies in Guantanamo Bay if it did not pursue a more pragmatic legal strategy that considered the likely reaction of the Supreme Court.

Barack's seal, with a dis from Team Mac  —  Yes, he can.  But, really: Oh, no, he didn't!  —  Barack Obama's presidential campaign raised eyebrows and elicited snickers Friday when it unveiled the Obamamania version of the presidential seal.  —  At a meeting with Democratic governors in Chicago …

Obama's Statement on FISA  —  Via e-mail. … In an interview today on Bloomberg's “Political Capital with Al Hunt” (no link yet), Sen. Reid said he would attempt to remove the amnesty provision in the bill. … That effort should be helped by Obama's opposition to the provision.

Science teacher dissed evolution  —  He taught creationism, report says  —  A Mount Vernon teacher undermined science instruction in the public school district by discrediting evolution in his classroom and focusing on creationism and intelligent design, an investigation has found.

Big Gains for Iraq Security, but Questions Linger  —  Baghdad residents in Abu Niwas Street park on the Tigris River.  Violence in all of Iraq is the lowest since March 2004, but the improvements are fragile.  More Photos >  —  BAGHDAD — What's going right?  And can it last?

Obama's support for the FISA “compromise”  —  (updated below)  —  In the past 24 hours, specifically beginning with the moment Barack Obama announced that he now supports the Cheney/Rockefeller/Hoyer House bill, there have magically arisen — in places where one would never have expected to find them …

MPAA Says No Proof Needed in P2P Copyright Infringement Lawsuits  —  The Motion Picture Association of America said Friday intellectual-property holders should have the right to collect damages, perhaps as much as $150,000 per copyright violation, without having to prove infringement.