Obama's Money Class  —  Barack Obama sells the Democratic Party short.  He talks about his fund-raising success as if his donors were part of a spontaneous movement of small-money enthusiasts who cohered around himself.  In fact, Democrats have spent years building their donor network.

Clark won't back down  —  In a statement to reporters, retired General Wes Clark repeats that McCain is a “hero” but also reiterates his point that McCain's service didn't give him “executive experience”:

Pentagon Official Warns of Israeli Attack on Iran  —  U.S. Offical Sees Two ‘Red Lines’ That Could Prompt Strike  —  Senior Pentagon officials are concerned that Israel could carry out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities before the end of the year, an action that would have enormous security …

Evidence Faulted in Detainee Case  —  In the first case to review the government's secret evidence for holding a detainee at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, a federal appeals court found that accusations against a Muslim from western China held for more than six years were based on bare and unverifiable claims.

Obama and “False Rumors”  —  In a story reporting that Obama “fiercely” defended his patriotism in his Independence, Missouri speech yesterday, Washington Post reporters Jonathan Weisman and Michael Shear write: … I keep seeing the flag-pin issue included among the alleged falsehoods about Obama.

We Can Lower Oil Prices Now  —  Although most experts agree that financial speculation was not responsible for the surge in the global prices of food and energy, many people remain puzzled about the source of these remarkable price rises.  Economics offers a simple supply-and-demand explanation …

Ex-Agent Says CIA Ignored Iran Facts  —  A former CIA operative who says he tried to warn the agency about faulty intelligence on Iraqi weapons programs now contends that CIA officials also ignored evidence that Iran had suspended work on a nuclear bomb.  —  The onetime undercover agent …

The South Will Fall Again  —  THE interim between the primaries and the parties' nominating conventions is, according to ancient writ, a fertile period for presidential campaigns to talk about how they plan to expand the political map in the fall.  This year is no different.

Obama's sister helps reach out to Asian-Americans  —  SAN FRANCISCO - The throng of Asian-American donors drew closer, drinks in hand, to hear Barack Obama's sister describe the wide arc of his life: beyond politics and Chicago, into his childhood in Indonesia and Hawaii.

What Bush hath wrought  —  FEW AMERICANS, whatever their political persuasion, will mourn George W. Bush's departure from office.  Democrats and Republicans alike are counting the days until the inauguration of a new president will wipe the slate clean.  —  Yet in crucial respects, the Bush era will not end Jan. 20, 2009.

The Worst Politician Ever?  —  It's virtually unanimous: everyone from Hassan Nasrallah to Mossad Chief Meir Dagan seems to agree that Israel's prisoner swap deal with Hezbollah marks a significant strategic setback for the Jewish state.  —  After all, in exchange for two captured soldiers …

Obama rejects proposed California gay marriage ban  —  Story appeared in MAIN NEWS section, Page A3  —  Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, who previously said the issue of gay marriage should be left up to each state, has announced his opposition to a California ballot measure that would ban same-sex marriages.

Bringing Down Bear Stearns  —  On Monday, March 10, the rumor started: Bear Stearns was having liquidity problems.  In fact, the maverick investment bank had around $18 billion in cash reserves.  But soon the speculation created its own reality, and the race was on to keep Bear's crisis from ravaging Wall Street.

Firm gets big cut of campaign donations  —  GOP candidates see little of funds raised; Some clients, donors unaware of numbers  —  Charles A. Morse, a conservative Republican gadfly from Brookline, ran a brief write-in campaign to unseat US Representative Barney Frank in 2006.

Well, At Least She's Honest  —  An official from the aptly-named group By Any Means Necessary is quoted today in the Omaha World-Herald, on why her group is trying to disrupt the signature-gathering efforts of Ward Connerly, who is leading an effort in Nebraska (and Colorado and Arizona) …

A New Campaign Charge: You Supported Clinton  —  Brooklyn's 10th Congressional District, home to more African-Americans than any other in New York, gave Senator Barack Obama his highest margin of victory in the state.  But the district's longtime congressman, Edolphus Towns, did not share his constituency's preference for Mr. Obama.