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.

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 …

Obama Fiercely Defends His Patriotism  —  Democrat Also Decries Criticism of Rival McCain on Service to Country  —  Dogged by persistent rumors questioning his belief in country, Sen. Barack Obama journeyed to Middle America on Monday to lay out his vision of patriotism …

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.

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 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.

Bush base yet to rush to donate to McCain  —  Funding woes tied to candidate's stances, GOP standing in polls  —  President Bush has headlined a fund-raising event to help John McCain finance his campaign to succeed him, but most of the big-money backers who helped reelect Bush in 2004 …

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 …

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”:

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 …

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) …

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.

Timing the Unveiling of Running Mates Will Be Tricky  —  WASHINGTON — It is a given these days that the toughest decisions Senators John McCain and Barack Obama will make this summer will be choosing running mates.  But there is another choice that might prove important as well: when to make the announcement.

Obama Shifts on Welfare Reform  —  ABC News' Teddy Davis and Gregory Wallace Report: Barack Obama aligned himself with welfare reform on Monday, launching a television ad which touts the way the overhaul “slashed the rolls by 80 percent.”  Obama leaves out, however, that he was against the …

Obama to expand Bush's faith based programs  —  CHICAGO - Reaching out to evangelical voters, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama is announcing plans to expand President Bush's program steering federal social service dollars to religious groups and — in a move sure to cause controversy …