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.

McCain Campaign Accuses Obama Camp Of Coordinating With Webb To Attack McCain  —  Now the McCain campaign is accusing the Obama campaign of coordinating with Jim Webb to “attack” McCain's war service.  —  On MSNBC last night, Webb told McCain that he should “calm down” …

Obama courts conservatives with new faith program  —  ZANESVILLE, Ohio - Taking a page from President Bush, Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he wants to expand White House efforts to steer social service dollars to religious groups, risking protests in his own party with his latest aggressive reach …

Obama's Pro-Gay Flyers  —  Barack Obama may be talking up his Christian faith like he's doing today in Ohio and trying his best to appeal to Evangelicals with a “new kind of politics,” but he's got a problem.  Many of his positions are the same liberal positions that have turned off Evangelicals for years.

Muslims outraged at police advert featuring cute puppy sitting in policeman's hat  —  A postcard featuring a cute puppy sitting in a policeman's hat advertising a Scottish police force's new telephone number has sparked outrage from Muslims.  —  Tayside Police's new non-emergency phone number …

Americans Worry McCain Would Be Too Similar to Bush  —  About half are concerned Obama would go too far in changing Bush policies  —  PRINCETON, NJ — A recent USA Today/Gallup poll finds about two in three Americans concerned that John McCain would pursue policies as president that are too similar to what George W. Bush has pursued.

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 …

New CNN Poll: Obama, McCain in a statistical dead heat  —  (CNN) — With the dust having finally settled after the prolonged Democratic presidential primary, a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll shows Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama locked in a statistical dead heat in the race for the White House.

Christian Site's Ban on ‘G’ Word Sends Homosexual to Olympics  —  The American Family Association obviously didn't foresee the problems that might arise with its strict policy to always replace the word “gay” with “homosexual” on the Web site of its Christian news outlet, OneNewsNow.

Obama's real patriotism problem  —  He sees an America in which the cup is half-empty.  Is his America the same one most Americans think of as they wave flags and celebrate the Fourth of July?  —  Barack Obama has a patriotism problem that even Monday's flag-waving trip to Independence, Mo., can't squelch.

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.

On Call Exclusive: Obama Met Privately With Powell At His Office  —  Sen. Barack Obama and retired Gen. Colin Powell met privately two weeks ago in Powell's personal office in Alexandria.  —  Peggy Cifrino, Powell's spokeswoman, confirmed that the presumptive Democratic nominee …