Former Sen. Jesse Helms dies at 86  —  President Bush calls the uncompromising Republican from North Carolina a ‘great patriot.’ He infuriated liberals with his race-baiting tactics and presidents of both parties with his use of senatorial  —  WASHINGTON — Jesse Helms …

Poll shows warning signs for Obama  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — One week after Sen. Hillary Clinton made a public show of unity with Sen. Barack Obama, a new survey suggests supporters of the New York senator are increasingly less likely to follow her lead.  —  A growing number of Clinton supporters polled …

Why Europe loves Barack Obama  —  By Bill Schneider, CNN senior political analyst  —  (CNN) — When Barack Obama comes to London, I am certain that 50,000 people will turn out to cheer him on," a British executive assured me when I visited the British capital recently.  —  “Americans?”  I asked.

Tiptoeing on Bush and Convention  —  WASHINGTON — What if your family was planning a big end-of-summer bash (a Grand Old Party, you might call it) but preferred that you not be seen — or heard?  —  That is the question hanging over President Bush, with eight weeks to go until Republicans gather …

‘Patriot Games’ of the wrong kind  —  The Republican consultant had it all figured out.  —  His candidate: The hero.  Wounded in war, stand-up guy, the real face of a generation.  His opponent: No military service.  Suspicious activity in his past.  —  He had an unofficial slogan in mind: The patriot vs. the punk.

Nice... Loons Disrupt Bush at July 4th Naturalization Ceremony (Video)  —  Here's another reminder that nothing is sacred to the Left.  —  Nothing...  Code Pink disrupted President Bush at the 46th Annual Independence Day Celebration and Naturalization Ceremony:

1,215 servicemembers re-up in Iraq  —  Servicemembers from all over Iraq gathered in the Al Faw Palace rotunda at Camp Victory, Baghdad, to reenlist and celebrate Independence Day.  —  All 1,215 servicemembers celebrated by raising their right hands and pledging to continue defending the …

Schoolboys punished with detention for refusing to kneel in class and pray to Allah  —  Two schoolboys were given detention after refusing to kneel down and ‘pray to Allah’ during a religious education lesson.  —  Parents were outraged that the two boys from year seven (11 to 12-year-olds) …

Press Briefing by Dana Perino  —  MS. PERINO: Hello, everybody.  Hello to my mom in the back, my mom and my sister — friends.  (Applause.)  I don't usually get that reception in here.  (Laughter.)  —  Q Mom gets it.  —  MS. PERINO: Yes, I know.  (Laughter.)

Condoleezza Rice Says She's ‘Proud’ of Decision to Invade Iraq  —  Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she's “proud” of the U.S. decision to wage the Iraq war and insisted that the world is not more dangerous than it was when George W. Bush took office.