Fight back against Bill Donohue!  —  So far today, I have received 39 pieces of personal hate mail of varying degrees of literacy, all because I was rude to a cracker.  Four of them have included death threats, a personal one day record.  Thirty-four of them have demanded that I be fired.

A Hint of New Life to a McCain Birth Issue  —  In the most detailed examination yet of Senator John McCain's eligibility to be president, a law professor at the University of Arizona has concluded that neither Mr. McCain's birth in 1936 in the Panama Canal Zone nor the fact that his parents …

Obama Team Asks Dodd for Vetting Info  —  The Connecticut Senator indicates he has been approached by the Obama camp as part of their search. … Among other possible choices: McCaskill, Sebelius, Edwards, Richardson will not say if they've been approached.  Biden and Salazar say they have not.

Donors Asked To Give for Two  —  The fundraising machine Sen. Barack Obama is relying on to overwhelm Sen. John McCain this fall has shown signs of wear in recent weeks, as Internet contributions have slowed and efforts to recruit top donors to Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's campaign have been beset by lingering tensions.

McCain's broken marriage and fractured Reagan friendship  —  Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, walks with former first lady Nancy Reagan.  Mrs. Reagan endorsed the Republican presidential candidate Tuesday, March 25, 2008 in Bel Air, Calif.

German Politicians Are in an Obama Tizzy  —  The kerfuffle over Barack Obama's possible Brandenburg Gate appearance later this month just won't die down.  Merkel's government has its doubts, but some in her own party don't see the big deal.  —  The debate surrounding the impending Berlin visit …

McCain Camp Pegs Total War Chest at $400 Million  —  Obama's Budget Put at $480 Million; Big September Hopes  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign said Thursday that Republicans anticipate raising a combined $400 million war chest for the general election campaign against Sen. Barack Obama this fall.

Rangel Rents Apartments at Bargain Rates  —  While aggressive evictions are reducing the number of rent-stabilized apartments in New York, Representative Charles B. Rangel is enjoying four of them, including three adjacent units on the 16th floor overlooking Upper Manhattan in a building owned …

U.S. Considers Takeover of Two Mortgage Giants  —  WASHINGTON — Alarmed by the growing financial stress at the nation's two largest mortgage finance companies, senior Bush administration officials are considering a plan to have the government take over one or both of the companies and place …

A Tancredo Shot In “God's Children”  —  Check out this cutaway from Sen. John McCain's latest ad, God's Children: that's Rep. Tom Tancredo.  —  The ad, about Hispanic-American soldiers and immigration, is the second that's meant to demonstrate McCain's willingness to challenge his party.

EPA Won't Act on Emissions This Year  —  Instead of New Rules, More Comment Sought  —  The Bush administration has decided not to take any new steps to regulate greenhouse gas emissions before the president leaves office, despite pressure from the Supreme Court and broad accord among senior federal officials …

Sudan Leader To Be Charged With Genocide  —  Peace Efforts in Darfur Could Be Hampered, Some U.N. Officials Fear  —  The chief prosecutor of the Internationals Criminal Court will seek an arrest warrant Monday for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, charging him with genocide and crimes …

Lab Results Show No Drugs In Cookies Taken To Cops  —  A teenager accused of delivering drug-laced cookies to a dozen police stations was the victim of overzealous officers who had very little evidence indicating drugs were inside the treats, his attorney said Thursday.

Wolfson: Clinton not being vetted ‘as far as I know’  —  On Fox, former Clinton chief strategist Howard Wolfson indicated that Hillary Clinton is not being formally considered as Obama's running mate, in that she has not been asked to undergo the formal vetting process.

Kennedy's Big Day  —  It was the worst of days, it was the best of days.  On Wednesday, Senate Democrats capitulated to the Bush administration on wiretapping — with Barack Obama joining the coalition of the craven.  —  Later that day, however, those same Senate Democrats won a huge victory on Medicare.

The Candidates Speak Off the Cuff, and Trouble Quickly Follows  —  At this rate, both John McCain and Barack Obama may want to rethink their fondness for town-hall-style meetings.  Both have embroiled themselves in controversies this week as a result of departing from scripted campaign speeches and speaking off the cuff.

In Pennsylvania, McCain Tells a New Version of Heroic P.O.W. Story — Subbing the Pittsburgh Steelers for the Green Bay Packers  —  Yesterday in Pittsburgh, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., professed his love for the Steelers to KDKA-TV.  —  Watch HERE.  —  Asked what first comes to his mind …