The GOP Is Winning the Health-Care Debate  —  Gallup says independents now favor Republicans by nine points.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  Passing health-care reform could be harmful to the health of congressional Democrats.  —  Just look at how President Barack Obama's standing has fallen as he has pushed for reform.

Civilian, Military Officials at Odds Over Resources Needed for Afghan Counterinsurgency  —  In early March, after weeks of debate across a conference table in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, the participants in President Obama's strategic review of the war in Afghanistan figured …

Corzine Points a Spotlight at His Rival's Waistline  —  It is about as subtle as a playground taunt: a television ad for Gov. Jon S. Corzine shows his challenger, Christopher J. Christie, stepping out of an S.U.V. in extreme slow motion, his extra girth moving, just as slowly, in several different directions at once.

THE UNAMBIGUOUS MEANING OF A CROSS.... Thee U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments yesterday in a case called Buono v. Salazar, the year's big church-state case.  The controversy surrounds a large white, wooden cross, built to honor the war dead of World War I, given special congressional status on federal land.

Bob Dole outs naysayer Mitch McConnell  —  Bob Dole supports health care reform.  —  “This is one of the most important measures members of Congress will vote on in their lifetimes,” the former Republican Senate majority leader and presidential candidate told an audience in Kansas City today.

Gun-toting soccer mom is shot dead … Meleanie Hain, the pistol-carrying Lebanon mom who received national attention for taking a loaded gun to her daughter's soccer game, was shot to death Wednesday night with her husband in an apparent murder-suicide, police said.

American Voters Oppose Obama Health Care Plan, Quinnipiac University National Poll Finds; GOP Gets Lowest Grades Since Obama Elected  —  American voters oppose 47 - 40 percent President Barack Obama's health care reform plan, and don't want an overhaul that only gets Democratic votes …

American troops in Afghanistan losing heart, say army chaplains  —  Martin Fletcher at Forward Operating Base in Wardak province, Afghanistan  —  American soldiers serving in Afghanistan are depressed and deeply disillusioned, according to the chaplains of two US battalions that have spent nine months …

Father of Palin's grandson to pose for Playgirl  —  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) - Levi Johnston is going for the ultimate exposure—his bare body.  —  Posing nude for Playgirl is next for the 19-year-old father of Sarah Palin's grandchild.  Johnston's attorney, Rex Butler …

Burr looking better  —  There is probably no politician in the country whose fate better exemplifies the shift in the national political climate over the last four months than Richard Burr.  —  His approval this month comes in at a very mediocre 36% with an almost equal 35% disapproving of his work in the Senate.

In First Lady's Roots, a Complex Path From Slavery  —  WASHINGTON — In 1850, the elderly master of a South Carolina estate took pen in hand and painstakingly divided up his possessions.  Among the spinning wheels, scythes, tablecloths and cattle that he bequeathed to his far-flung heirs …

Dems Discussing Public Option With Opt-Out Clause: The Silver Bullet?  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION?  —  Senate Democrats have begun discussions on a compromise approach to health care reform that would establish a robust, national public option for insurance coverage but give individual states the right to opt out of the program.

Fort Carson's heroes  —  Please take time to read the profiles of the American soldiers who died in the siege at Kamdesh.  —  The Colorado Springs Gazette tells their stories here and here.  —  Many were fathers.  All were patriots.  They were stationed at Fort Carson, Colorado.

Thugs attack two transvestites... who turn out to be cage fighters wearing fancy dress  —  Two thugs who attacked what they thought were a pair of transvestites picked on the wrong men - when their intended victims turned out to be cage fighters on a night out in fancy dress.

Intelligence Fiasco Footnote  —  The authors of the 2007 Iran NIE have some explaining to do.  —  Printer  —  Friendly  —  When it comes to politicized intelligence in the Bush years, the critics may finally have a point.  Perhaps the work of America's intelligence agencies was manipulated …

ROMAN POLANSKI BACKERS GAVE $34K TO BARACK OBAMA, DNC  —  Movie industry types calling for the release of director Roman Polanski last year gave $34,000 to Obama's presidential campaign and the Democratic Party, FEC records show.  —  Polanski's arrest late last month by Swiss authorities …

Scientist: Carbon Dioxide Doesn't Cause Global Warming  —  A noted geologist who coauthored the New York Times bestseller Sugar Busters has turned his attention to convincing Congress that carbon dioxide emissions are good for Earth and don't cause global warming.