Left claims 218 in sight  —  Liberal told House Democrats that they have nearly enough votes to pass their preferred version of health insurance reform.  —  Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-Calif.), the leader of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, told a closed-door caucus meeting that the group's …

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 …

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.

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.

Calling 'Em Out: The White House Takes on the Press  —  There was never a single moment when White House staff decided the major media outlets were falling down on the job.  There were instead several such moments.  —  For press secretary Robert Gibbs, the realization came in early September …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

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.

French minister in ‘boy sex’ row  —  France's Culture Minister Frederic Mitterrand is facing intense pressure over a book he wrote that described paying for “young boys” in Thailand.  —  The book was written four years ago, before he joined the government, but is back in the headlines following …

Blogged and Sold  —  NOT long ago I was approached by a brilliant marketing firm.  Their proposal: using any means necessary, could I convince America that a certain youth-appealing president, whose name rhymes with The Rock o' Llama, favored a specific brand of attire?