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.

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.

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

A Better Way to Health Reform  —  The American health-care system suffers from three serious problems: Health-care costs are rising much faster than our incomes.  More than 15 percent of the population has neither private nor public insurance.  And the high cost of health care can lead …

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.

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?

Sanford's car pulled for speeding, but no ticket  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. — A Highway Patrol trooper stopped South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford's car for speeding and asked his protective detail driver why he was driving so fast, but let them go without issuing a ticket after he shook the governor's hand, a video released Wednesday shows.