Explosions Hit Baghdad as Iraqis Vote in Pivotal Election  —  BAGHDAD — A concerted wave of attacks struck Baghdad and other cities across the country on Sunday as Iraqis began voting to elect a new Parliament and possibly a new prime minister.  Explosions reverberated across the capital …

Iran's Ahmadinejad: Sept. 11 attacks a ‘big lie’  —  TEHRAN, Iran - Iran's hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on Saturday called the official version of the Sept. 11 attacks a “big lie” used by the U.S. as an excuse for the war on terror, state media reported.

Obama Message Maven Finds Fingers Pointing at Him  —  WASHINGTON — David Axelrod was sitting at his desk on a recent afternoon — tie crooked, eyes droopy and looking more burdened than usual.  He had just been watching some genius on MSNBC insist that he and President Obama's other top aides …

Mom, Apple Pie and Mortgages  —  FOR decades, the federal government has subsidized housing — particularly owner-occupied housing.  This has been especially true during the continuing financial crisis, with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Housing Administration propping up the housing market …

RNC Fallout: ‘Ashamed’ donor closes checkbook  —  A prominent Evangelical figure and Republican donor says he will end his contributions to the organized Republican Party in reaction to the leaked fundraising presentation that advised using “fear” to solicit contributions and displayed an image …

VIDEO: Sarah Palin writes on her hand because she is just like God  —  This is so jaw-droppingly convolutedly typical:  —  Sarah Palin Speaks at the Ohio Right to Life fundraiser on March 5, 2010.  —  Via Gryphen: … I particularly enjoyed the part about GodClone McJustify's compulsion to scribble a dollar sign on her hand.

Secret Israeli report: U.S. cozying up to Palestinians  —  The U.S. administration will not put a lot of effort into the upcoming indirect negotiations between Israel and the Palestinians, opting instead to focus on the November Congressional elections, according to an internal Foreign Ministry report …

Catholic Bishops Want to Change Senate Rules to Restrict Choice in Health Care  —  Here's an amazing little article from Politico. … What are they talking about?  Well, the bishops want the Stupak amendment, which would effectively end coverage of abortion services in all insurance markets over time.

President Obama: Replace Rahm with Me ...an open letter from Michael Moore  —  I understand you may be looking to replace Rahm Emanuel as your chief of staff.  —  I would like to humbly offer myself, yours truly, as his replacement.  —  I will come to D.C. and clean up the mess that's been created around you.

Sorry, But The Verdict Is In On The Long American Excursion In Iraq.  And It Is Favorable.  —  There were moments—long moments—during the Iraq war when I had my doubts.  Even deep doubts.  Frankly, I couldn't quite imagine any venture requiring trust with Arabs turning out especially well.

Obama Talks, Syria Mocks  —  The wages of appeasement.  —  The Obama administration has from the start seen Syria as a leading case for engagement.  Barack Obama said so during his presidential campaign (announcing he would meet Bashar al Assad without preconditions) and repeated this policy view again last summer: