Secret files reveal how US turned blind eye to Iraq torture  —  • Massive leak reveals serial detainee abuse  —  • 15,000 unknown civilian deaths in war  —  • Full coverage of the Iraq war logs  —  A grim picture of the US and Britain's legacy in Iraq has been revealed …

The real danger from NPR's firing of Juan Williams  —  I'm still not quite over the most disgusting part of the Juan Williams spectacle yesterday: watching the very same people (on the Right and in the media) who remained silent about or vocally cheered on the viewpoint-based firings of Octavia Nasr …

Lillian McEwen breaks her 19-year silence about Justice Clarence Thomas  —  For nearly two decades, Lillian McEwen has been silent — a part of history, yet absent from it.  —  When Anita Hill accused Clarence Thomas of sexual harassment during his explosive 1991 Supreme Court confirmation hearing …

Dispute over New Black Panthers case causes deep divisions  —  On Election Day 2008, Maruse Heath, the leader of Philadelphia's New Black Panther Party, stood in front of a neighborhood polling place, dressed in a paramilitary uniform.  —  Within hours, an amateur video showing Heath …

GOP says compromise not on the agenda if they retake the House  —  Republicans aren't interested in compromising with President Obama on major issues if they retake the House or Senate, a senior GOP lawmaker said.  —  “Look, the time to go along and get along is over,” said Rep. Mike Pence …

‘Call Me Senator’: Let This Video Be My Apology for Once Supporting Sen. Boxer  —  ***UPDATE: This post has been updated for clarity purposes.  —  I'd like to thank Right Change (who sponsored and are planning an ad campaign to support the spot) and all the wonderful actors and crew who volunteered for the “Call Me Madam” video.

GOP congressional candidate Stephen Broden says violent overthrow of government is ‘on the table’  —  mmason@dallasnews.com  —  WASHINGTON - Republican congressional candidate Stephen Broden stunned his party Thursday, saying he would not rule out violent overthrow of the government if elections did not produce a change in leadership.

Repeal the 17th Amendment?  —  One popular idea making the rounds among some conservatives and Tea Partiers is a call for the repeal of the 17th Amendment.  From the LA Times: … There's a lot of truth to the argument that the enactment of the 17th Amendment undermined federalism.

George W. Bush Reveals His Biggest Failure Was Not Privatizing Social Security  —  WHAT'S YOUR REACTION? … Read More: Bush Privatizing Social Security, Bush Social Security, Bush Social Security Privatization, George Bush Social Security, George W. Bush, George w.  Bush Social Security, Politics News

TRENDING: Jeb Bush says ‘you betcha’ about Palin  —  (CNN) - Former Florida Republican Governor, Jeb Bush said Friday he isn't running for president, but would support Sarah Palin if she were to run.  —  In an interview with CNN Chief National Correspondent John King Friday, Bush …

Former president Clinton on mission to rescue Democratic Party in fall elections  —  Bill Clinton is baffled.  The former president's friends say he is in disbelief that in the closing weeks of the midterm campaigns Democrats have failed to articulate a coherent message on the economy and …

Does a “Dutch Sandwich” Make Google Evil?  —  It depends on what state you're in and the age of the farm animal.  —  Seriously, though, after reading this article about Google's evasion of $3.1 billion in tax obligations through legal loopholes, I got into a Twitter argument …

Joe Miller's Extreme Anti-Gay Adviser  —  One of the consultants on the the tea party-backed candidate's payroll heads a group that's so anti-gay it blasted Rush Limbaugh for hobnobbing with Elton John.  —  Post Comment  —  Joe Miller, the Sarah Palin-endorsed, tea party-backed GOP Senate candidate …

The Phenomenal ‘Chinese Professor’ Ad  —  Via Ben Smith of Politico, this amazing ad from “Citizens Against Government Waste,” which is the first spot from this campaign season you can imagine people actually remembering a decade from now.  “I'm not a witch” might be remembered as a novelty …

British Fashion Victims  —  In the spring of 2010, fiscal austerity became fashionable.  I use the term advisedly: the sudden consensus among Very Serious People that everyone must balance budgets now now now wasn't based on any kind of careful analysis.  It was more like a fad …

The Rape Accusation Against Meg Whitman's Son That Got Hushed Up  —  As a student at Princeton University, the son of California gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman—one of the school's most celebrated donors—was accused of sexually assaulting a classmate.  This is the story of the explosive accusation and its quiet aftermath.

Senate candidates try to tie each other with ‘extremist’ label  —  Philadelphia — Pennsylvania's Senate race, both candidates have tried to tie the “extremist” label to the opposition in the hopes of drumming up support among centrists, particularly in the crucial Philadelphia suburbs.

Illegal Aliens Canvass for Votes in Wash. State  —  SEATTLE — When Maria Gianni is knocking on voters' doors, she's not bashful about telling people she is in the country illegally.  She knows it's a risk to advertise to strangers that she's here illegally — but one worth taking in what she sees as a crucial election.

Union Fires Stage Hand for Wearing Bush Hat and Shirt  —  Developing:  —  Obama's visit to Los Angeles today has stirred controversy even before he arrived.  —  A stage worker setting up the stage was fired for refusing to remove his hat and turn his sweatshirt inside out and the reason?

PENTAGON BUDGET CUTS HAVE TO BE ON THE TABLE.... I continue to believe in a simple litmus test — if you claim to believe in fiscal responsibility and want to cut the deficit, you can't insist that the Pentagon budget is untouchable.  It's an immediate credibility killer, reflecting a fundamental lack of seriousness about the subject.

Tea Party to the Rescue  —  How the GOP was saved from Bush and the establishment.  —  Two central facts give shape to the historic 2010 election.  The first is not understood by Republicans, and the second not admitted by Democrats.  —  The first: the tea party is not a “threat” …