Broader Privilege Claimed In Firings  —  White House Says Hill Can't Pursue Contempt Cases  —  Bush administration officials unveiled a bold new assertion of executive authority yesterday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never …

Edwards, Trailing Rivals, Holds Sway Over Party's Agenda  —  NEW ORLEANS — John Edwards may be stuck in third place in the polls and fund raising in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.  But the populist seems to be playing an outsized role in driving the terms of the party's debate …

Romney aide's bogus badges: Sources detail 'illegal' security tactic  —  In an apparent violation of the law, a controverisal aide to ex-Gov. Mitt Romney created phony law enforcement badges that he and other staffers used on the campaign trail to strong-arm reporters, avoid paying tolls …

U.S. Generals Request Delay in Judging Iraq  —  The top commanders in Iraq and the American ambassador to Baghdad appealed for more time beyond their mid-September assessment to more fully judge if the new strategy was making gains.  —  Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the No. 2 commander in Iraq …

The Enemy Within: Where Are the Islamist/Jihadist Websites Hosted, and What Can Be Done about It?  —  Today, in a briefing on Capitol Hill hosted by Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia and Rep. Mike Pence …

Ted Kennedy And The Democrats Hate Free Speech  —  Once again, Minnesota's Senator Norm Coleman attempted to ensure that government would not control the content of political speech — and once again the Democrats ensured that they could impose it.  Ted Kennedy himself blocked Coleman's amendment …

Breakdown in Relations in the Senate Hobbles Its Ability to Get Things Done  —  Arlen Specter is a senior United States senator who expects to be allowed his say on the Senate floor.  So he bristled when Senator Harry Reid, the majority leader, brusquely cut him off at the end of the Iraq debate.

Hastert to resign?  —  According to the Politico, columnist Robert Novak will report this weekend:

Hillary Clinton's Tentative Dip Into New Neckline Territory  —  There was cleavage on display Wednesday afternoon on C-SPAN2.  It belonged to Sen. Hillary Clinton.  —  She was talking on the Senate floor about the burdensome cost of higher education.  She was wearing a rose-colored blazer over a black top.

Welcome to Baghdad  —  BAGHDAD — Never again will I complain about the inconvenience and discomfort of airports and civilian airline travel delays.  You won't either if make your way from Kuwait to Baghdad in July during a war.  —  Military planes leave Kuwait every couple of hours …

Disarmed by the Dems  —  Congressional leaders fail to protect terror tipsters from insane lawsuits  —  Be Our Guest  —  He's your son, riding a commuter train to work.  Your daughter, taking the subway to go shopping downtown.  Your grandparent, boarding an airplane at JFK en route to a family reunion.

Fitzgerald Deserves Top U.S. Law Post, Comey Says  —  Patrick Fitzgerald won the convictions of four Osama bin Laden associates in May 2001.  In March, he got Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby.  Last week, he nailed Conrad Black.  —  Fitzgerald, 46, isn't saying what he'll do next in his career.

Giuliani Sees Progress Since Sept. 11, but Criticizes Bush's Way of Pursuing Al Qaeda  —  Saying he still believes that the United States is safer than it was on Sept. 11, Rudolph W. Giuliani on Thursday nevertheless criticized the way the Bush Administration pursued Al Qaeda and suggested …

NBA IN A 'FIX'  —  FEDS PROBING REF IN MAFIA BET SCAM  —  THE FBI is investigating an NBA referee who allegedly was betting on basketball games - including ones he was officiating during the past two seasons - as part of an organized-crime probe in the Big Apple, The Post has learned.

Trouble With the Neighbors  —  One of the most infuriating problems in Iraq seems to generate precious little fury.  —  In a kind of malicious chemistry experiment, hostile powers are adding accelerants to Iraq's frothing chaos.  Iran smuggles in the advanced explosive devices that kill and maim American soldiers.