Islamofascism  —  Did you know it was Islamofascism Awareness Week?  And have you thought about what you're going to do to raise awareness about this concept the loss of which would be such a devastating blow to the vanity and intellectual pretensions of countless right-wing bloggers …

Stephen Colbert Moves Ahead of Richardson, Closes in on Biden, in National Poll!  —  NEW YORK He's been "in" the race for less than a week, and already faux-pundit Stephen Colbert has surged ahead of longtime candidate Gov. Bill Richardson in one national poll gauging the race for the Democratic nod for president.

Pelosi to launch PR blitz to beat '08 media frenzy  —  Nearly one year after recapturing control of Congress, House Democratic leaders will embark on a publicity blitz starting in November to combat a dismal 25 percent approval rating.  —  Democratic leadership aides huddled with rank …

The signers of the Declaration of Independence were "brave people, most of whom, by the way, were clergymen."  —  1 out of 56 equals 'most'?  No, it doesn't  —  During the Republican debate, Mike Huckabee said he believes one of the defining issues facing the country is the sanctity of human life.

Thompson's Daughter's Death Informs Right-to-Die Stance  —  Thompson Says End-of-Life Decisions Should Not Become 'Political Football'  —  In a moving, pointed and rare response to a question about the Terri Schiavo controversy, former Sen. Fred Thompson of Tennessee Monday afternoon described details …

Bush seeks billions more in military funding  —  The $45.9-billion emergency request would push the cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan over $600 billion, and is expected to incite critics.  —  WASHINGTON — Setting up another confrontation with congressional Democrats over the war in Iraq …

Lawbreaker in Chief  —  AT his confirmation hearings last week, Michael B. Mukasey, President Bush's nominee for attorney general, was asked whether the president is required to obey federal statutes.  Judge Mukasey replied, "That would have to depend on whether what goes outside …

The War for the Constitution  —  The anniversary of Robert Bork's failed nomination reminds us what's at stake in the coming election.  —  Twenty years ago today the United States Senate voted to reject President Reagan's nomination of Judge Robert H. Bork to the Supreme Court.

Reports Assail State Dept. on Iraq Security  —  A pair of new reports have delivered sharply critical judgments about the State Department's performance in overseeing work done by the private companies that the government relies on increasingly in Iraq and Afghanistan to carry out delicate security work and other missions.

Companies Seeking Immunity Donate to Senator  —  Executives at the two biggest phone companies contributed more than $42,000 in political donations to Senator John D. Rockefeller IV this year while seeking his support for legal immunity for businesses participating in National Security Agency eavesdropping.

U.S. Prosecution of Muslim Group Ends in Mistrial  —  A federal judge declared a mistrial on Monday in what was widely seen as the government's flagship terrorism-financing case after prosecutors failed to persuade a jury to convict five leaders of a Muslim charity on any charges, or even to reach a verdict on many of the 197 counts.

Even Closer to the Brink  —  The news out of Iraq just keeps getting worse.  Now Turkey is threatening to send troops across the border to wipe out Kurdish rebel bases, after guerrillas killed at least a dozen Turkish soldiers.  This latest crisis should have come as no surprise.

Bolton lobbies on N.K. deal  —  Former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton is urging GOP lawmakers to oppose the Bush administration's recent agreement with North Korea to end its nuclear programs, according to House Republican sources.  —  While Bolton's skepticism of North Korea is well-known …

Let the Americans Try and Stop Us! ...  "What if American F-16s come in front of us to block us?  Let them try, that's their business. ...  Our targets will be on Barzani's military and economic targets.  Our goal will be to transform the 'Kurdish dream' into a 'Turkish nightmare.'"

Warden Stone  —  A Marine Corps general brings a new approach to detainee operations.  —  IT MAY NOT BE the most dramatic operation going on to defeat the insurgency and weed out al Qaeda operatives in Iraq, and it may not grab the biggest headlines.  But one Marine general is waging …