Well, the vacation is over folks -and the Politique is back! So much has happened since we last met :=) Lets get right to the political happenings that intrigue the readers of this web page so...International:
Bush plays down Putin's criticism of US
US President George W. Bush brushed off recent sharp criticism from Russian President
Vladimir Putin, saying the two countries could work together on common goals despite a "complicated relationship."

"There's a lot we can work together on, and that's what's important for the American people to understand," Bush said at a White House news conference.

The US president acknowledged that the two leaders have "disagreed on the utility of
NATO," an alliance that Putin has described as a threat to Russia. More here

U.S. sending third carrier strike group to Gulf.
Newsweek on “The Hidden War With Iran.” At least one former White House official contends that some Bush advisers secretly want an excuse to attack Iran. “They intend to be as provocative as possible and make the Iranians do something [America] would be forced to retaliate for,” says Hillary Mann, the administration’s former National Security Council director for Iran and Persian Gulf Affairs. …

A second Navy carrier group is steaming toward the Persian Gulf, and NEWSWEEK has learned that a third carrier will likely follow. Iran shot off a few missiles in those same tense waters last week, in a highly publicized test. With Americans and Iranians jousting on the chaotic battleground of Iraq, the chances of a small incident’s spiraling into a crisis are higher than they’ve been in years.

Palestinian Islamic Jihad Terror Group Warns U.S. to Keep Hands Off Its Leader A deadly Palestinian terror group bent on the destruction of Israel warned the U.S. to leave its Syrian-based leader be, or face "a wave of violent attacks."

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) issued its threat Tuesday, a day after the FBI posted a $5 million bounty for information leading to the capture of Jihad leader Ramadan Abdullah Mohammad Shallah, believed to be operating in Damascus.

The FBI offered a similar reward for Mohammed Ali Hamadei, leader of Lebanon’s Hezbollah militia.

“Any harm to the secretary general of Islamic Jihad will endanger American interests everywhere in the region,” Abu Ahmed, a spokesman for Jihad’s military wing, the Al-Quds Brigades, said in a statement.

Bush: Iran supplying arms in Iraq
President Bush said today he's certain the Iranian government is supplying deadly weapons used by fighters in Iraq against U.S. troops, even if he can't prove that the orders came from top Iranian leaders. Wash Times has more

Joint Chiefs Chairman, Gen. Peter Pace, has his own opinion to the White House latest comments and the long-awaited military briefing held in Iraq on weapons from Iran. Hear Peter Pace in his own words -Then watch Tony Snow battle over the Pace contradiction.

Bush welcomes North Korea agreement The Bush administration called a deal to begin dismantling North Korea 's nuclear weapons program a breakthrough, but the North's history of broken promises kept the celebrations to a minimum.

There was worry, too, that accommodation of North Korea would encourage brinksmanship by
Iran or other would-be nuclear states. More

National:
Clinton warns Bush about action in Iran
Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton warned President Bush on Wednesday not to take any military action against Iran without getting congressional approval first.

"If the administration believes that any, any use of force against Iran is necessary, the president must come to Congress to seek that authority," Clinton said in a Senate speech. Read more

An emotional day for Chrysler's workers in Warren
DaimlerChrysler AG announced plans Wednesday morning to cut 13,000 jobs at the Chrysler Group from 2007 to 2009 as part of a three-year plan to return the Auburn Hills unit to profitability by next year. Read the full story here.

Al Franken Enters Minnesota Senate Race
Al Franken announced Wednesday that he will run for the Senate in 2008, making it clear that the comedian and author of "Rush Limbaugh Is A Big Fat Idiot" wants to be taken seriously as a political figure.

Franken said he would seek the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican incumbent Norm Coleman and immediately acknowledged the doubts voters may have about electing a former "Saturday Night Live" performer. Full story here.

Dems Want To Block troop funding (Not 'Support the Troops'_
Democrats considering ways to block escalation of war -Democrats say they would consider blocking funding for the escalation. ... read more

In Other News...
“The Half-Hour News Hour,” a right-leaning version of the Daily Show, debuts this Sunday on Fox News. The first episode guest-stars Rush Limbaugh and Ann Coulter as the President and Vice President. Here’s a promo

The House has begun its historic debate on Iraq. Meanwhile, a GOP strategy letter has surfaced detailing how they wish to do anything but actually debate the Iraq escalation.

Limbaugh: Obama Should ‘Renounce’ His Race And Just ‘Become White’ Listen here.

CNN’s Ed Henry’s aggressive questions about whether the administration is standing behind claims that the “highest levels” of the Iranian government have ordered weapons shipments to Iraqi insurgents. Today -that persuit continued -click here

From The Right: Doug Giles: Stick a Fork in John Edwards . . . He's Done.
Thumb-pointing, Aqua Net addicted, Presidential-(used-to-be)-hopeful John Edwards, together with his strategists, decided that if they're going to be "in it to win it" then they must employ the blogging help of a couple of anti-Christ, F-bomb droppin' honeys to convince America that he's mainstream and thus, our man.

From The Left: Editor & Publisher: Bush Press Conference Contradicts Sunday's Briefing on Iranian Weapons Bush was pressed by reporters on US officials' claims at a Baghdad briefing on Sunday. These unnamed officials charged that not only were weapons from Iran killing American soldiers in Iraq, they were being used on orders from top Iranian leaders.

Quote Of The Day:
"Money trumps peace sometimes" G. W. Bush

(Sources: USHouseOfDelegates, AFP, DetroitFreePress, MyWay, WashingtonPost, Rush Limbaugh, TownHall, RandiRhodes, FOXNews, ThinkProgress, LATimes, WashingtonTimes, CNN)