Morning Buzz

In The Star:

   Dave Helling reports that the Justice Department's Inspector General said it had investigated U.S. Attorney Todd Graves only once -- for allegedly making an improper campaign appearance. The statement reinforced Graves' assertion that he wasn't forced from office involving any probe of the fee office system.

   Joe Robertson reports that the KC School District says it won't rollback its tax rate despite soaring assessments.

   Mara Rose Williams and David Goldstein find mixed reactions on campuses to the idea of U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof becoming MU president.

   Tim Hoover examined a Missouri bill that prevents publication of the names of executioners. Press advocates say the bill tramples on First Amendment rights.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama joined Chris Dodd as the Senate Democrats running for president who voted against the Iraq spending bill; Joe Biden voted for it. The Swamp says Clinton and Obama can now "compete on an equal footing" for the anti-war voters.

    In the House, Minority Leader John Boehner was sobbed uncontrollably as he talked about the Iraq bill..

  Speaker Nancy Pelosi joined many of her committee chairmen in voting against the bill.  The Washington Post points out that it was "a historical rarity: the passage of a bill opposed by the speaker of the House and a majority of the speaker's party."

   The Washington Post also got a peak of the two forthcoming Clinton books. In Carl Bernstein's, Hillary Clinton contemplated divorce and considered a run for governor of Arkansas "out of anger at her husband's indiscretions." But as first lady, she decided "not to be forthcoming with investigators because she was convinced she was unfairly targeted." The book by Jeff Gerth and Don Van Natta Jr.  has the Clintons formulating a "secret pact of ambition" that would have had his-and-hers, back-to-back eight-year terms as president, and has her overseeing the hiring of a private investigator to undermine Gennifer Flowers "until she is destroyed." "The book also suggests that Hillary Clinton did not read the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq in 2002 before voting to authorize war."

    As opponents from the right and left challenge an immigration bill before Congress, there is broad support among Americans — Democrats, Republicans and independents alike — for the major provisions in the legislation, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

   A Research 2000 poll of Kansas voters shows Clinton leading Obama 27 percent to 22 percent among Democratic likely voters. John Edwards places third with 21 percent. Among GOP likely voters, Sam Brownback defeats Mitt Romney 18 percent to 17% percent. In a general election, Brownback beats Clintion 57 percent to 30 percent.

In The Star:

   Dave Helling wraps up the Monica Goodling testimony, focusing on the Todd Graves departure.

   Jim Sullinger reports that Kansas legislators want to launch a study on late-term abortions and whether Wichita abortion doctor George Tiller is breaking the law.

   The AP covered Gov. Matt Blunt's signing of the MoHELA bill.

   AP also has U.S. Rep. Kenny Hulshof saying he wants to be the next MU president.

   In his column, Steve Penn urges that Freedom Inc. regain its past glory.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   The New York Times reports that Democrats are bracing for mass defections on today's Iraq vote, with perhaps half of the caucus, including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, voting against the measure. "The idea that many Democrats would be left on the losing side in a consequential vote has exposed a sharp divide within the party, drawn scorn from antiwar groups, confused the public and frustrated the party rank and file," the story says.

   The Note asks whether Democrats knew it was going to be bad, but did Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid misjudge this one? "It's what the Republicans wanted,"  California Democratic Rep. Lynn Woolsey told The Politico.

   Dana Milbank writes about the latest "Monica Problem" in The Washington Post: "In a full day of testimony, she accused the No. 2 Justice official of giving false testimony to Congress, implied that Gonzales himself had improperly tried to influence her testimony, and generally described Gonzales' Justice Department as a wholly owned subsidiary of the Republican National Committee."

   New Mexico Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson is opposing the immigration bill, putting him "in agreement with a key segment of his party, including many Hispanic voters, that want more focus on reuniting families," The New York Times reports. He's the first major Democratic candidate to flat-out oppose the bill in its current form.

   Rudy Giuliani accused John Edwards "of being dangerously in denial about the dangers of global extremism."  

   The leaked memo suggesting that Sen. Hillary Clinton skip the Iowa caucuses because she couldn't win "suggested a lack of unanimity" in Clinton's camp, the Des Moines Register says. The campaign "prides itself on being airtight" so any lapse "is viewed as evidence of an internal power struggle," The Washington Post contends.

   In his book, Bob Shrum says John Kerry "wished that he'd never picked" John Edwards as his veep, New York Post reports.The Washington Post points out that Shrum writes that Edwards once said he's "not comfortable" around gays.

In The Star:

   Tim Hoover covers Missouri AG Jay Nixon's call for Gov. Matt Blunt to veto the MoHELA bill.

  Jim Sullinger has the Kansas Legislature approving a $32 million aid package for Greensburg.

   David Klepper reports that environmentalists are going to keep applying pressure on Kansas legislators to require that power companies use wind as an energy source.

   Columnist Mike Hendricks points out that Sen. Claire McCaskill, in not pushing for passage of the Equal Rights Amendment,  is no Mr. Smith.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   The lead on The Note today: "Here's a fun game for this week: Count the number of times Democratic supporters of the war-funding measure say their bill isn't a 'blank check,' and how many times Republican supporters of the immigration bill say their legislation isn't 'amnesty.'"

   Former Justice Department White House liaison Monica Goodling testifies today (beginning about 9:30 a.m. CDT) before the House Judiciary Committee on the Justice Department's firing of eight U.S. attorneys.

    ABCNews.com reports that the CIA "has received secret presidential approval to mount a covert 'black' operation to destabilize the Iranian government."

    According to the AP, President Bush plans to rally support for the war by citing intelligence reports that have Osama bin Laden ordering "a terrorist unit to hit targets outside Iraq, and that the United States should be first [hit]." 

   In the Kentucky gubernatorial primaries, GOP Gov. Ernie Fletcher, despite scandal, won a decisive victory with 50 percent over former U.S. Rep. Anne Northup's  37 percent. On the Democratic side, former Lt. Gov. Steve Beshear finished over the 40% mark and avoided a run-off.

In The Washington Post, former Bush speechwriter Michael Gerson opines that Rudy Giuliani's abortion position is indefensible: "Giuliani has chosen an option that is not an option -- a belief that unborn life deserves our sympathy but does not deserve rights or justice. This view is likely to dog him in the primary process, not only because it is pro-choice but because it is incoherent."

   Mike Huckabee's camp emailed out a fundraising solicitation titled: "So How Much Does Your Haircut Cost?" with a goal of raising 400 contributions in 96 hours.

  Can't trust that day.

  Here, in random order, are your discussion topics for today:

   Everyone is taking shots at the immigration compromise.

   Alberto Gonzales may quit this week, says Sen. Arlen Specter.

   The Iraq Study Group may be making a comeback.

   Democrats are doing a better job using the Internet, experts say.

   Kit Wagar and Tim Hoover take a look at the just-completed Missouri legislative session.  The conclusion?  Big proposals fizzled. But see:  AP's take; Democrats' reaction.

   AP says the Graves-Bond rift is behind some of the Todd Graves-U.S. attorneys story.

    Sen. Claire McCaskill won't sign on to a new push ratify the Equal Rights Amendment.

  Good morning!  I'm Dave Helling, sitting in this morning for Keith Chrostowski.

   In the news.....  Matt Campbell says the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit made about $3 million for Union Station (there's video at the link, too.)

   KU may freeze its tuition for incoming freshmen.

   A former ACORN worker admits breaking federal law in voter registration case.

    The fight over moving some students out of the Kansas City, Missouri school district and into suburban districts continues -- we've got reaction.

    In news across the nation:

    Paul Wolfowitz, out.

    Alberto Gonzales, still in, but hanging by a thread.

    Senators agree on an immigration compromise.

    The search for three missing servicement in Iraq intensifies.

    More to come, later.

In The Star:

   Kansas Sen. Pat Roberts joins those saying AG Alberto Gonzales should consider resigning.

   Judy Thomas reports that Kansas AG Paul Morrison is looking into complaints against First Family Church alleging that the Rev. Jerry Johnston misused church money.

   Tim Hoover covered General Assembly passage of a bill allowing a vote that would make it easier for schools that lie in Independence to break off from the KC school district.

   Kit Wagar followed the legislative debate that is deadlocking plans to revamp Missouri health care for the poor.

   The AP's Sam Hananel reports that U.S. GOP Rep. Kenny Hulshof reportedly is being considered to become the next MU president.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   More details are emerging from the canidates personal finance reports. John and Elizabeth Edwards reported assets of about $30 million and income of more than $7 million in the last 16 months, the New York Post reports. The Chicago Tribune says the "poorer man among the top tier" is Barack Obama "who scraped by last year on an income" of just under $1 million. Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton requested filing extensions.

   Bill Richardson plans to announce officially his White House bid  Monday in Los Angeles.

   The Los Angeles Times contends Sen. John McCain's "wooden movements, along with his age and appearance, are creating an impression about McCain's health that could be a liability."

   Obama, asked if he would consider Oprah for vice president: "I think Oprah is far more powerful than a vice president. I think that would be a demotion for her."

   Samuel Berger, the Clinton White House national security adviser who was caught taking highly classified documents from the National Archives, has agreed to forfeit his license to practice law. But In giving up his license, Berger avoids being cross-examined by the Board on Bar Counsel, where he risked further disclosure of specific details of his theft.

In The Star:

   Christine Vendel and Mark Morris report that the city's disputed withdrawal of more than $400,000 from a construction account funded by the KC Police Department has prompted police commissioners to call for an audit.

   Russ Pulley covered the charges levied against two Lee's Summit residents for allegedly putting false signatures on petitions that led to an unsuccessful recall vote against a councilwoman.

   Tim Hoover finds that an attempt to legalize midwifery in Missouri has backfired.

   David Klepper reports on a Kanas study finding that the state's decision to sell off its vehicle fleet and rent instead didn't save much money.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Last night's GOP s debate was "far more free-wheeling, and revealing" than the first one, The New York Times says. "Much of the attacks were" on John McCain, reports FOXNews.com. The Columbia State calls it "the introduction of candidate "Rudy McRomney." Bloomberg notes a sharp exchange between Mitt Romney and McCain over immigration and abortion. And the New York Post has an "irate" Rudy Giuliani ripping into Ron Paul. 

   NRO's Rich Lowry says the Paul-Giuliani exchange "probably means Rudy won this debate." The Des Moines Register's David Yepsen thinks "Romney had the best overall performance." According to The Politico, Mike Huckabee "got off the best one-liner of the night."  

  The Note notes that developments on Capitol Hill continue to shape the 2008 race. The Senate today will take a round of Iraq votes -- it's all politics, no policy, since none of the proposals can or will pass -- pitting the Democratic candidates in a cat-and-mouse game. The New York Times calls it a sign of how much "presidential politics have, once again, become intertwined with the debate in Congress." 

   The World Bank's directors are considering Paul Wolfowitz's fate today after White House Press Secretary Tony Snow said yesterday, "All options are on the table." The Washington Post reports that "the White House has concluded, through conversations with counterparts in foreign capitals and from the committee report, that Wolfowitz can no longer effectively head the institution." 

   The Los Angeles Times' Scott Martelle asks: "A third party? This could be the time."

In The Star:

   Tim Hoover reports that Missouri GOP Sen. John Loudon has been stripped of his committee chairmanship because he slipped a provision into a bill allowing midwifery.

   Kit Wagar reports on Missouri Senate passage of a firearms bill allowing homeowners more latitude to use deadly force against intruders.

  Dave Helling covers Kay Barnes' formal kick-off of her challenge to Republican Rep. Sam Graves. He talked to Graves, too. 

   Mark Morris has a federal judge rejecting motions from former JaCo exec Katheryn Shields to dismiss the mortgage fraud case against her. He says she'll have to offer facts to support her claim she's being unfairly prosecuted. 

   In his column, Steve Penn reprises Sen. Barack Obama's visit to KC last weekend.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

  In what The Note calls a potentially "Very Big Development," The New York Times reports on Iranian nuclear advances:: "Inspectors for the International Atomic Energy Agency have concluded that Iran appears to have solved most of its technological problems and is now beginning to enrich uranium on a far larger scale than before." 

   The GOP presidential candidates debate tonight in South Carolina. FNC airs it at 8 p.m. CDT. Much of the focus in the debate is likely to be on Rudy Giuliani and abortion, The Washington Post says. The Politico also has a set-up.  

   In Philadelphia today, five Democrats face off in a mayoral primary.

   The Chicago Tribune reports that Sen. Hillary Clinton is working with Emily's List to reach out to women who haven't voted before. "I think it's one of the reasons why, despite all of these polls and all of the stories about her opponents, that her lead and her base has held up," campaign strategist Mark Penn said. 

   "Personal friends" say Mike Bloomberg is prepared to spend $1 billion on a third-party bid, The Washington Times reports.

   A Minnesota Public Radio poll has GOP Sen. Norm Coleman leading comedian Democrat Al Franken 54 percent to 32 percent and leading 2000 Democrat candidate/attorney Mike Ceresi 52 percent to 29 percent.

In The Star:

   Dave Helling reports that former U.S. Attorney Brad Schlozman won't testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee until next month.

   Kit Wagar covered General Assembly passage of bill designed to help the uninsured get health coverage and Missouri House passage of a bill to revamp Medicaid.

   Tim Hoover reported on General Assembly passage of a bill cutting taxes on Social Security benefits. 

   In the "Missouri Capitol Notebook," state Sen. Jolie Justus of Kansas City lashes out at those who give tax cuts to the well-off while denying benefits to the needy.

   Kevin Murphy attended the funeral of Phil Curls Sr.

   Steve Kraske reported that Kay Barnes will announce her intention today to challenge GOP Rep. Sam Graves.

   Kraske also followed Sen. Barack Obama's visit to KC.

   In his column, Kraske discusses Sen. Kit Bond's possible motives in the Todd Graves situation.

   Rob Hotakainen reported that Rep. Sam Graves helped reverse an ethics rule that denied Congressional pilots reimbursement for flying their own planes around their districts.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Obama says that if he doesn't win in 2008, it won't be "because I'm African-American."

   The New York Times looks at former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's possible culpability in the respiratory problems suffered by Ground Zero workers. The paper reports that in sidelining federal agencies and barreling ahead with cleanup without regard to safety rules, "Giuliani might have allowed his sense of purpose to trump caution in the rush to prove that his city was not crippled by the attack." 

    Patrick Healy of The New York Times sees Bill Clinton as his wife's "master strategist," "consigliere," and "fund-raising machine" -- and has campaign advisers saying they'll eventually dispatch him on his own campaign plane, complete with his own press corps. The Note asks: What does it say about the campaign hierarchy that a "senior campaign adviser" calls the candidate "Hillary" and her husband "the president?"

   Sen. Chris Dodd is "now focusing on championing a harder line on Iraq" than most of his White House rivals, the Hartford Courant reports.

  The Politico points out that the Democrats have lost momentum on lobby reform.

In The Star:

   Dave Helling wrapped up AG Alberto Gonzales' testimony, which did little to answer questions about why Todd Graves was pushed out.

   Steve Everly reported that a U.S. House subcommittee plans to hold hearings on "hot fuel."

   Kevin Murphy has JaCo property owners in the River Market and the Crossroads screaming about tax assessments.

   DeAnn Smith and Lynn Horsley covered Mayor Mark Funkhouser's support of his chief of staff's $250,000 salary.

   Horsley also has the city council considering spending $2 million to upgrade their offices.

   Tim Hoover reported on Missouri Senate approval of Katie Smith as ag secretary.

   Kit Wagar covered General Assembly approval of a tax package and a bizzare set of deals that led to it passage.

   David Klepper has Gov. Kathleen Sebelius signing a health care reform bill.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   President Bush said it "makes sense sense to have benchmarks as a part of our discussion," even as "he threatened to veto" the new House plan. Did the statement about benchmarks have anything to do with the meeting with congresssional GOPers, such as Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, earlier this week, 

   John Edwards is offering more policy proposals than any other candidate" and they cost more than $125 billion, the AP figures. Edwards also said he was unaware of his hedge fund's push into subprime lending,  The Washington Post reports.

   Mitt Romney will be ons "60 Minutes" this Sunday, saying the Bush admin "made a number of errors" on Iraq, CBSNews.com reports. Also Mike Wallace asks the Romneys if they had premaritial sex.

   The Note draws attention to two profiles of Sen Barack Obama's wife, Michelle. USA Today has her rejecting the "Camelot" image for her husband's possible presidency, calling it "a fairy tale that turned out not to be completely true because no one can live up to that. And I don't want to live like that."  In The Washington Post, she acknowledges that "cooking isn't one of my huge things," and allowing that she hasn't decided what kind of first lady she'd be.

   Missouri Reps. William Lacy Clay and Russ Carnahan are endorsing Obama in St. Louis today.

In The Star:

   Topeka correspondent David Klepper was there when President Bush visited Greensburg, Kan., on Wednesday.

   Washington correspondent Rob Hotakainen reports on Sen. Sam Brownback's proposal to divide Iraq into three states — a parallel stance to that of Sen. Joe Biden, a Democrat.

   Melodee Hall Blobaum writes about the hiring of Alexa Posny as Kansas education commissioner.

   Topeka correspondent Jim Sullinger covers Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' signing of a bill making it a crime to kill or injure an unborn child in an attack on the mother.

   Laura Uhlmansiek reports that the Overland Park City Council increased the city's hotel guest tax to help pay for the construction of a 12-field soccer complex.

   Jefferson City correspondent Tim Hoover follows up on the controversy over Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt's pick for ag secretary, 29-year-old Katie Smith. A committee voted Wednesday to allow her confirmation to go before the full Senate today.

   Jeff City correspondent Kit Wagar has a piece on Missouri's $21.5 billion proposed budget, which lawmakers began granting final approval of Wednesday.

   Editorial writer Yael T. Abouhalkah says there are too many pieces for taxpayers in Lee's Summit's Legoland plan.

In The Star:

      Jim Sullinger and David Goldstein covered the politcal firestorm over Gov. Kathleen Sebelius' charge that the Iraq war has drained National Guard resources and would slow recovery from the Greensbug tornado. By the end of the day, the White House and Sebelius had backed away from the fight -- sort of.

    In his column, Mike Hendricks opines that the dust-up over Sebelius' charge exposes an inconvenient fact.

   Lynn Horsley and DeAnn Smith examine the fact that Mayor Mark Funkhouser's inaugual gala cost at least four times more than his predecessors' publicly funded inaugural balls.

   Kit Wagar reports on Missouri House approval to spend nearly $393 million to boost funding at state universities via the sale of MoHELA assets.

   Tim Hoover covered questions around the qualifications of Blunt choice for agriculture secretary, Katie Smith of Platte City.

    Kevin Murphy reports that Jackson County Executive Mike Sanders is no longer among the 161 county employees getting a monthly car allowance. He instead will drive a county car.

    David Klepper reports that the new Kansas Board of Education has revised its sex ed standards.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Vice President Dick Cheney paid a surprise visit to Iraq today. He and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki acknowledged problems in the pace of reducing violence, but both pledged their governments would continue working together toward a solution.

   The Note points out that the latest USA Today/Gallup Poll shows the public unconvinced that staying in Iraq helps in the fight against terror, or even in keeping Iraq from descending into civil war. The results, the paper's reporters write, "underscore the limited traction the Bush administration's arguments have gotten as White House officials and congressional Democrats negotiate an interim bill to finance the war," Susan Page and William Risser write in USA Today. 

    House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is threatening to sue President Bush if he uses a signing statement to get around provisions in an Iraq war funding bill. 

   The Politco reports that Fred Thompson will offer a more-focused stump speech Saturday night in Virginia after a coming-out speech last Friday that was received coolly by the conservative powers that be. The effort is dubbe "Stump Speech 2.0."

  Al Sharpton is in trouble after making a quip disparaging Mitt Romney's faith.  

   The Washington Post reports that conservatives are stepping up attacks on Rudy Giuliani's abortion stance. 

    Campaigning in Iowa, Sen. John McCain said the GOP "betrayed our Republican base" in 2006, the Des Moines Register reports.

   After saying "10,000" died in Kansas, Sen. Barack Obama said: "There are going to be times when I get tired."

In The Star:

   David Goldstein and Greg Gordon covered the Senate Judiciary Committee's request to Bradley Schlozman to come in and testify about whether the reluctance by certain U.S. attorneys to pursue voter fraud cases led to their firings. Here's the letter the committee sent to Schlozman.

   Jim Sullinger and Goldstein examined the how the National Guard equipment shortages are slowing the clean-up of Greensburg.

   Kit Wagar reported on final General Assembly passage of the MoHELA plan.

   Melodee Hall Blobaum covered Rep. Dennis Moore's visit to Olathe to get feedback on the No Child Left Behind Act.

   Sullinger finds that JoCo state legislators are happy with what they accomplished in the just-completed session.

   David Klepper reports that the Kansas Board of Education is set to change sex ed standards set last year by a more-conservative board.

   In his column, Steve Penn says that at his inauguration, Mayor Mark Funkhouser sounded like a coach of finally won the big one.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   The Politico finds that Rudy Giuliani contributed money at least six times to Planned Parenthood in the 1990s. 

    Sen. Hillary Clinton was on Sen. Barack Obama's home turf in Chicago and appeared with a group of African-American ministers to make clear she isn't giving up on the black vote. "I am not ceding any voter, anywhere, to anyone," she said, adding that she doesn't consider Illinois "off-limits." 

   New York Post columnist John Podhoretz thinks he knows why Clinton will never renounce her war vote. 

   The Washington Times reports that of the "25 major players who helped raise" more than $100,000 for Al Gore in 2000, at  least 12 "have not donated or publicly committed" to a 2008 White House candidate.

    This weekend Obama will be George Stephanopoulos' guest on "This Week," in his first Sunday morning interview since formally declaring his presidential candidacy. Stephanopoulos is taking viewer-submitted questions here.

   John Edwards responds to critics questioning his stand on poverty: "Would it have been better if I had done well and didn't care?"

   In Vanity Fair, James Wolcott calls it "The YouTube Election"

In The Star:

    McClatchy Newspapers reports that congressional investigators are beginning to focus on Brad Schlozman, the former interim U.S. attorney here, for his hiring practices while at the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division.

   In his Sunday column, Steve Kraske summarizes some questions Schlozman should answer.

   Kraske also had an interview with Adam Taff, the JoCo Republican who just got out of jail.

    In the "Missouri Capitol Notebook," Tim Hoover and Kit Wagar find that a conservative state rep has hired Heather Elder, whose sexual harassment charges brought down Agriculture secretary Fred Ferrell.

   Diane Carroll reports that an assistant hired by JoCo D.A. Phill Kline was censured in 1991.

   Steve Penn covered the death of former state lawmaker Phill Curls Sr. DeAnn Smith had reactions and remembrances.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

    A Newsweek poll has Hillary Clinton leading Barack Obama 51 percent to 39 percent and Rudy Giuliani leading John McCain 56 percent to 41 percent in head-to-head matchups. The poll also has Clinton leading Giuliani 49 percent to 46 percent in a head-to-head pairing.

   The Note points out that while House Minority Leader John Boehner is pleading for patience with the "troop surge,"  he then sets a deadline of his own for President Bush by which House Republicans expect progress: "By the time we get to September or October, members are going to want to know how well this is working, and if it isn't, what's Plan B."  

   The New York Times reports that Moveon.org has delivered a stark message to congressional Democrats. "If Democrats appear to capitulate to Bush - passing a bill without measures to end the war - the unity Democrats have enjoyed and Democratic leadership has so expertly built, will immediately disappear," the liberal group wrote. 

   Former Sen. John Edwards admits that a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq may increase the risk of genocide between Sunnis and Shiites, despite the 2008 Democratic presidential candidate's continued call for the complete withdrawal of American troops.

   Sen. Chuck Hagel says it's possible he'll run as an independent.

   Sen. Barak Obama declines to take offense to a parody song, "Barack the Magic Negro," that Rush Limbaugh has been airing: "I confess that I don't listen to Rush on a daily basis." 

In The Star:

   David Goldstein reports that Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill is sticking to a campaign promise by not supporting earmarks. The stand puts her at odds with other members of the state's lawmakers.

   McClatchy and Steve Kraske look back at the 2006 election and GOP efforts at voter intimidation in Missouri.

   Tim Hoover covered Missouri Senate passage of a smaller tax cut on Social Security benefits and public employee pensions.

   Hoover also reports that the effort to repeal Missouri's motorcycle helmet law has failed.

   Lynn Horsely reports that the KC Council has decided to seek a compromise on Red Bridge.

   Finn Bullers has JoCo commissioners rejecting individual meetings with D.A. Phill Kline and his staff.

   Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Rounding up covervage of last night's GOP debate: "Republicans serve up strong rhetoric on Iraq, says Politico. "08 Republicans Differ on Defining Party's Future," reports the The New York Times. "Schwarzenegger loses this debate,"  the Los Angeles Times says. Giuliani "offered a no-apologies defense of his moderate social stances," reports the New York Post). John McCain said he'd follow Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell." Then he smiled, NationalReview.com observes.

   Moderator Chris Matthews asked Mitt Romney whether it would be good to have Bill Clinton living in the White House again. "You have got to be kidding," Romney replied.

   Sen. Hillary Clinton's endorsement of a measure to sunset the Iraq authorization "represents a significant escalation in her opposition" to the war, The Washington Post says.

    ABC's Jake Tapper reports on fresh signs that "serene" Democrats in Congress are ready to back down on requiring a troop withdrawal.

In The Star:

   David Klepper and Jim Sullinger wrap up final adjournment of the Kansas Legislature.

   Tim Hoover covered Gov. Matt Blunt's appointment of a new ag chief: Katie Smith of Platte City.

    Kit Wagar finds that the General Assembly's tax credit bill has something for everybody.

   Lynn Horsley reports that KC has collected more than $2 million through its recent tax amnesty program.

   The AP's David Lieb examined Missouri officials' travel funding.

   The AP's Jim Salter covered the spat between the Missouri Department of Revenue and the AG's office, with an Ameren official accusing them of making the Taum Sauk reservoir collapse a "politcal football."

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

    Demcocrats have agreed to drop their demand for a timetable in Iraq after the failed override, The Washington Post reports.

   The Note points out this Chicago Tribune story on Sen. Barak Obama examining his record in the Illinois state senate. The reporters unearth seven (out of a total of 14) abortion-related votes where he voted "present" instead of taking a side. They summarize with a line that could describe Obama today: "He tempered a progressive agenda with a cold dash of realism, often forging consensus with conservative Republicans when other liberals wanted to crusade."

   The New York Times points out that the G.O.P. contenders in tonight's debate at the Reagan Library are wondering what they'll say about President Bush.

   The Wall Street Journal's Jackie Calmes points out Gov. Bill Richardson's largely overlooked comment that he considers the late Byron White his model Supreme Court Justice. "Whizzer" White was a Kennedy appointee who enraged the left by dissenting in Roe v. Wade and several prominent gay-rights and civil-liberties cases. 

  The Los Angeles Times' Janet Hook offers an excellent profile: "Fred Thompson: Actor, politician, candidate?" 

In The Star:

   Lynn Horsley and DeAnn Smith covered Mark Funkhouser's swearing-in and inaugural speech.

   Mike Rice puts to rest rumors that KCI was installing wash basins just for Muslim cab drivers.

   Mark Morris reports that a federal judge rejected Katheryn Shields' request to dismiss the mortgage fraud case.

   Kit Wagar covered Missouri House approval of a bill giving homeowners and drivers wide discretion in the use of deadly force against intruders.

   David Klepper and Jim Sullinger monitored the Kansas Legislature's drive toward adjournment, with lawmakers reaching an accord on a spending bill.

   Horsley reports that the effort to install red-light cameras in KC is stalled on a conflict-of-interest snag.

   Steve Rock reports on the Missouri Supreme Court upholding a law that lets parents sue anyone who helps their minor daughter get an abortion.

   Tim Hoover followed the Missouri Senate as it took up a proposal to cut taxes on Social Security benefits.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Matt Stearns of McClatchy Newspapers reveals the "management philosophy of the CEO presidency," whereby the president stands by Alberto Gonzales and Paul Wolfowitz, but is glad to see Deputy Secretary of State Randall Tobias resign after admitting to getting massages from an escort service through the "DC Madam." 

   John Edwards is launching his first TV ads, asking Congress to "stand up to" President Bush on the Iraq bill. The ads will run at a "strong buy" level in the DC market.

   In signing his veto of the Iraq bill, Bush used a pen given to him by a slain Marine's father.

   Dan Eggen of The Washington Post identifies another area where the Gonzales Justice Department used the Patriot Act to tighten its control on U.S. attorneys: a little-noticed provision allowing federal prosecutors to live outside their districts and serve simultaneously in other jobs. 

   Rudy Giuliani gets unflattering treatment in a Vanity Fair profile, with Michael Wolff writing: "He is nuts, actually mad."

In The Star:

   Jim Sullinger and David Klepper covered the changes in the Kansas university maintenance plan as it cleared its final legislative hurdle.

   Kit Wagar reports that Gov. Matt Blunt pledges he'll restore money for two projects that Senate Republicans killed last month in retaliation against two Democratic senators.

   Wagar also was there when a Missouri House panel killed a resolution to override voter approval of Amendment 2, which protects stem-cell research.

   Tim Hoover reports on the Missouri Senate setting aside the official language measure.

   Kevin Murphy has more on the grim budget outlook for JaCo.

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call, ABC's The Note and others.

    Sen. John McCain said that if he's elected president, he wants to create a worldwide "League of Democracies."

    Fred Thompson's advisers have been "talking to potential campaign managers." The Politico reports. Thompson also recently told GOPers: "I chased girls and girls chased me," The New York Times reports.

   Former CIA officers are joining critics of George Tenet.

    Newt Gingrich says he's baffled by his strong showing in polls.

    ABCNews.com reports that also on the D.C. madam's list are a Bush admin economist, the head of a conservative think tank, a prominent CEO, lobbyists and military officials.

In The Star -- a weekend roundup

   Steve Kraske discovered that late last year, JaCo used COMBAT funds to cover a budget shortfall. That's a no-no.

   Rob Hotakainen reported that Congress is looking into Bush administration favoritism toward certain reading programs.

   DeAnn Smith found that enmity still exists between the Barnes camp and the Funkhouser people.

  Dave Helling looked at the contentious issues facing the new mayor and council. 

   In his column, Kraske wonders whether former U.S. Attorney Todd Graves quit his job because he wasn't a "loyal Bushie."

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

   Former CIA director George Tenet's memoir is drawing heat from key players.. 

   Al Gore calls Canada's new plan to reduce greenhouse gases "a complete and total fraud."

   Louisiana Democratic Gov. Kathleen Blanco "would not deny she is considering re-entering" the governor's race,  the Baton Rouge Advocate reports.

    Democrats could have rushed the emergency war-funding bill" to President Bush this weekend, but they're waiting until Tuesday. Hmmm. Wonder why?

   The New York Sun reports that Clinton and Obama are raiding donors who backed Bush. 

   The Times of London previews Watergate reporter Carl Bernsteins' upcoming book on Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton. The headline: "Watergate reporter demolishes Hillary's career story."

In The Star:

   Lynn Horsley and DeAnn Smith report on the approval by the KC Council of legislation that for the first time sets goals for the number of women and minorities working in construction.

    Horsley also covered the KC Council's approval of a $10,000 raise for Wayne Cauthen.

   Tim Hoover has Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt criticizing Auditor Susan Montee's examination of the Second Injury Fund. Republicans say AG Jay Nixon was to blame for the fund's troubles, suggesting he was paying too much money to attorneys who are also political contributors.

   Kit Wagar reports that the Missouri House is upset with the slow pace of the Senate.

   David Klepper and Jim Sullinger covered Kansas Senate approval of a bill giving more money to universities for maintenance.

   Finn Bullers reports that a JoCo commissioner wants to charge cities more money for house their prisoners. 

   Don Bradley reports that Cass County is moving ahead with plans to build a $50 million arena but that Independence has jumped into the push for a minor-league hockey team.

   In his column, Mike Hendricks sings the praises of the common man (Mark Funkhouser).

Elsewhere: Selections from The Hotline's "Wake-Up Call," ABC's The Note and others.

    Lots of Democratic debate stories: "Democrats unite against war in Iraq" in the Charlotte Observer. "Democrats Focused Their Fire on Bush" on WashingtonPost.com. "Dem Hopefuls Polite, Cautious In Debate," says the AP). "No Winners. No Losers," says Slate.  The front-runners "mostly played it safe," allowing "a couple of second-tier candidates" -- Biden and Richardson -- "to shine," says the Columbia State). "Dodd, Biden, Richardson gain ground in debate," says the Des Moines Register.

   In a CBS News/New York Times poll, 64 percent of respondents favored a timetable for withdrawal sometime in 2008 and 32 percent oppose one.

   The AP's Jim Kuhnhenn reports that the 2008 candidates are relying on private jets to get around.

    The Wall Street Journal's John Harwood reportst that most Americans are saying the shift in Congress is bringing little change. Oh, yea, Congress' approval rating is lower than President Bush's.