MORE SHI'ITE
Alabama's U.S. Rep. Terry Everett (Rep. Dothan),was asked recently if he knew the difference between the two Muslim sects. Everett, vice chairman of the House intelligence subcommittee on technical and tactical intelligence, responded that he didn't know. "I thought it was differences in their religion, different families or something."
(TUSCALOOSA NEWS, unearthed by Ernie Laird)

NOT IN KANSAS ANY MORE?
In a state that voted nearly 2 to 1 for President Bush in 2004, nine former Republicans will be on the November ballot as Democrats. Among them is Mark Parkinson, a former chairman of the Kansas Republican Party, who changed parties to run for lieutenant governor with the popular Democratic governor, Kathleen Sebelius.
(WASHINGTON POST)

GETTING YOUR SHI'TE STRAIGHT
No story has been more confusing than the distinction between Shias and Sunnis. Click on the red headline above for a discussion of the Shias in Iraq and CLICK HERE for a discussion about their differences.
(ABOUT.COM)

A SPACE "MONROE DOCTRINE"
President Bush has signed a new National Space Policy that rejects future arms-control agreements that might limit U.S. flexibility in space and asserts a right to deny access to space to anyone "hostile to U.S. interests.
(WASHINGTON POST)

PELOSI'S MOMENT
If Representative Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic minority leader, becomes Speaker of the House, that is a big deal in itself. She will have reached the highest position of power (third in the line of presidential succession) ever achieved by a woman. The right demonizes her and the media occasionally make light of her skills (CLICK HERE FOR AN EXAMPLE), but Pelosi is stronger and tougher than her reputation.
(NATION, unearthed by Wythe Holt)