The F Word. Dick Cheney told Vermont Senator Patrick Leahy to "fuck off" on the floor of the Senate this week, but when asked about it, Cheney couldn't even admit it (he said he "probably" had done it). ... Republicans and their supporters forgave Cheney immediately, of course, saying it showed him as a man who stands "forceful in the face of unwarranted criticism." ... But when John Kerry used the same word awhile back, the Bush administration reacted with indignation. White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card: I'm very disappointed that he would use that kind of language. I'm hoping that he's apologizing at least to himself ..."

An anonymous 22-year CIA veteran (and author of the new book "Imperial Hubris") states that the US is losing the war on terror. From a long Q&A: "Bin Laden saw the invasion of Iraq as a Christmas gift he never thought he’d get." ... The AP reports that Colin Powell wants the "terrorists battling US troops [to] lay down [their] arms and help the new Iraqi government" because "This is costing the American taxpayers a great deal of money and it is straining our armed forces considerably."

Finally: "Medicare is planning a lottery later this year for people with cancer, multiple sclerosis and several other diseases. For the 50,000 winners, the government will start helping pay for their medicine, but more than 450,000 others must wait until 2006." ... This is not from The Onion, it's a real story.