Editorials
The NIE-Iran Curveball - Wall Street Journal
The Torture Tapes - Washington Post
Dobbs Attacks 'Corporate Supremacists' - San Diego Union-Tribune
Romney's Distortion of the Founders - International Herald Tribune

Political News & Analysis
Romney Vows to Serve 'No One Cause' - Washington Post
Oprah Stumps For Obama in Early States - The Politico
McCain's New Hampshire Glimmer - Wall Street Journal
The Clinton Resisters - Los Angeles Times

Fighting for Iowaby Jennifer RubinA month before the voting starts things have taken a turn for the worse for Hillary Clinton and Mitt Romney in Iowa -- which their supporters and many pundits deems critical to their chances of victory.

Blocked Vatican Envoy by Robert NovakPresident Bush's nomination of Harvard Law School professor Mary Ann Glendon as U.S. … Obama Should Push Hillary out of Her Comfort Zone by David LimbaughParadox: Hillary seems both inevitable and inconceivable to me. Part of me says, "There's …

Mitt Romney Inauguration

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYjozafs4gM

Noam Chomsky on Iran:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTGf4X_Qjew&NR=1

<h3 class="CollDisplayName">Editorials</h3>
Show Us the Mortgage Relief
Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson Jr.’s new relief plan to stanch the foreclosure crisis is too voluntary as it relies on the private sector to protect the public interest.


In Arrogant Defense of Torture
Lawmakers should demand that the White House explain why intelligence operatives should scoff at a ban on torture that is unquestionably the law of the land.


Auctioning Off Nevada
Nevadans have every right to have boccie and tennis courts. But it’s not clear why the federal government should sell off chunks of the nation to pay for them.

Editorial Notebook
China Shrinks
By EDUARDO PORTER If China is less wealthy, and less a rival, maybe some members of the United States Congress will not press it so hard to revalue its exchange rate.

FRANK RICH
The Republicans Find Their Obama
The real reason for Mike Huckabee’s ascendance may be that his message is more uplifting than that of rivals whose main calling cards are fear and nativism.

• Columnist Page

maureen dowd
Mitt’s No J.F.K.
Mitt Romney was right when he said that “Americans do not respect believers of convenience.” Now if he would only admit he’s describing himself.

• Columnist Page

THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Making Peace With Pieces
Unless there is more reconciliation within the countries in the Middle East, it is hard to see how there will be more reconciliation between them.

• Columnist Page

maureen dowd
Mitt’s No J.F.K.
Mitt Romney was right when he said that “Americans do not respect believers of convenience.” Now if he would only admit he’s describing himself.

The Board: On the Campaign Trail With Oprah and Obama
On a frigid Saturday afternoon in Des Moines, Oprah Winfrey made her first political endorsement. Barack Obama, she declared, was “the one.”

Republicans Find Their Obama - Frank Rich, New York Times
The GOP Race is Still Up for Grabs - Salena Zito, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
Hillary Needs to Address the Bill Issue - David Ignatius, Washington Post
When Hope is Not Enough - Joan Vennochi, Boston Globe
Mitt's Mormon Dilemma - Terry Eastland, Weekly Standard
The Spies Strike Back - Jim Hoagland, Houston Chronicle
Making Peace With Pieces - Thomas Friedman, New York Times
The Abandonment of the Jews - Caroline Glick, Jerusalem Post
Is This Really World War IV? - Peter Beinart, Los Angeles Times
The Gulf States and Iran - Max Boot, Wall Street Journal
Stop Getting Mad, America. Get Smart. - Armitage & Nye, Washington Post
Democrats Fall in Love with Taxes Again - Stephen Moore, Weekly Standard
Blame Neglect for Mortgage Mess - Errol Louis, New York Daily News
Getting Past 'No Child' - George Will, San Diego Union-Tribune
Joseph Schumpeter Revisited - Brad DeLong, Chronicle of Higher Education
Republicans on the Fringe in Academia - Robert Maranto, Washington Post
Is Aid to Africa Doing More Harm Than Good? - IQ2 US Debate (pdf)

Editorials
Beginning of the End for Hugo Chávez - The Economist
New Republic Does Right Thing - Boston Herald
Iran's Nukes Fade Away - The Nation
Keep the Pressure on Iran - Chicago Tribune

Political News & Analysis
Huckabee Immigration Plan Emphasizes Security - New York Times
Oprah, Obama Take It On the Road - Los Angeles Times
Huckabee Making His Mark - New Hampshire Union Leader
Friends of Hillary - Wall Street Journal

Thompson Moves to Iowa
Huck Draws Increased Scrutiny
Chelsea's Campaign Cameo
Bloomberg's Electoral Math
Rudy Bets Big on Florida Oprah Stumps For Obama
The Oprah Factor
Not Your Avg Endorsement
SC Foes: 'A Publicity Stunt'
In Oprah We Trust

Obama Gains, Huckabee Surges in Iowa
- Michael Hirsh, Newsweek
The Perfect GOP Field, Except...
- Gail Collins, New York Times
Bush Boom Continues
- Larry Kudlow, National Review Online
Senate Blocks Bush's Vatican Envoy
- Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times

AWOL military justice By Morris D. Davis Why the former chief prosecutor for the Office of Military Commissions resigned his post.
Greenness is next to godliness By Gregory Rodriguez These days, being anything less than an environmental evangelist means always having to say you're sorry.
The oil speculator premium By Paul Roberts There is such a thing as a rational price for oil -- but world markets are far above it, because price bets have become self-fulfilling.

Tension in Hillaryland Grows as Plan Goes Awry - Al Hunt, Bloomberg
Is Romney Drifting, Or Is It the GOP? - John Heilemann, New York Magazine
Romney and Religion - Robert Novak, Human Events
Holy Huckabee! A Pastor's True Calling - H. Bailey & M. Isikoff, Newsweek
The Dynamics of the GOP Race in Iowa - Jay Cost, HorseRaceBlog
Obama and the American Idea - Roger Cohen, New York Times
'Our Moment Is Now,' Obama Declares - Dan Balz, Washington Post
Our Heroes Don't Want Pity, Just Respect - Ralph Peters, New York Post
After the Battle of Al-Fajr - Michael Totten, Middle East Journal
Paulson Behind the Curve - Sebastian Mallaby, Washington Post
The Trouble With the Paulson Plan - Clive Crook, Financial Times
Promoting Free-Market Ideals in Europe - John Fund, OpinionJournal
Window of Opportunity in Venezuela - Marifeli Pérez-Stable, Miami Herald
The Iran Threat Has Not Diminished - Jonathan Schell, The Guardian
Due Process for Jihadists? - Andrew McCarthy, Weekly Standard
AWOL Military Justice - Morris Davis, Los Angeles Times
A Year Later, Signs of Progress Around the World - Michael Barone, RCP
Sunday Talk: MTP: Giuliani, This Week: Biden, FNS: Huckabee, McCain

Editorials
Dems Admit Paygo Was a Farce - Wall Street Journal
More Farm Follies - Washington Post
Delay, Obstruction and Darfur - New York Times
Who Says Obama Isn't Electable? - New Hampshire Union Leader

Political News & Analysis
Oprah and Obama a Hit in S.C. - Chicago Tribune
Republicans Woo Hispanic Voters - Wall Street Journal
Candidates Scramble To Defend Their Pasts - New York Sun
Clinton Rolls a Sizable Pork Barrel - Los Angeles Times

Wall Street Journal: The GOP Univision Debate (PDF)
Fox News Sunday: Huckabee, McCain ON Fox News Sunday
Meet The Press: Rudy's Hour On "Meet The Press"
Open House: Treasury Secretary Paulson Discusses Housing
Hannity & Colmes: Polling Roundtable

New York Times / PAUL KRUGMAN

Op-Ed Columnist: Henry Paulson's Priorities

• Economist's View: The Paulson plan may be better than nothing, but is it better than the alternative plans it supplant...
• The Left Coaster: Krugman reviews the Treasury Secretary's plan for helping forestall the wave of foreclosures and bel...

New York Times / MICHAEL COOPER and MARC SANTORA

Rivals Hold Firm On Immigration In Republican Debate

• LewRockwell.com Blog: "Representative Ron Paul of Texas did not appear to tailor his message to the crowd at all, drawing ...
• The American Street: Looks like the press is no longer enamored of Rudy, based on the grilling he got at the debate toni...

Republicans Find Their Obama
- Frank Rich, New York Times
Questions Grow as Jan. 3 Nears
- David Yepsen, Des Moines Register
Hillary Needs to Address the Bill Issue
- David Ignatius, Washington Post
No Done Deal for Clinton
- Dan Balz, Washington Post

The Perfect Storm of Campaign 2008

Steve Fraser, Tomdispatch.com

War, economic collapse, and the political implosion of the Republican Party will make 2008 a year to remember.

• New Hapshire Union Leader Endorses Senator John McCain
• Obama Privately Meets With New Hampshire Freedom to Marry group
• Hillary Clinton Lands Earmarks For Campaign Contributions
• Second Clinton Volunteer Resigns Over Obama Muslim Email

Romney and Religionby Robert NovakRomney's problem is not difficult to diagnose. He never has come close to being a leading rank-and-file choice for president by Republicans...

Russert Pounds Giuliani on 'Meet the Press'by Ross KaminskyTim Russert came out swinging when he interviewed Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani.

The CIA Tapes by Jed Babbin Congress owes our interrogators clarity in the law.

Hillary Barely Ahead of Obama in Four States

• GOP Candidates Temper Anti-Immigrant Talk for Univison Debate
• Huck On The Air In IA, NH, and SC
• Over 29,000 Show Up For South Carolina Oprah-Obama Rally
• New Hillary Ad: It Takes Both "Strength And Experience"
• Rudy Won't Sever Ties With Bracewell Firm
• Hillary's Mother And Daughter Go Campaigning
• Over 18,000 Turn Out For Oprah And Obama In Iowa

Harry, pass the energy bill! The Senate is about to vote on a monumental energy bill.

But the bill will be meaningless without a CAFE standard of 35 mpg and a renewable electricity standard of 15%.

With oil approaching $100/barrel, the Senate must address our energy crisis.

Tell the Senate to pass a strong energy bill!

The Lobby Strikes Back
By Scott McConnell
Israel’s defenders try to bury the argument that the U.S. should treat the Jewish state like a normal country.

Obama, Oprah team to 'change the world'
By Christina Bellantoni
After Oprah Winfrey delivered what could have been a Sunday sermon on her favorite politician, Sen. Barack Obama evoked civil rights leaders to urge nearly 30,000 people to "stand up" and "change the world."

Photos: Oprah joins Obama on the campaign trail

TWT Video: Too much excitement in Iowa

Video: Obama Taps Oprah's Campaign Star

Two GOP hopefuls see some illegals as citizens Stephen Dinan
Sen. John McCain and former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani stood alone among the Republican presidential candidates in last night's Spanish-language debate in calling for some illegal aliens to be granted a path to citizenship.
Video: GOP Candidates Praise Hispanics

How McCain Could Still Win - Ron Claiborne, ABC News
Giuliani, Clinton & the Likability Issue - Burt Solomon, National Journal
Convention Chaos for the GOP? - David Freddoso, National Review Online
Pelosi's Credibility Hit by Torture News - John Nichols, The Nation
Tax Fix May Doom Spending Cuts, and Dems - Kevin Hassett, Bloomberg
A Band-Aid for the Mortgage Crisis - James Surowiecki, The New Yorker
It's Time to Abolish the CIA - Christopher Hitchens, Slate
Mike McConnell Is Flat Wrong - Sen. Chris Dodd, Huffington Post
The Quiet Rise of Jon Kyl - Fred Barnes, Weekly Standard

The CIA's Gift to Conspiracy Theorists

"I have to wonder what space-time continuum the CIA exists in," writes Bob Baer (of "Syriana" fame) in Time, "if they weren't able to grasp what a field day the 9/11 conspiracy theorists are going to have with [the destruction of detainee abuse tapes] especially at a time when trust for the government is plumbing new depths."

The Intent of the Second Amendment

Now that gun bans in Washington, D.C., are under Supreme Court review, the court must confront a crucial question: Is there an individual right to bear arms? Nearly no one argues that the Fourth Amendment right of “the people” to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures should not apply as an individual right. Yet where the same language appears in the Second Amendment, affirming the right of “the people” to keep and bear arms, many gun control advocates contend that there is no individual right at stake. Instead, they argue that the Second Amendment protects a collective right, one enjoyed by the respective states’ National Guard units.

According to a new op-ed by Independent Institute Senior Fellow and legal scholar Stephen P. Halbrook, however, “These attempts to deconstruct ignore that ‘the people’ means you and me, not the states, and that no ‘right’ exists to do anything in a military force—a militiaman does what is commanded.” Gun control proponents also neglect American history. After the American Revolutionary War, “Antifederalists protested that [the newly framed Constitution] included no declaration of rights and would allow deprivation of rights like free speech and keeping arms. James Madison responded in The Federalist that a declaration was unnecessary, in part because of ‘the advantage of being armed, which the Americans possess over the people of almost every other nation.”

A Bill of Rights was ratified to keep the new U.S. government limited and the American people free. Violations of the right to bear arms were a key grievance the colonists had against the British Crown. It is unimaginable that the Founders would have trusted government with control over individual weapons ownership. In the forthcoming Supreme Court deliberations, Halbrook hopes that “the Justices will be mindful of the Founders’ intent and will recognize that the Second Amendment is every bit a part of the Bill of Rights as is the First.”

“Our Second Amendment: The Founders’ Intent,” by Stephen P. Halbrook (12/06/07) Spanish Translation

That Every Man Be Armed: The Evolution of a Constitutional Right, by Stephen P. Halbrook

The Post-War Election? – David Brooks, New York Times
Will New-Found Security Last in Baghdad? – Trudy Rubin, Baltimore Sun
American Troops are Winning – Pete Hegseth, Washington Times
Tehran and Washington Must Swallow Rhetoric – Max Hastings, Guardian
How to Defuse Iran? – Leverett and Leverett, New York Times
Facts Get in Way at White House – H.D.S. Greenway, Boston Globe
Iran NIE: Fantasies and Realities - Tulin Daloglu, Washington Times
Questions of Intelligence – Ephraim Sneh, Boston Globe
The NIE Fantasy – Bret Stephens, Wall Street Journal
Tanks vs. Talks – Debra Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle
Help the Peace Corps – Obermayer and Quigley, Christian Science Monitor
Victory via Fuel Choice – Frank Gaffney Jr., Washington Times
Vapid Vassals – Bruce Fein, Washington Times
Due Process for Jihadists? – Andrew McCarthy, Weekly Standard
CIA Tapes Investigation – Philadelphia Inquirer editorial
CIA’s Dark Cave – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editorial
Wrong Way to Fight Terrorism – San Francisco Chronicle editorial

The Postwar Election - David Brooks, New York Times
Behind the GOP's Anti-Immigration Frenzy - Ryan Lizza, The New Yorker
Honesty: Hillary's Glass House - Stuart Taylor, National Journal
Rudy's Resiliency is Latest Test - Jonathan Kaufman, Wall Street Journal
Will Blacks Buy into Dream of Obama? - Eugene Robinson, Washington Post
The Mitt-Mike Religious War - Patrick Buchanan, Creators
Poll Finds GOP Voters Uninspired - Nagourney & Thee, New York Times
Dems Are Addicted to Backing Down - Arianna Huffington, Huffington Post
Talks vs. Tanks - Debra Saunders, San Francisco Chronicle
US Must Transcend Neo-Con View - Anne-Marie Slaughter, The Australian
How to Defuse Iran - Flynt Leverett and Hillary Leverett, New York Times
Dollar Diagnosis: Adjustment or Affliction? - Chris Giles, Financial Times
Housing Crisis Clarifies Partisan Divide - Gerald Seib, Wall Street Journal
A Precious and Painful Vision of the Future - Al Gore, The Nation
Paralyze The FEC? Splendid. - George Will, Washington Post
Coburn Battles the Senate Over Earmarks - Ryan Grim, The Politico

Editorials
Putin's Man Gets Putin's Job - The Guardian
It's Truth-Telling Time on Interrogations - Chicago Tribune
Cocaine: Balancing the Scales of Justice - Seattle Times
Words That Risk Death - Arizona Republic

Political News & Analysis
It's Iowa, Not NH, for Thompson - New Hampshire Union Leader
Independent Groups to Play Big Role in Election - Boston Globe
Romney Runs Campaign's Inaugural TV Attack Ad - Los Angeles Times
Turning Oprah Fans Into Voters - Chicago Tribune

Hillary Clinton, According to Bill
Edwards: How He Got Here
Obama Offers Dems a Savior
Guessing Obama's VP Pick
Gore Leaves the Door Open

Huckabee Basks in Success
Romney Defends Faith Speech
Rudy & Mitt's Contrasting Styles
Huckabee on Hannity & Colmes
Romney Ad Hits Huckabee
Fake Immigration Tough Guys

Bush, Republicans Set for Budget VictoryFrom news.aol.com

Editorial: Don't go wobbly on spending, Mr. PresidentFrom examiner.com

Waterboarding RecountedFrom washingtonpost.com

Romney to hit Huck on immigration in IowaFrom politico.com

Hillary On The March Against ObamaFrom usnews.com

Do It Our Way by Robert Spencer Free speech is a foundational freedom. 'Media guides' such as CAIR’s are the means by which totalitarians seek to end it.

Only few saw the key FISA court rulings By Helen Fessenden December 11, 2007 Only a handful of lawmakers have seen a set of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court rulings on eavesdropping that have been cited by the Bush administration and Republicans as one of the principle reasons to transfer authority away from the court to the attorney general and director of national intelligence (DNI). Read More...

Have Pelosi and Dem Leaders Been Complicit in Bush's Torture Policy Since 2002?

Jeremy Brecher, Brendan L. Smith, AlterNet

What did Congressional Democrats know about Bush's waterboarding and rendition policies, and when did they know it?


Gang Rape Cover-Up by Halliburton/KBR Revealed

Steven Reynolds, The All Spin Zone

PEEK: KBR told the victim she could lose her job if she sought help after being raped by her fellow employees.


How to Vote in the Primaries and Make It Mean Something

David Swanson, After Downing Street

10 things to remember about voting in primary elections.

New Documents Revealed in Case of Huckabee's Support for Freeing Rapist
Sam Stein and Nico Pitney: Even with these documents at hand, Huckabee supported the release of Dumond from prison, backed by fervent anti-Clinton activists.


Viacom Lobbyists Hired CIA Torturer for "Kite Runner" Movie
Lindsay Beyerstein: The filmmakers have hired the retired CIA agent who helped waterboard Abu Zubaydah.


New Ad: If Cheney Didn't Get Government Health Care, "He'd Probably Be Dead by Now"
Matt Corley: This factual and provocative ad isn't outrageous.


Chief Gitmo Prosecutor Resigned When Placed Under Command of Torture Advocate
Amanda Terkel: Davis said that the Pentagon had ordered him "not to communicate with the news media about my resignation or military commissions."

Bush's NIE Vindication
By: William R. Hawkins
Teddy Roosevelt would have understood Bush's Iran policy. More>

Mr. Charisma Kills Hillary '08
By: Dick Morris and Eileen McGann
Bill's campaigning doesn't help the little (first) lady. More>

Hillary Clinton on Iraq
Stephen Zunes
Dec 10, 2007

We're Practically Giving it Away!
Vol. 2, No. 50
Dec 10, 2007

Power and Corruption: Just What Is Their Relationship?
by Andrew Bard Schmookler

Once Upon a Time
by Cindy Sheehan

First, It Was War On Crime, Then Drugs, Next Terror, Now It's War On Americans
by William Cormier

Childhood Obesity - A Threat to our Public Health
by Leslie

Elimination Of Terrorism Must Come Before Elections In Pakistan
by Muhammad Khurshid
Don't Start Without Me
by Jayne Lyn Stahl

Terrorists Controlling Tribal Areas, Pakistan
by Muhammad Khurshid

Descendents of Bloody Rac
ist Colonizers of Africa Pretend to Care, Keep Sanctions on Zimbabwe
by Jay Janson

2007 Technology Tests of Computerized Voting Systems
by Rady Ananda

FRIENDLY COMMUNITY BANKS HAVE MORPHED--BY GOVERNMENT DEREGULATION--INTO MONSTERS UNDER THE BED
by Jim Freeman

Wexler Urges Hearings on Cheney Impeachment
by David Swanson

America: Are You F**king Brain Dead?!
by steve young
Fallout From NIE Nuke Report
by The Stiletto

Forget the Tapes!
by Jay Farr

ROMNEY AND THE POLYESTER BLASPHEMY
by Lee Patton

The Obama Factor: Can a 'Brotha' Win?
by Mumia Abu-Jamal

When the American Dream Becomes a Nightmare
by Patricia L Johnson