Huckabee: ‘Take Your Best Shot’ The candidate who has gone from microscopic numbers to front-runner status is starting to feel the heat, but Mike Huckabee would rather suffer the slings and arrows of his opponents’ attacks than go back to toiling away in conservative obscurity: “It’s almost like ‘take your best shot, people.’ ” Now if the marginalized Democratic candidates could replicate Huckabee’s success, we’d have an exciting race on our hands.

The Electability Canard Ari Berman takes a look at the Democrats’ premiere non-issue as the campaign in Iowa draws closer to a conclusion: electability. He concludes that, their propaganda aside, all of the top candidates have positives and negatives that cancel each other out, but that probably doesn’t even matter. As Bill Clinton himself said: “This electability thing is a canard.”

Calling on Congress to Stop a War
By Scott Ritter — The former chief weapons inspector argues that the Bush administration isn’t going to let facts get in the way of its eagerly sought war with Iran. If there’s any hope of avoiding such a conflict, Ritter writes, Congress will have to rouse from its slumber and act, rather than continuing to wait for the White House to make the first move.

Olbermann: Bush Either ‘Pathological Presidential Liar’ or ‘Idiot-in-Chief’ Not one to mince words, MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann ripped into President Bush for beating the WWIII war drums about Iran months after the gist of the NIE report on Iran was known to the White House: “It is the nightmare scenario of political science fiction: a critical juncture in our history and ... a president manifestly unfit to serve and, behind him in the vice presidency, an unapologetic warmonger who has long been seeing a world visible only to himself.”

• Hillary's "Home-Run" For the Purpose-Driven Left
• Condi's African Holiday
• The Five: 2008 Tax Returns Delayed
• Laying a Mitt on the Secularists
• In Politics Values Matter, Not Theology
• Bill Clinton Stumps for His Wife in Iowa
• MoveOn Targets Hillary and Obama
• Political Speech Is Not Free Speech
• Clinton Says Hillary Was Always the One
• Huckabee's 1992 Words Get New Attention
• Clinton: 'I Told Hillary to Dump Me'

Huckabee: "Don't Mormons Believe That Jesus And The Devil Are Brothers?"


Quick Read

Interview
Thom Hartmann: Edwards Next Potential FDR, Obama Next JFK



By JB Powell

• Read Post |
• Comments

Vilsack Leads Clinton Attack On Obama
Quick Read

Iowa: Oprah Spins Magic For Obama


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For Dems, Voters Of Faith Increasingly Appealing For '08


Quick Read

Bankers Hold Sway
Over Dem Candidates



By Jacob Alperin-Sheriff
Read Post

The Huckabee Factor - Ahead in the polls, but short of volunteers and money

The Roots of the Mortgage Crisis - Alan Greenspan, Wall Street Journal
America Must Resist Protectionism - Michael Bloomberg, Financial Times
The Huckabee Factor - Zev Chafets, New York Times Magazine
Last Debates Could Have 'Seismic Impact' - Thomas Beaumont, DM Register
Bill Concerned Hillary Could Lose - K. Bazinet & T. DeFrank, NY Daily News
Obama Backers Batten Hatches For Clinton Hit - Jason Horowitz, NYO
Mitt Romney for President - National Review
Conservatives Should Be Wary of Romney - Jeffrey Lord, OpinionJournal
'08 Will Transcend Old Partisan Dividing Lines - Jon Freedland, Guardian
OH-5 & VA-1 Results Good News for GOP - Stu Rothenberg, RealClearPolitics
Senate GOP Frustrating Dem Majority - Dave Herszenhorn, New York Times
Pelosi Vows More Civil Approach--Next Year - VandeHei & Harris, Politico
The Dunderheaded NIE Public Roll-Out - Dennis Ross, The New Republic
Congress Faces Decision on FISA - Michael Mukasey, Los Angeles Times
Who Authorized CIA to Destroy Tapes? - Isikoff & Hosenball, Newsweek
What I.Q. Doesn't Tell You About Race - Malcolm Gladwell, The New Yorker
Wartime Moms - Ralph Peters, New York Post
CNN NH Poll: Clinton 31, Obama 30 | Romney 32, McCain/Giuliani 19

latest 2008 polls
IA (Rasmussen): Clinton +3
NH (CNN/WMUR): Romney +13
NH (CNN/WMUR) Clinton +1
NH (Rasmussen): Obama +3
National (ABC/WP): Giuliani +6
National (ABC/WP): Clinton +30

Editorials
Politics, Putin-Style - New York Times
Huck, Mitt Play God Games - New Hampshire Union Leader
Chavez's Crude Politics - Investor's Business Daily
Rate Cut Disappointment - RealClearMarkets

Political News & Analysis
In Poll, Huckabee Closes on Giuliani - Washington Post
Feeling Heat, Clinton Tries Iowa Up Close - New York Times
Electability Makes Its Return to Dem Primary - The Hill
In N.H., Iraq War Fading as Key Issue - Chicago Tribune

A Rudy Awakening
- Charlie Cook, National Journal
Huckabee 'Easy Kill' in General Election
- Matt Drudge, Drudge Report
Bush Surging, Not Fading, as Tenure's End Nears
- Ron Christie, The Hill
So What If Clinton Loses in Iowa?
- Steve Kornacki, New York Observer

Trust Meby Monica CrowleyHillary Clinton has a track record to prove she can't be trusted, but all of the candidates have a major gap to fill in this department.

The Huckaboomby Sean P. TrendeThe ascent of former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in the Republican primary polls has been like nothing Republicans have seen in recent memory.

ongress must choose how to correct critical shortcomings in our foreign intelligence surveillance laws. Michael Mukasey, Los Angeles Times

Celebrity, Immigration & Dems
MARK HEMINGWAY: I have a Secret for Oprah-Obama fans. “The Trouble with Celebrity Endorsements” 12/12 8:15 AM

MICHELLE MALKIN: Every Democrat running for president thinks anti-illegal immigration activists are all racists and xenophobes. Do we really need a Republican nominee for president who thinks the same way? “Border Control Cross-Dressers” 12/12 12:00 AM

JONAH GOLDBERG: Obama has the magic touch; Hillary does not. “Dems' Feel-Good Guy” 12/12 12:00 AM

Maureen Dowd: Dumbest Guy Gives Dumbest Speech The Defense Department's third in command under Rumsfeld: Douglas Feith, of course. "Jay Garner, America's first viceroy in Iraq, deemed him 'incredibly dangerous' and said his 'electrons aren't connected.'"

Ominous Arctic Melt Worries Experts Coming on the heels of Al Gore's acceptance of the Nobel Peace Prize is this dire report: An already relentless melting of the Arctic greatly accelerated this summer, a warning sign that some scientists worry could mean global warming has passed an ominous tipping point. One even speculated that summer sea ice would be gone in five years. Houston, we have a problem. Global warming is exceeding computer model predictions.

Froomkin: Did Torture Work? In interviews yesterday and this morning, a former CIA agent called waterboarding what it is. Not "enhanced interrogation" or "harsh tactics." Simply: torture. It's a notable achievement in the battle against the Orwellian doubletalk infesting the national discourse and the news coverage about this important issue.

Questions Linger After Hayden Testimony CIA Director Michael Hayden, testifying before the Senate Intelligence Committee behind closed doors Tuesday, failed to answer central questions about the destruction of secret videotapes showing harsh interrogation of terror suspects. The CIA destroyed the tapes in November of 2005. Exactly when Congress was notified of that and in what detail is in dispute.

MORTGAGE MELTDOWN - the real story is fraud The sole goal of the freeze is to prevent owners of mortgage-backed securities, many of them foreigners, from suing U.S. banks and forcing them to buy back worthless mortgage securities at face value - right now almost 10 times their market worth.

The Cartoon Mitt Romney Doesn’t Want You To See [VIDEO]
Video: That it's got over 500,000 views on YouTube can't help someone like Mitt Romney More »

The Ron Paul Revolution Will Be Televised [VIDEO]
Video: PBS' NOW investigates Ron Paul's incredible following on the internet and his unconventional campaign for the Republican presidential nomination. More »

"Look": The First Major US Film Made Entirely With Surveillance Footage [VIDEO]
Video: "Who is watching this footage and who is keeping it safe from public distribution? Who has access to it and for how long? What safeguards exist to make sure highlights of YOUR ass are not making it onto the most viewed list on YouTube?" More »

Clinton Campaign Takes a Mud Bath
Hillary Clinton’s New Hampshire campaign co-chair issued a sleazy attack on Barack Obama on Wednesday, which he tried to pass off as an exploration of “openings for Republican dirty tricks.” It’s a tactic we’re likely to see more of as the candidates jockey for position and one-time front-runners get desperate.

Huckabee’s Sermons Off Limits
The Huckabee campaign has refused to give the media much more than scraps of the candidate’s religious speeches, leaving his 12 years as a pastor relatively shrouded in mystery. We already know he doesn’t believe in evolution, thought at one time that AIDS patients should be quarantined and isn’t ashamed “to let you know that I believe Adam and Eve were real people,” so what is he hiding?

Mercy From Mr. Mike By Joe Conason — Some killers apparently were able to get out of prison by letting then-Gov. Huckabee know they had “found Jesus.” The terrible aftermath may say something important about the candidate.

HRC troubles may pose problem for Giuliani By: BEN SMITH and JONATHAN MARTIN | 12/12/2007 05:39 PM Clinton’s fading aura of invincibility makes it hard for GOP to use her as bogeyman in pitch to party base.
Foreign buyers court Congress By: SAMUEL LOEWENBERG | 12/12/2007 07:40 PM Congress seems enthusiastic about foreign purchases of stakes in U.S. firms -- but angry about security leaks.
Huck camp backtracks on Mormon question By: MICHAEL CALDERONE | 12/12/2007 06:36 PM Huckabee and NYT reporter differ on candidate's question about Mormons, Jesus and the devil.
Pelosi, Boehner want page inquiry By: AMIE PARNES and PATRICK O'CONNOR | 12/12/2007 07:49 PM House leaders have directed the inspector general to investigate allegations of misconduct.

Destruction of CIA Tapes Can't Hide Barbaric U.S. Torture Methods

By Ray McGovern, Consortium News

The Bush administration reeks of war crimes. It's time to stop brutal forms of torture dating back to the Spanish Inquisition.

Born to Shop: How Marketers Brainwash Babies

Terrence McNally, AlterNet

Marketers are targeting kids at disturbingly young ages, compromising the nation's health, creativity and democracy.


The Market Itself Won't Curb Our Oil Addiction

Charlie Cray, HuffingtonPost.com

Environment: We must look elsewhere if we want to stave off an energy crisis.

Is Satan Headed to the White House?

by Pam Spaulding, Pam's House Blend - 6:18 AM

GOP's Last Iowa Debate: All Aboard the Crazy Train

by Steve Benen, The Carpetbagger Report - 5:57 AM

One Step Taken Towards Ending the War on Drugs, One Hundred More to Go

by Ezekiel Edwards, Drum Major Institute - 3:24 PM

One Step Taken Towards Ending the War on Drugs, One Hundred More to Go

by Ezekiel Edwards, Drum Major Institute - 3:24 PM

GOP Rep Declares US a Christian Nation, Calls on Americans to "Stand Up" and "Worship Christ"

by Satyam Khanna, Think Progress - 2:09 PM

Kucinich Barred from Iowa Dem Debate, While Alan Keyes Gets to Participate in GOP's

by GottaLaff, Cliff Schecter's Blog - 12:54 PM

GOP Senator Says Waterboarding Torture Technique Is Like "Swimming"

by Amanda Terkel, Think Progress - 9:53

Corporate Accountability and WorkPlace
Why Won't the Candidates Talk About Americans' Economic Pain?
by Paul Waldman, The American Prospect

In Iowa, a Scrambling Lesson for Clinton - Anne Kornblut, Washington Post
No Firewall in NH for Hillary - John DiStaso, New Hampshire Union Leader
Thompson Registers in GOP Debate - David Yepsen, Des Moines Register
Awful Debate Was a Waste of Time - Jay Cost, HorseRaceBlog
Hillary's Slush-Fund Attack - Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times
Is Huckabee the New Jimmy Carter? - Steven Stark, Boston Phoenix
The Oprah Factor: A Big Boost for Obama - Dick Morris, The Hill
How Immigration is Reshaping Politics - VandeHei & Harris, The Politico
The End of Globalization? - Gabor Steingart, Der Spiegel
Lou Dobbs Winning Would Be a Disaster - Mort Kondracke, Roll Call
Misreading the Iran Report - Henry Kissinger, Washington Post
Fixing the CIA Mess - David Ignatius, San Diego Union-Tribune
When Waterboarding Works - Byron York, The Hill
CIA Agents Sense Shifting Support for Methods - Scott Shane, NY Times
Powerful Awakening Shakes Iraqi Politics - Trudy Rubin, Philly Inquirer
Putin's Hold on Russia - Cathy Young, Boston Globe
An Armed Hero - Cal Thomas, San Antonio Express-News

Clinton Insiders Question Penn
Clinton Official Warns Obama Will Be Attacked on Drug Use
Obama's Iowa Ground Game
Edwards Banks on Organization
Bill May Curb Ties to Burkle

Editorials
Surge's Success Holds Chance in Iraq - USA Today
Algeria Warning - The Australian
The Immigration Swamp - Washington Post
Why Harvard Costs So Much - Wall Street Journal

Political News & Analysis
Final Debate Before Iowa Shows Uncertainty at Top of GOP Field - NYT
Salvos Intensify in Clinton-Obama Tiff - Chicago Tribune
HRC Troubles May Pose Problem For Giuliani - The Politico
Where Bloomberg Fits in Election - Wall Street Journal

Iowa Polls
Stategic Vision: Huckabee +5
Stategic Vision: Obama +8
Rasmussen Reports: Clinton +3 New Hampshire Polls
Suffolk/WHDH: Clinton +7
Suffolk/WHDH: Romney +12
CNN/WMUR: Clinton +1
CNN/WMUR: Romney +13
Rasmussen Reports: Obama +3

CNN: The Des Moines Register GOP Debate
Hannity & Colmes: Mitt Romney On Hannity & Colmes
Special Report with Brit Hume: Pundits Discuss The GOP Debate
The Situation Room: Mike Huckabee And His Apology
Hannity & Colmes: Post-Debate Frank Luntz Focus Group

Bill Concerned Hillary Could Lose
- K. Bazinet
Frustrated Dems Turn to Obama
- Jonah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times
OH-5
- Stu Rothenberg, RealClearPolitics
The Roots of the Mortgage Crisis
- Alan Greenspan, Wall Street Journal

GOP Iowa Debate
Thompson Wins w/'No Hands'
The Romney-Huckabee Divide
No One Laid a Glove on Huck
Krauthammer: That Was Worst Debate in Western History

Republicans' Worst Debate Yetby Jennifer RubinWith an icy moderator who began by explaining candidates would not focus on immigration or Iraq, Republicans struggled to shine this time around.

Romney, Thompson Winners in Last Debate Before Iowaby Ericka AndersenIn the last debate before the Iowa caucuses, Republican candidates paddled through anothe juvenile debate.

Huckabee Surge Is for Realby Robert Novak and Timothy P. CarneyFormer Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee has come out in front in Iowa on four different recent polls, including double-digit leads in the Rasmussen, Newsweek, and Mason-Dixon polls. This surge is for real.

The Phonies in the Woods
by David Neiwert
Higher camping and fishing fees on public lands is causing even some right-leaning voters in the West to realize conservative governance is ripping them off.

Shared Responsibility For the Mortgage Crisis
by Bill Scher
Conservatives are asking why bamboozled homeowners trapped in the mortgage crisis should get help. Here's the answer.

The Re-albatross-ization of Rev. Sharpton
by Rick Perlstein
Why were Al Sharpton's 2004 campaign finance records subpoeanaed? Here's why.

George Bush = Winston Churchill
by Rick Perlstein
Our president says Iran is a nuclear threat. Evidence? Never, never, never, never.

War on Sexual Continence: Conservatives on the Case
by Rick Perlstein
In which we reflect on the new book Brotherhood of the Disappearing Pants: A Field Guide to Conservative Sex Scandals, and imagine the pamphlet the Republicans could issue in response.

War on Christmas: Congress is on the Case
by Rick Perlstein
The House of Representatives passes a resolution "[r]ecognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith."

The Last Iowa Debate (Thank God!) - Walter Shapiro, Salon
More Blacks Lean Toward Obama - Jonathan Kaufman & Valerie Bauerlein, WSJ
Could Clinton Lose Because of Women? - Reid Wilson, RealClearPolitics
Fred Ain't Dead - Quin Hillyer, American Spectator
Huckabee the None of the Above Candidate? - Stuart Rothenberg, Roll Call
Plan B For Pelosi And Reid - E. J. Dionne, Washington Post
GOP Can Learn from Ron Paul - Kimberley Strassel, Wall Street Journal
A Second Democratic Year in '08? - Larry Sabato, UVA Center for Politics
An Overdose of Public Piety - Charles Krauthammer, Washington Post
The Season of Political Apologies - Katharine Seelye, New York Times
The Fearful Superpower - Fareed Zakaria, Newsweek
The Fed's $40 Billion Bank Bailout - Paul Krugman, New York Times
Dialogue with Iran is Not the Answer - Michael Young, Reason
CIA Let Mullahs Off Hook - Greg Sheridan, The Australian
Nothing But Hot Air In Mitchell Report - Dan Le Batard, Miami Herald
Steroids in Baseball: Say It Ain't So - Thomas Sowell, RealClearPolitics
In Iowa, a Scrambling Lesson for Clinton - Anne Kornblut, Washington Post

Editorials
Fixing Baseball - Chicago Tribune
Notes From the War on Terror - New York Times
Russia's Autocrat and Sham Democracy - San Diego Union-Tribune
The Delta House Congress - Wall Street Journal

Political News & Analysis
Romney's Campaign Motivates Fellow Mormons to Dip Into Pockets - Bloomberg
Final Debate Before Iowa Shows Uncertainty at Top of GOP Field - NYT
Salvos Intensify in Clinton-Obama Tiff - Chicago Tribune
HRC Troubles May Pose Problem For Giuliani - The Politico

Lou Dobbs Winning Would Be a Disaster
- Mort Kondracke, Roll Call
Hillary's Slush-Fund Attack
- Robert Novak, Chicago Sun-Times
Huckabee's Boom May Be Ready to Bust
- Margaret Carlson, Bloomberg
In Iowa, a Scrambling Lesson for Clinton
- Anne Kornblut, Washington Post