Lott succeeds in leadership comeback  —  WASHINGTON (AP) — Sen. Trent Lott, ousted from the top Senate Republican leadership job four years ago because of remarks considered racially insensitive, won election to the No. 2 post Wednesday for the minority GOP in the next Congress.

US plans last big push in Iraq  —  Strategy document calls for extra 20,000 troops, aid for Iraqi army and regional summit  —  President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning …

Abramoff Reports to Prison; Officials Focus on Reid, Others  —  Brian Ross and Rhonda Schwartz Report:  —  As convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff reported to federal prison today, a source close to the investigation surrounding his activities told ABC News that Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) …

Breaking: Murtha says he's got the votes to beat Hoyer; Update: Bumbling Abscam apologia video added!  —  Two minutes ago on Hardball; the video's coming.  While you wait, chew on the latest from Kucinich, who's supporting him over Hoyer for majority leader.

Carville Says Dems Should Dump Dean over "Rumsfeldian" Incompetence  —  Democratic strategist James Carville says his party should dump Howard Dean as chairman of the Democratic Party because of incompetence.  —  Carville, during coffee and rolls with political reporters today …

One More Time for Judicial Nominees  —  After calling for bipartisanship, President Bush surprised Senate Democrats with plans to renominate a controversial list of judges - some of whom may be unacceptable even to a few Republican senators.  "It's an unfortunate signal," said one senior Democratic Senate aide.

Class Struggle  —  American workers have a chance to be heard.  —  The most important—and unfortunately the least debated—issue in politics today is our society's steady drift toward a class-based system, the likes of which we have not seen since the 19th century.

Does idolizing Malkin turn you into a terrorist?  —  Apparently Freeper Chad Castagana, the man who sent the phony anthrax letters to Olbermann, Pelosi and others—worshipped Malkin and Coulter.  What a surprise.  Countdown takes a look....  Video-WMP Video-QT

McCain Explores 2008....  Sen. John McCain will formally open his 2008 presidential exploratory committee by tomorrow a.m., an adviser said today.  —  The committee has already built a website — http://www.exploremccain.com/ — and it will stream live his speech to GOPAC, a conservative grassroots group with a strong pedigree.

Giuliani 'Unacceptable' for President, Conservatives Say  —  (CNSNews.com) - Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani enjoys "a lot of good will" from Republicans from his handling of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but his stance on social issues like abortion and gun control …

Exultant Chuck Says He'll Veto the Next Alito  —  New King of Washington Promises Moderate Court; Rove-like, Plans Permanent Democratic Majority; More N.Y. Homeland Money, Iraqi Federalism  —  More than the inability to influence Iraq policy or the President's tax cuts …