NEWS CORP. CANCELS O.J. SIMPSON BOOK AND TV SPECIAL  —  NEW YORK — News Corp., the parent company of book publisher HarperCollins and the FOX network, has canceled publication of the O.J. Simpson book and television special "If I Did It."  —  "I and senior management agree with the American public …

Will the West Stumble?  —  What a stupid question.  By any benchmark of economic prosperity, military power, and political stability, Western civilization—in the United States, Europe, and the former British Commonwealth—has never been stronger.  Globalization has become a euphemism for Westernization …

"Kramer's" Racist Tirade — Caught on Tape  —  WARNING: WHAT YOU ARE ABOUT TO SEE IS PROFANE AND RACIAL  —  Michael Richards exploded in anger as he performed at a famous L.A. comedy club last Friday, hurling racial epithets that left the crowd gasping, and TMZ has obtained exclusive video of the ugly incident.

Poll: Clinton leads '08 Democratic pack, Kerry slips  —  (CNN) — Recently re-elected Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York is twice as popular as her nearest Democratic rivals in the 2008 presidential race, according to a new CNN poll.  —  Clinton was favored by 33 percent of people asked who they were …

Gingrich '08: The stealth candidate  —  The controversial former House Speaker seems to throw his hat in the ring as a GOP presidential candidate, and promises that health care reform will be the big issue.  An exclusive Fortune interview.  —  WASHINGTON (Fortune) — Even a crisp Guinness stout …

No Decisions Yet on Iraq Troop Levels, Bush Says  —  President Bush said Monday that he has made no decisions about altering the number of U.S. troops in Iraq, and he refused to discuss the pros and cons that would accompany such a decision.  —  "I haven't made any decisions about troop increases …

A brisk rise in American wages  —  Pay rose faster than the cost of living for the first time in years.  —  American paychecks are rising again at a pace not seen since the 1990s.  —  The pay increase amounts to 4 percent on average over the past 12 months, and it comes at a very helpful time for millions of households.

Preferences Forever?  —  The University of Michigan's president does her best George Wallace impersonation.  —  Michigan voters struck a blow for equality this month, when 58% of them approved an amendment to the state constitution banning racial discrimination in public universities and contracting.

Fighting back: the city determined not to become al-Qaeda's capital  —  A power struggle is taking place in the Sunni triangle, with tribal leaders and coalition forces aligning against a common enemy  —  A convoy of five US military humvees, each with radios crackling and a machine-gunner poking through …

Anti-War Activists Plan 'Global Orgasm For Peace'  —  (CBS/AP) SAN FRANCISCO Two peace activists have planned a massive anti-war demonstration for the first day of winter.  —  But they don't want you marching in the streets.  They'd much rather you just stay home.

Jose Padilla also rules Iraq  —  (updated below)  —  The New York Sun has a really, really scary column this morning about The Terrorists and how much stronger they are now because the Democrats won: … Democrats are soul mates not just with The Terrorists generally …

McCain literally sticks to the script on Iraq  —  Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stuck to the script yesterday during an appearance on ABC's This Week, repeating his desire to see more troops sent to Iraq.  What's interesting, however, is that McCain seemed to need his notes quite a bit to get through the discussion.

Rep. Frank offers business a 'grand bargain'  —  Reduced regulations for more job benefits  —  Representative Barney Frank has proposed in a series of meetings with business groups a "grand bargain" with corporate America: Democrats would agree to reduce regulations and support free-trade deals …

Fox News Channel preps right-leaning satire  —  Fox News Channel might air two episodes of a "Daily Show"-like program with a decidedly nonliberal bent on Saturday nights in late January, with the possibility that it could become a weekly show for the channel.

Iran Urges Summit With Iraq and Syria  —  Iran has invited the Iraqi and Syrian presidents to Tehran for a weekend summit with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to hash out ways to cooperate in curbing the runaway violence that has taken Iraq to the verge of civil war and threatens to spread through the region …

Want world peace?  Support free trade.  —  FAIRFAX, VA. - Everyone knows that a key to the Democrats' big electoral win was their opposition to the Iraq war.  But also, as the Wall Street Journal reported recently, "Democrats' stances against free trade helped build the party's success …

Pelosi nixes Rangel's bill to bring back the draft (Update: Video added)  —  Oddly enough, the leadership of the anti-war party doesn't think conscription is in its political interest: … You'd think an idea floated by the incoming chairman of the Ways and Means Committee would get a few weeks of respectful consideration.

Ohio fundraiser gets 18 years in prison  —  TOLEDO, Ohio - A former GOP fundraiser at the center of a scandal-plagued state investment in rare coins that helped Democrats seize power in the midterm elections was sentenced Monday to 18 years in prison.  —  Tom Noe, a prominent coin dealer accused …