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 …

Clinton is '08 frontrunner, Kerry's support slips  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-New York, remains the frontrunner for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination in 2008, with more than twice the support of any of her potential rivals, a new CNN poll shows.

"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.

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 …

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 …

Amid Uproar Over War, Rangel Renews Call for Draft  —  Both Parties Grapple With Iraq As They Await Study Group's Report  —  The incoming Democratic chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee said yesterday that he will push to renew the military draft, as lawmakers in both parties sharpened …

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.

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 …

Romney Wants Gay-Marriage Ban on Mass. Ballot  —  Governor to Ask Court to Place Amendment Before Voters if Legislators Don't Decide the Issue  —  Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney (R) said Sunday that he will ask the state's highest court this week to order a ballot question on same-sex marriage …

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.

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …

Democrat urges gradual Iraq withdrawal  —  CHICAGO - Democratic Sen. Barack Obama, who is contemplating a run for the presidency, on Monday called for a "gradual and substantial" reduction of U.S. forces from Iraq that would begin in four to six months.  —  Speaking to the Chicago Council …