Assassins and Diplomacy  —  Another murder in Beirut for Jim Baker to contemplate.  —  Former Secretary of State James Baker has been saying that, when it comes to diplomacy, you don't "restrict your conversations to your friends"—shorthand for the view that the U.S. should engage Syria …

U.N.: Iraqi civilian deaths at new high  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq - The United Nations said Wednesday that 3,709 Iraqi civilians were killed in October, the highest monthly toll since the March 2003 U.S. invasion and another sign of the severity of Iraq's sectarian bloodbath.

6 Imams Removed From Flight for Behavior Deemed Suspicious  —  Six Muslim religious leaders were taken off a US Airways flight in Minneapolis on Monday evening and detained for several hours after some passengers and crew members complained of behavior they deemed suspicious, including prayers at the gate.

An Ideologue for Hire Gets New Alliance  —  Senator Joseph I. Lieberman announced Tuesday that he had hired a new spokesman, which is not in itself that noteworthy, except that the said spokesman, Marshall Wittmann, is one of the great career vagabonds, ideological contortionists …

Video: U.S. Secretary of Education loses big on Celebrity Jeopardy  —  What's more embarrassing than being Secretary of Education and having your ass handed to you on Celebrity Jeopardy?  Being Secretary of Education and having your ass handed to you on Celebrity Jeopardy by Lenny from "Laverne & Shirley."

Democratic Leaders Reject Idea of Draft  —  Pelosi and Others Predict Cool Reception in Congress for Any Conscription Bill  —  The new Democratic-controlled Congress will not seriously consider reinstating the draft, even if concerns about the military's strength and resiliency grow, party leaders said yesterday.

Pass a Drumstick, and an Olive Branch  —  COOKS can control the Thanksgiving menu, but when the dishes leave the kitchen, things can unravel fast.  —  Family grudges buried by time and distance resurface.  New girlfriends meet ex-husbands.  Prius drivers make small talk with S.U.V. owners.

Hardball: Michael Richards  —  Welcome back to Hardball, I'm Chris Matthews.  Where do we draw the line between free speech and offensive speech?  Joining me via satellite is Michael Richards, who played Kramer on the old Seinfeld show.  Mr. Richards, welcome to the show.  —  Thanks for having me, Chris.

Elderly Woman Killed; 3 APD Officers Wounded  —  ATLANTA — Three Atlanta police officers were shot and wounded and an elderly woman killed at a house in northwest Atlanta Tuesday night.  —  The woman, who relatives say was 92-years-old, opened fire on the officers from the narcotics division …

GOP leaving spending bills to Democrats  —  WASHINGTON - Republicans vacating the Capitol are dumping a big spring cleaning job on Democrats moving in.  GOP leaders have opted to leave behind almost a half-trillion-dollar clutter of unfinished spending bills,