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 …

New Survey: Iraqis Want a Speedy U.S. Exit — and Back Attacks on Our Forces  —  NEW YORK Past surveys have hinted at this result, but a new poll in Iraq makes it more stark than ever: the Iraqi people want the U.S. to exit their country.  And most Iraqis now approve of attacks on U.S. forces …

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."

Some Curbs on Sex Offenders Called Ineffective, Inhumane  —  As convicted sex offenders go, they seem to pose little danger.  —  One is 100 years old.  Another can barely walk and is in the late stages of Alzheimer's disease.  Another is dying of heart disease in a nursing home.

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.

Republicans Clinch House Races in Ohio, New Mexico  —  More than a week after Rep. Heather A. Wilson (R-N.M.) claimed a razor-thin election victory, her Democratic challenger conceded yesterday, saying that a recount would cost too much and that there was no guarantee it would reverse the result.

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.

Reno Joins Criticism of Anti-Terror Strategy  —  Former Prosecutors Urge Court to Act Against Indefinite Detention of Suspects  —  Former attorney general Janet Reno has taken the unusual step of openly criticizing the Bush administration's anti-terrorism strategy — joining seven …

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.