Analysis: Ballots favored Dems  —  Sarasota's 'undervotes' were examined in 5 state races.  —  The group of nearly 18,000 voters that registered no choice in Sarasota's disputed congressional election solidly backed Democratic candidates in all five of Florida's statewide races, an Orlando Sentinel analysis of ballot data shows.

A Parting Shot From George Allen  —  As a last little gift to America, Senator George Allen, who was narrowly defeated by James Webb this month, has introduced what may be his final piece of legislation: a bill that would allow the carrying of concealed weapons in national parks.

Video: O'Donnell screams about chickenhawk "cowards" on Scarborough  —  It's been awhile since we had a good Lawrence O'Donnell meltdown.  He kept them coming at a nice clip in late '04 and early '05 (note the neck vein), but since then he's been using HuffPo as his primal-scream outlet …

More than 140 bodies turn up on Baghdad streets  —  BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) — More than 140 bodies have been found dumped across Baghdad over the past three days, police said Wednesday.  —  Police said 52 bullet-riddled bodies were found Wednesday, with 20 of them blindfolded, tied up and possibly tortured.

What American journalists should be thankful for  —  In between breathless condemnations of the Bush administration for stifling its free speech, endless court filings demanding classified and sensitive information from the military and intelligence agencies, and self-pitying media industry confabs bemoaning …

The first remarkable close-up pictures of animals in the womb  —  An unborn elephant, tiny but perfect in every way.  A dolphin swimming in the womb, just as it will have to swim in the ocean the moment it is born.  An unborn dog panting.  —  Each one amazing and now …

Car bomb rocks shielded district  —  Parliament speaker is the apparent target in Baghdad's heavily fortified Green Zone  —  (11-22) 04:00 PST Baghdad — A car bomb exploded inside the government Green Zone on Tuesday in an apparent attempt to kill Iraq's controversial speaker of parliament …

Richards' Rant — Not The First Time  —  Did Michael Richards attack the Jews?  Two Los Angeles residents have come forward and said that's exactly what happened last Spring at L.A. comedy club, The Improv.  —  Carol Oschin and J.P. Fillet say they were at The Improv on April 22 when Richards took the stage.

One Syllable of Civility  —  If he wanted to, President Bush could change the tone in Washington with a single syllable: He could just say "ic."  That is, he could stop referring to the opposition as the "Democrat Party" and call the other side, as it prefers, the Democratic Party.

Alcee and the Leak  —  "Stay away from Kevin Gordon.  He's hot.  He is using your name in Hialeah."  —  If they consider the issue at all, Americans probably expect the person in charge of overseeing their nation's spies to be smart, insightful and thorough — but above all else, he or she must be able to keep a secret.

President Bush Pardons "Flyer and Fryer" in National Thanksgiving Turkey Ceremony  —  Thanksgiving Day, 2006 Proclamation  —  THE PRESIDENT: Good morning.  Thanks for coming.  (Applause.)  Welcome to the Rose Garden.  I appreciate being up here with Mike Briggs and Alice Johnson …

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.

Pelosi readying a pre-emptive House agenda  —  She's not going to let State of the Union overshadow the state of the nation  —  (11-22) 04:00 PST Washington — House Speaker-to-be Nancy Pelosi made clear Tuesday she's not willing to cede the public spotlight to President Bush in the weeks before his State of the Union speech.

Elder Bush takes on son's Arab critics  —  ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Former President George H.W. Bush took on Arab critics of his son Tuesday during a testy exchange at a leadership conference in the capital of this U.S. ally.  —  "My son is an honest man," Bush told members …

The World According to Jimmy Carter  —  I like Jimmy Carter.  I have known him since he began his run for president in early 1976.  I worked hard for his election, and I have admired the work of the Carter Center throughout the world.  That's why it troubles me so much that this decent man …

Winning hearts and minds: on America's underlying decency  —  The picture above is of Air Force Chief Master Sergeant John Gebhardt, superintendent of the 22nd Wing Medical Group (based out of McConnell Air Force Base, KS), holding an injured Iraqi girl.  —  The picture was taken in October 2006 …

Social Security Up for Discussion  —  With the elections over and Democrats poised to take control on Capitol Hill, the Bush administration is making a fresh push to persuade them to help rein in the rising costs of Social Security and government health-care programs by offering to open talks with "no preconditions."

Worker Victory In Houston!  Texas? … Houston, we have a solution.  —  You've heard it all before.  Unions can't organize in the South — maybe Florida, but never in Texas.  Immigrant workers are too intimidated to organize.  Blah, blah, blah.  —  5,300 janitors in Houston …

Edwards, Obama gain popularity on tours  —  RALEIGH, N.C. - When introducing former vice presidential candidate John Edwards at a book signing this week, a family friend mentioned a bumper sticker she'd seen around town: "Edwards-Obama."  The giddy audience roared with approval.

Is the BBC Reporting the Right Press Releases?  —  The BCC published an article today on the Israeli use of cluster munitions during the recent war with Hezbollah in Lebanon: … No one will dispute that the aerial bombing conducted during Desert Storm was far more intense …