Video: Rangel says men join the army only if they can't have "a decent career"  —  Hence his support for the draft.  If even our volunteers are there involuntarily, why shouldn't everyone be? … This won't get as much attention as what Lurch said (or was understood to have said) a few weeks ago.

Sword of the Shia  —  He can deal out death through his black-clad followers and roil the government any time he chooses.  Why Moqtada al-Sadr may end up deciding America's fate in Iraq.  —  Wathiq Khuzaie / Getty Images for Newsweek  —  Underestimated No More: Educated Shiites once dismissed …

Iraq Study Group Weighs Overture to Iran and Syria  —  A draft report on strategies for Iraq, which will be debated here by a bipartisan commission beginning Monday, urges an aggressive regional diplomatic initiative that includes direct talks with Iran and Syria but sets no timetables …

Obama talks with top advisers in Iowa  —  The Illinois senator gets filled in on the caucus leadoff state as he weighs a 2008 presidential bid.  —  Democrat Barack Obama has sought the advice of top campaign workers in Iowa and has established a seedling support network in this state …

Chavez vows to beat the "devil"  —  CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela's leftist President Hugo Chavez on Sunday promised hundreds of thousands of supporters he would win a resounding victory in his December 3 reelection bid he describes as a challenge to Washington.

No  —  Look, people who advocate adding "personal accounts" to Social Security are just stupid people.  Really, just morons.  There's no reason to do it.  There's no reason to take any part of Social Security contributions and put them in a little fund account with my name on it.

Woman faces fines for wreath peace sign  —  DENVER - A homeowners association in southwestern Colorado has threatened to fine a resident $25 a day until she removes a Christmas wreath with a peace sign that some say is an anti- Iraq war protest or a symbol of Satan.

UK scientists invent male 'pill' that can be taken hours before sex  —  British scientists have developed a revolutionary pill that men could take as a one-off contraceptive just before a date.  —  The tablet would prevent a man from being able to impregnate a woman, but within a few hours his fertility would return to normal.

Shameless commercial shilling: Special Kitchen Edition  —  As long time readers know, now is the time of year when I engage in an absolutely shameless attempt to encourage you to earn me money from my Amazon.com associates account, under the thin pretense of suggesting things you can buy your loved ones for Christmas.

MTP Transcript for Nov. 25  —  MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: One year ago the Republican governor of California had an approval rating of just 32 percent.  His disapproval: sky-high at 58 percent.  And yet, two weeks ago, in the midst of a national Democratic landslide, he was overwhelmingly re-elected.

The really tough way to control drugs is to license them  —  A young American friend last week visited Camden Lock, north London, and returned amazed.  In a hundred yards he was offered brazenly in the street just about every drug he could imagine.  It was easier to buy cannabis or cocaine than a cigarette or a can of beer.

Chief Talks About Police Shooting  —  Atlanta's police chief talked Sunday night about a controversial police shooting involving a 92-year-old woman.  It was the first time Chief Richard Pennington has commented on the incident.  —  It all started Tuesday when Narcotics officers served …