Poison plotters claim their second victim  —  Police fear that the murder of a former Kremlin spy may have been part of a double killing plot after a second man was taken to hospital last night with radiation poisoning.  —  The Anti-Terror Group is examining whether the killers …

A national party no more?  —  The Republicans are in danger of being confined to the South  —  THREE years ago Zell Miller, then a Democratic senator for Georgia, published an anguished book entitled "A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat".

Arabs may one day miss George W. Bush  —  The Middle East cheered the Republican defeat in the recent American congressional elections.  The official Syrian daily Al-Baath labeled the elections a "painful blow," while the Saudi daily Al-Watan called for a "wise" policy from Washington …

Tancredo protesters turn violent  —  Violence erupted at a Michigan law school Thursday when protestors tried to block a speech by Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo.  —  Police were called after protestors pulled a fire alarm prior to the speech on immigration policies.

The Tom Friedman disease consumes Establishment Washington  —  (updated below)  —  Someone e-mailed me several days ago to say that while it is fruitful and necessary to chronicle the dishonest historical record of pundits and political figures when it comes to Iraq, I deserve to be chastised …

Report on Corporate Rules Is Assailed  —  Investor groups sounded alarms yesterday after it emerged that a foundation with ties to a pair of well-heeled business donors and an executive battling civil charges had funded a controversial new report seeking to slash corporate regulation.

MSM Finishing School  —  [Scroll for updates]  —  A long-time feeder to the mainstream media, Columbia's journalism school is currently training a new crop of grad students that are already cutting corners and flouting the rules just like the pros do it.

REYES VOWS TO TACKLE IRAQ, WIRETAPS AS NEW HEAD OF HOUSE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE  —  WASHINGTON — Texas Rep. Silvestre Reyes has been chosen to head the House Intelligence Committee when the Democrats take control of Congress in January as his party tries to boost oversight of the intelligence community and get U.S. troops out of Iraq.

The Daily Troika: Obama's Secret Meet.  / Popma Endorses McCain  —  Sen. John McCain has signed up an important evangelical activist in Iowa.  Marlys Popma, a two time former exec. dir of the Iowa GOP and former presiden tof Iowa Right to Life, will join McCain's presidential exploratory committee.

Has Obama become the front-runner for '08?  —  Ian blogged this yesterday but I got a solid e-mail from a friend about this this morning so I'm going to post on it again.  My politically savvy pal advises us to prepare for full-blown Obamamania: … He's hip, he's hot, he's not Hillary.  (Or is he?)

THE FAKING IMAMS — Pajamas Media Exclusive: Police Report, Passenger Reveals That Flying Imams Were Up to No Good  —  THE FAKING IMAMS — PAJAMAS MEDIA EXCLUSIVE: POLICE REPORT, PASSENGER REVEALS THAT FLYING IMAMS WERE UP TO NO GOOD  —  The Now Notorious Flying Imams Claim Their Only Crime Was …

STAR WARS REDUX:Democrats to Gut Missile Defense / Bush to Announce "Orbital Battle Station"  —  STAR WARS REDUX:DEMOCRATS TO GUT MISSILE DEFENSE / BUSH TO ANNOUNCE "ORBITAL BATTLE STATION"  —  In 2007 both Democrats and Republicans are going back into space with their pet peeves and passions intact.

GOP strategists: Impact of Romney's Mormonism exaggerated  —  WASHINGTON - The Mormon problem for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney's expected presidential run has been overblown, a panel of Republican strategists said Thursday.  —  "The Mormon issue is way overstated," said Mark McKinnon …