Al Qaeda Sends a Message to Democrats  —  Brian Ross and Hoda Osman Report:  —  Al Qaeda has sent a message to leaders of the Democratic party that credit for the defeat of congressional Republicans belongs to the terrorists.  —  In a portion of the tape from al Qaeda No. 2 man …

Rape Charges Dropped in Duke Case  —  The district attorney today dropped rape charges against three former Duke University lacrosse players, but plans to go forward with sexual assault and kidnapping charges, his office said.  —  Michael B. Nifong, the Durham district attorney …

Carter's about-face betrays Jews, Christians  —  We are in that season when Jews celebrate one of their few successful rebellions against oppression.  Christians celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace.  How ironic, then, that Jewish-Americans are embroiled in a grim struggle …

Big Pharma's Profit Pursuit Means Fewer New Drugs, Report Says  —  Although drug makers typically justify the high cost of medicines by citing research expenses, a new government report says their research investments are mostly funding highly profitable modifications of existing drug designs, not new treatments.

The Peace Party vs. the Power Party  —  The real divide in American politics.  —  The polarization that has characterized American politics since the presidency of Ronald Reagan has extended its reach to foreign affairs.  Never have the differences between the two parties on issues of war and peace been so distinct.

Pundits lose grip on reality when dealing with the Internet  —  What is it about the Internet that makes some political pundits, columnists and reporters so goofy?  It seems like almost every time I read a mainstream media story about political Web sites and bloggers, the pieces are full of ill-informed junk.

Year in review: What ever happened to...  Since January 1, I've published nearly 2,400 blog posts of all shapes, sizes, and subject matter.  Many readers have asked for follow-ups on stories that especially touched their hearts, boiled their blood, and otherwise piqued their interest in a lasting way.

Hispanic groups call for moratorium on work raids  —  SAN ANTONIO, Texas (Reuters) - U.S. Hispanic groups and activists on Thursday called for a moratorium on workplace raids to round up illegal immigrants, saying they were reminiscent of Nazi crackdowns on Jews in the 1930s.

"Media Matters"; by Jamison Foser  —  Cat videos — unlike NBC News — don't impart conservative misinformation  —  Time magazine's selection of "You" as its "Person of the Year" has — justifiably — drawn criticism.  —  Writing for CJR Daily, for example, Christian Vachon argued …

Spending freeze targets pet projects for members of Congress  —  WASHINGTON - Democratic leaders in the new Congress plan to strip funding for thousands of pet projects for individual members, a big display of fiscal discipline they say will help cut deficits and curb spending abuses.

News of a Sleighing  —  This just in: Santa Claus is coming to town.  —  Sunday is Christmas Eve.  It feels wrong to speak here of small and sentimental things such as politics.  The most passionately committed Americans right now, and the most imaginative, are children waiting for a large laughing man with a full white beard.

Bickering Saudis Struggle for an Answer to Iran's Rising Influence in the Middle East  —  At a late-night reading this week, a self-styled poet raised his hand for silence and began a riff on neighboring Iraq, in the old style of Bedouin storytellers.  —  "Saddam Hussein was a real leader …

Rice: Iraq 'worth the investment'  —  U.S. is ready to elect black president, secretary of state says  —  WASHINGTON - Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told The Associated Press on Thursday that Iraq is "worth the investment" in American lives and dollars and said the U.S. can still win …

Most outrageous comments of 2006  —  How extreme were conservative commentators in their remarks this year?  How about calls to nuke the Middle East and an allegation that a "gay ... mafia" used the congressional page program as its own "personal preserve."