Exclusive: Bush Picks a Replacement for Harriet Miers  —  In a signal that he could be open to working more closely with congressional Democrats rather than stonewalling, President Bush plans to name the widely respected Republican lawyer Fred F. Fielding as White House counsel this week, party sources tell TIME.

Traces of C4 at Port of Miami  —  Test show traces of C4 at the Port of Miami, yes, this is breaking news on Fox, right now.  Related to the non-event yesterday?  I'm at work dagnabit and can't monitor the news from here.  —  Word is that they have restricted the airspace over the Port, including news helicopters.

The War Against Global Jihadism  —  President Bush has said that the war against global jihadism is more than a military conflict; it is the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century.  We are still in the early years of the struggle.  The civilized world will either rise to the challenge …

Gas Smelled Over Large Area Of Manhattan  —  NEW YORK — People over a large part of New York City are smelling a gas, but no cause has been identified.  —  Numerous people have called 911 concerned about the odor.  Con Edison, the Fire Department and the U.S. Coast Guard are investigating.

Investments in the Red  —  Investors normally don't like to hear that their investments are "in the red," but there's a new exception for Republican investors who want their investing strategy to support their political point of view.  From the New York Times comes this story (also online here) …

Lieberman on Surge: What's "The Worst that Could Happen"?  —  Over the weekend, I caught a snippet of CSPAN's coverage of the McCain/Lieberman "surge" party at the American Enterprise Institute.  It was after all the speeches, with the Senators kibitzing with reporters as the hour ran down.

PAUL KRUGMAN: Quagmire of the Vanities  —  The only real question about the planned "surge" in Iraq — which is better described as a Vietnam-style escalation — is whether its proponents are cynical or delusional.  —  Senator Joseph Biden, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, thinks they're cynical.

Chuck's wagon rollin'  —  Sen. Chuck Schumer, whose role in last year's Democratic Senate victory confirmed his status as one of the party's most influential strategists, said Democrats can take the White House and more Senate seats in 2008 by concentrating on the party's traditional focus - domestic issues.

New Saddam Execution Video  —  A video showing Saddam Hussein shortly after he was executed has emerged on the internet.  The video and images from it are shown below.  The first uncut, uncensored, unedited video showing Saddam Hussein executed caused quite a stir.

ATTENTION: War supporters - your country needs you  —  (updated below - updated again)  —  One of the two principal architects of the "surge" strategy about to be adopted by the President is Frederick Kagan of the American Enterprise Institute.  He recently appeared at an AEI event …

Tax Cuts Offer Most for Very Rich, Study Says  —  Families earning more than $1 million a year saw their federal tax rates drop more sharply than any group in the country as a result of President Bush's tax cuts, according to a new Congressional study.  —  The study, by the nonpartisan …

The Smart Surge: Diplomacy  —  The odds are that this week President Bush will announce a "surge" of up to 20,000 additional U.S. troops into Iraq.  Will this deliver a "win"?  Probably not.  But it will distract us from facing the deep-seated regional issues that must be resolved.

As Obesity Fight Hits Cafeteria, Many Fear a Note From School  —  Cassie Allen, 15, left, says other children have called her "anorexic."  Holly Berguson, 17, center, says "who you are" counts more than how you look.  Karlind Dunbar, 6, has been anxious about eating, her mother says.

Rep. Keith Ellison's Excellent Opportunity  —  To: Congressman Keith Ellison, Fifth District, Minnesota  —  You have been elected to serve the Fifth District of Minnesota in the United States House of Representatives.  This is a crucially important opportunity, not only for all of your …

Dead U.S. Soldier in Anti-War Video 'Alive and Well'  —  Rhonda Schwartz and Maddy Sauer Report:  —  An Iraqi insurgent propaganda video, containing what is described as a Christmas message from a U.S. soldier taped just before he was killed, appeared on dozens of Web sites and on the al Jazeera network.

Til we meet again  —  So today's the last day of this humble blog's existence—though I hear there might be some fireworks here tomorrow (and of course I'll keep all the archives available).  Thanks to everyone who's stopped by in the past week to pay respects, offer condolences, ask me to keep at it, or just say hello.