Bush to Democrats: 'We are at war'  —  WASHINGTON - President Bush compared Congress' Democratic leaders Thursday with people who ignored the rise of Lenin and Hitler early in the last century, saying "the world paid a terrible price" then and risks similar consequences for inaction today.

S.C. Dems reject Colbert candidacy  —  Stephen Colbert's satirical run for the presidency has run into its first roadblock - his bid to be on the ballot in the South Carolina Democratic presidential primary was rejected on Thursday.  —  The party's executive council voted 14 to 3 …

But They're Unaffiliated, Of Course  —  Media Matters insists that it has no intention of supporting a candidate, but it's hard to tell that from its content.  As Jonah Goldberg noted, the site went into a full-throated defense of Hillary Clinton by attacking Tim Russert for ... well, asking questions about issues:

Obama Pledges 'Aggressive' Iran Diplomacy  —  Senator Barack Obama said he would "engage in aggressive personal diplomacy" with Iran if elected president, and would offer economic inducements and a possible promise not to seek "regime change" if Iran stopped meddling in Iraq and cooperated on terrorism and nuclear issues.

Bush "Playing the 9-11 card" to force the Mukasey nomination through: Attacks Bloggers!  —  (guest blogged by Bill W.)  —  Download (1023) |  Play (1109) Download (944) |  Play (574)  —  The message from Bush to the Democratically controlled Congress was simple: Approve Mukasey or we will all die, and it will be all your fault.

Blackwater sneak silencers into Iraq?  —  Security firm under investigation for allegedly sidestepping export controls  —  A Blackwater employee shows off a silencer-equipped rifle in Iraq in a photo obtained by NBC News.  The picture has been digitally altered to protect the identity of the subject.

Victory at University of Delaware  —  University Dumps Thought Reform Program  —  Late Thursday, University of Delaware President Patrick Harker released on the school's website a Message to the University of Delaware Community terminating the university's ideological reeducation program …

Knollenberg aide who went nuts on YouTube takes leave of absence  —  When we last saw Trent Wisecup, chief of staff to Rep. Joe Knollenberg (R-Mich.), he was busy blowing a gasket on YouTube and berating an anti-war protester for following around the congressman with a video camera.

The most influential US conservatives: 21-40  —  As the US prepares for what is arguably the most open presidential election since 1928, the last time there was no incumbent president or vice-president on the ballot, the Daily Telegraph's Washington correspondents compile a list of the 100 …

Time to Close the US Embassy  —  I don't try to start an internet campaign very often, because the blogosphere has its own priorities and logic that are democratic and should not be forced.  But here is a plea for everyone in the blogging world to help force congress to save our diplomats.

Feds Probing Dem Sen. Relationship to Former Aide  —  As the feds are bearing down hard on Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK), raiding his Alaska home and convening a grand jury in Washington, D.C., another investigation into a sitting senator has been proceeding quietly up in New Jersey.

Tracking Lieberman-Warner: What's next?  —  America's Climate Security Act — aka the Lieberman-Warner bill — passed through its first markup hearing today, but not without losing support from the Senate's most vigilant advocate for action against climate change, Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)

U.S. Falls Short of Iraqi Refugee Target  —  The United States accepted only some 450 Iraqi refugees in October, well short of the Bush administration's stated goal of 1,000 a month.  —  The figure also marks a decline from September, when 889 refugees were admitted.