Ron Paul: Trouble back home  —  While Texan Ron Paul's stock is soaring nationally, there is trouble on the home front.  In September, Paul finished third in a straw poll of 1,300 Texas Republican activists who had been delegates to recent Republican conventions.

Anti-Bush Sign Has Bridge World in an Uproar  —  In the genteel world of bridge, disputes are usually handled quietly and rarely involve issues of national policy.  But in a fight reminiscent of the brouhaha over an anti-Bush statement by Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks in 2003 …

Queen Hillary's disruptive court  —  The press corps finally wakes up to her waffling and evasions.  Plus: Norman Mailer's largely forgotten legacy and our disappointing lesbian icons!  —  The mainstream media have been in a breathless tizzy about how Hillary Clinton waffled, tripped …

4Barack  —  "DON'T DO THIS!" a friend wrote, a friend who never uses allcaps, a friend who cares genuinely about what's good for me, and who believes that what's good for me depends in part upon how easily I can talk to the next administration.  "He is NOT going to win.  She has it sewed up.

The Insanity of Bush Hatred  —  Our politics suffer when passions overcome reason and vitriol becomes virtue.  —  Hating the president is almost as old as the republic itself.  The people, or various factions among them, have indulged in Clinton hatred, Reagan hatred, Nixon hatred …

Sensitive Guantánamo Bay Manual Leaked Through Wiki Site  —  A never-before-seen military manual detailing the day-to-day operations of the U.S. military's Guantánamo Bay detention facility has been leaked to the web, affording a rare inside glimpse into the institution …

Pakistan's Khan charged under anti-terror laws  —  LAHORE, Pakistan (AFP) — Police in Pakistan arrested cricket legend Imran Khan and later charged him under anti-terrorism laws after he emerged from hiding to join a student protest Wednesday.  —  He was picked up as former premier Benazir Bhutto hammered …

VOTER ID....The State of Indiana has the most stringent voter ID laws in the country.  Democrats are always griping about this, and have even gone so far as to challenge Indiana's law in the Supreme Court.  But this is just silly.  In this day and age everyone has a photo ID anyway, so what's the problem?

Rudy Guiliani: Criminal or Liar?  —  An investigation into Guiliani's claims of familiarity with "intensive questioning" techniques  —  SHARE Digg del.icio.us Reddit Newsvine  —  Republican presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani raised serious questions about his record as a public servant …

Friendly Fire in the White House  —  This post has been updated.  —MTF  —  Criticisms of the White House press corps come fast and furious in MediaLand and Blogistan.  (From accusations like they're 'an extension of the Clinton spin machine' to its 'meekness' in covering the Bush presidency.)

Poll: Clinton has large lead in Nevada prior to debate  —  WASHINGTON (CNN) — Sen. Hillary Clinton has a large lead over her rivals among Nevada Democratic caucus-goers, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday.  —  The New York Democrat is the top pick of over half …

Spitzer's Christmas Tax Surprise  —  Aims To Collect Levies on Sales Over Internet  —  New Yorkers going Christmas shopping online at Amazon.com will find an 8.375% surprise at the virtual cash register, courtesy of Governor Spitzer, who is moving aggressively to collect Internet sales taxes that have gone widely unenforced.

Senate Dem leaders float plan for forced filibuster  —  Senate Democrats might force Republicans to wage a filibuster if the GOP wants to block the latest Iraq withdrawal bill, aides and senators said Tuesday.  —  That could set the stage for a dramatic end-of-the-year partisan showdown …

Send the State Department to War  —  THE State Department has announced that it will force 50 foreign service officers to go to Iraq, whether they want to or not.  This is the biggest use of "directed assignments" since the Vietnam War, and it represents a long-overdue response to complaints …

Krongard Recuses Himself from Blackwater Investigations  —  Howard "Cookie" Krongard said he's just learned that his brother is on Blackwater's advisory board and has formally recused himself from investigating the company.  —  Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) asked when Krongard learned his brother …

House Democrats round up votes on Iraq  —  WASHINGTON - House Democrats defiantly pushed ahead Wednesday with a $50 billion war spending bill that calls for troops to leave Iraq, despite concerns raised by some party members and a veto threat issued by the White House.