Democratic Debate: Winners and Losers  —  Last night was a tale of two debates.  —  The first 15 minutes of the Democratic presidential debate in Las Vegas featured clashes between the top three candidates — Hillary Rodham Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards — over Social Security, Iran and telling the truth.

Democrats unable to bring troops home  —  WASHINGTON - Nearly a year after anti-war voters put them in power, congressional Democrats remain unable to pass legislation ordering troops home from Iraq.  —  Frustrated by Republican roadblocks, Democrats now plan to sit on President Bush's $196 billion request …

"Diamond v. Pearl" Student Blasts CNN (Updated With CNN Response)  —  Maria Luisa, the UNLV student who asked Hillary Clinton whether she preferred "diamonds or pearls" at last night's debate wrote on her MySpace page this morning that CNN forced her to ask the frilly question instead …

Come Home … The Dome Under the Cross: Local Muslim and Christian leaders had prepared the church for his arrival.  —  A Bishop came to St John's Church in Baghdad today, 15 November, where a crowd of locals welcomed him home.  They were joined at the service by soldiers from the 2-12 infantry battalion …

SPITZ VOWS TO PUSH FOR GAY MARRIAGES  —  Gov. Spitzer said at a private fund-raiser that he wants a Democratic-controlled state Senate to legalize gay marriage - a highly divisive and controversial issue - as one of its first priorities in 2009, a witness to the remarks told The Post.

BREAKING: Reid shut downs Bush recess appointments during Thanksgiving  —  Now who's relevant?  A statement from Senator Harry Reid (and more background on this issue here):

Not legal?  No Mexican driver's license for you  —  MEXICO CITY — The question of whether to give driver's licenses to illegal immigrants has ignited a national debate in the United States.  —  Yet in Mexico, the biggest source of immigrants to the USA, there's no debate …

Stevens blames media for image troubles  —  INVESTIGATION: Alaska senator hints of retribution after investigation ends.  —  ebolstad@adn.com  —  WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens said Thursday he has no fear of a Democratic opponent in next year's election, and he blamed overzealous reporters …

How Do Republicans Get Away With It?  —  The NYT has picked up on the McCain "How do we beat the bitch" incident that TPM Election Central first noted earlier in the week, but get a load of the double-triple-reverse psychology that Katharine Seelye's piece employs.

President Bush Delivers Remarks at Federalist Society's 25th Annual Gala  —  Washington, D.C.  —  THE PRESIDENT: Thank you all.  (Applause.)  So much for the dress code.  (Laughter.)  I'm honored to be with you.  Thanks.  I appreciate being with an organization that understands the value …

SPEAKERS: SEN. CHRISTOPHER J. DODD, D-CONN. SEN. HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON, D-N.Y. FORMER SEN. JOHN EDWARDS, D-N.C. GOV. BILL RICHARDSON, D-N.M. SEN. JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., D-DEL.  —  BLITZER: Welcome to the Cox Pavilion.  We're at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  —  Tonight, a little bit of history.

Why are so many people leaving the UK?  —  The papers today ask why 400,000 left the Uk last year to live and work somewhere else.  I would have thought the answer was obvious.  —  They've had enough.  —  We live in a country where anyone who has gained some qualifications …

Controversy Over Eurostar's Shock Skinhead Urinating Advert  —  An advert depicting a tattooed skinhead urinating into a china teacup is being used to promote tourism to London.  —  The image is part of a new Eurostar campaign aimed solely at the Belgian market.