Judith Giuliani rallies Women for Rudy  —  Judith Giuliani, wife of Republican presidential candidate and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, admits freely that she is new to politics, but she seemed to be an old hand as she rallied about 50 members of Women for Rudy at a fundraising reception …

In Paul They Trust (The Feds May Differ)  —  The ardent supporters of Rep. Ron Paul, the iconoclastic Texas libertarian whose campaign for the presidency is threatening to upend the battle for the Republican nomination, got word yesterday of a new source of outrage and motivation …

Petraeus Helping Pick New Generals  —  The Army has summoned the top U.S. commander in Iraq back to Washington to preside over a board that will pick some of the next generation of Army leaders, an unusual decision that officials say represents a vote of confidence in Gen. David H. Petraeus's conduct …

CBS "Mystified" by Dan Rather's "Bizarre Allegations", Files Motion to Dismiss  —  Today, in New York Supreme Court, in response to Dan Rather's civil lawsuit, CBS filed a lengthy 30-page motion to dismiss the case.  —  CBS executives also released a statement today, noting that they are …

U.S. Control of Internet Remains Issue  —  RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AP) — A U.N.-sponsored Internet conference ended Thursday with little to show in closing the issue of U.S. control over how people around the world access e-mail and Web sites.  —  With no concrete recommendations for action …

Appeals court: No Jan. 15 primary  —  LANSING — A divided Michigan Court of Appeals refused Friday to overturn a lower court ruling that effectively bars the state from holding its presidential primary on Jan. 15.  —  By a 2-1 margin, the appeals panel sided with an Ingham County Circuit Court judge …

In Name Count, Garcias Are Catching Up to Joneses  —  Step aside Moore and Taylor.  Welcome Garcia and Rodriguez.  —  Smith remains the most common surname in the United States, according to a new analysis released yesterday by the Census Bureau.  But for the first time, two Hispanic surnames …

LOU FOR PRESIDENT?  —  The name of longtime CNN commentator Lou Dobbs has entered speculation as a possible independent candidate for president.  At age 62, he never has engaged in politics, but is reported by people who know him as pondering a presidential run.

Did CNN Plant The Audience, Too?  —  Actually, there are suggestions at some prominent Democrat sites that CNN didn't just plant questions, but perhaps in the administration of the debate, they created a situation where Hillary Clinton had a decided advantage.  It's mentioned at DailyKos but the best information is here.

Anti-Romney calls still swathed in mystery  —  It likely was inevitable.  —  But that didn't make the news of phone calls attacking Mitt Romney and invoking his Mormon faith any less explosive.  —  It's become the newest "Whodunit?" in the political universe, as the press …

Does Marrying Bill Clinton Qualify Someone To Be President?  —  If a CEO of a fortune 500 company were to retire, would anyone seriously consider his wife to be an adequate replacement simply because she was married to him when he ran the company?  What about a Super Bowl winning football team?

Costume flap imperils immigration post  —  WASHINGTON - Just when it appeared Julie Myers had cleared every hurdle in her quest to officially become the nation's top immigration official, a dreadlocked wig and a prisoner's outfit could cost her the job.  —  Myers, director of Immigration …

China's economy 40 percent smaller than estimated: analyst  —  WASHINGTON (AFP) - China's economy is 40 percent smaller than most recent estimates, a US economist said Wednesday, citing data from the Asian Development Bank and guidelines from the World Bank.

Reid to Keep Senate in Session to Prevent Recess Appointments  —  Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has decided to keep the chamber in session over the Thanksgiving break to block President Bush from making any unsavory recess appointments while Senators are out of town.